The State Board of Education and Early Development granted final approval today to the Tribe’s Tułen Charter School application during a meeting in Juneau. The new school, for students in kindergarten through third grade, will focus on Dena’ina culture and the Tribe’s traditional values.

“We are confident that our school will provide an excellent education for the kids in our community,” Tribal Council Chair Bernadine Atchison told the board.

The Tribe anticipates opening the school on the second floor of the Kahtnuht’ana Duhdeldiht Campus this fall. Tułen is a Dena’ina word meaning “the current is flowing” or “the river will flow.”

“Our Tribe’s vision is ‘to assure Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina thrive forever.’ For many years, a school grounded in traditional Dena’ina culture and values has been an integral part of that vision,” said Tribal Council Secretary Ronette Stanton after the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education approved the Tribe’s plan last November.

“We look forward to providing an educational experience where our culture and traditional knowledge are interwoven with all aspects of learning to foster a sense of pride, belonging and self-confidence,” Stanton said.

Traditional Dena’ina learning will be integrated with a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics curriculum.

Initial staff will include a principal/teacher, a full-time certified teacher, a full-time teacher with a special education endorsement, a three-quarter-time certified teacher, and half-time administrative assistant. These staff members will be school district employees.

The Tribe will provide support services, contracted through a memorandum of understanding with the district. Details for the MOU are being worked out.

The Tribal Council and the school’s Academic Policy Committee recently approved qunshi, the Dena’ina word for beluga whale, for the school’s mascot. Qunshi means “the one that comes upward.”

To learn more about the Tułen Charter School, call Education Director Kyle McFall at 907-335-7254. If you are interested in enrolling your child, fill out an interest survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/V3PCK7Q.