TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Cherokee Nation is looking to hire 10 new teachers to help with the expansion of its Cherokee language programs and immersion school.
The Tribe is looking for 10 certified teachers and at least one with special education certifications. Applicants are not required to speak Cherokee as they will be trained to be part of the program.
“Preserving the Cherokee language and growing the number of Cherokee speakers is critical to the Cherokee Nation’s future,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “This will continue to be our priority, which is why I recently announced that we will create a second Cherokee language immersion school under the umbrella of the Cherokee Language Department. To help with this language preservation and perpetuation efforts, we need to hire new teachers who can help us achieve our goals. We will provide them with all of the tools and training they need to succeed while working with our language program.”
The Tribe's current state-certified teaching staff are at or near the age of retirement so new teachers will be needed to fill in.
“Education is such a critical component of our mission to not only save our beautiful Cherokee language, but to create an environment where the language grows into the daily lives of Cherokee society once again,” Deputy Chief Bryan Warner said. “We can and will accomplish this goal, and we’ll start by bringing in teachers who are committed to helping shape the minds of young Cherokees. These certified teaching careers are great opportunities for our educators.”
The teachers hired for the positions will go through around 30 months of training along with 24 continuous months of Cherokee language learning through the Cherokee Language Master Apprentice Program. They will also go through six months of immersion school teaching methodology training and the study of other immersion school systems.
“We are asking anyone with the right heart and who are certified teachers to enlist with us to save our language,” said Cherokee Nation Language Department Executive Director Howard Paden. “Whoever applies will be asked to develop with us so they can become a more efficient Cherokee teacher. That way, we can do everything together, in unity, to preserve our Cherokee language. If anyone out there feels like they have the heart to get this accomplished, please apply today or reach out to us in the Cherokee Language Department and ask questions.”
Those interested can apply by clicking here or can email questions to clmap@cherokee.org.
