Native American Astronomy Outreach
A history of the NAAOP program.
1996 - 2000
1996 - 1998
The 1996-1997 school year was our exploratory year for defining the program and learning what works best. We worked with two teachers that year: Marty Nelson, an 8th grade science teacher at the Navajo Tse’ Bit’ Ai Middle School in Shiprock, New Mexico, and Allen Doering, a 5th and 6th grade teacher at the Hopi Polacca Day School in Polacca, Arizona. Both teachers have some experience in astronomy: Mr. Doering has attended the American Astronomical Society workshop for teachers held at NAU and Ms. Nelson teaches college astronomy in the summers through the Navajo Community College. With their astronomy backgrounds, both teachers were able to advise us on the teaching aspects of our classroom visits.
In our second year (1997-1998) we worked with Linda Doering, a 5th grade teacher at Second Mesa Day School at Second Mesa, Arizona. Ms. Doering also had attended the American Astronomical Society workshop for teachers held at NAU. We also worked with David Schindelman, a 7th and 8th grade teacher at Chinle Middle School in Chinle, Arizona.
1998 - 2000
In our third year (1998-1999) we worked with Stephanie Tucci, a seventh grade teacher at Cottonwood Day School, Catherine McCormick, a sixth grade teacher at Hopi Day School, and Franklin Tohannie, a sixth grade teacher at Tonalea Day School.
In our fourth year (1999-2000) we worked with Beth McCauley and her eighth grade class at Rocky Ridge Boarding School and Elizabeth Alden, a 6th grade teacher at Moencopi Day School.
2000 - 2010
2000 - 2002
In our fifth year (2000-2001) we worked with Keith Mook and his 5th grade class at Seba Dalkai Boarding School, Mark McConnel and his 5th grade class at Hotevilla-Bacavi Community School, and Jim Mason and his 5th/6th/7th grade class at Tolani Lake Elementary School Academy.
In our sixth year (2001-2002) we worked with Cindy Rodriguez and her 8th grade classes at Hopi Junior/Senior High School; Brother Dwight Kenny and his 7th grade classes at Ganado Middle School; and Alfred Bigay and his 6th grade class at Second Mesa Day School.
2002 - 2004
In our seventh year (2002-2003) we worked with Idella Poocha and her 5th grade class at Keams Canyon Boarding School, Loretta Williams and her 5th grade class at Ganado Intermediate School, Jean Moore and the 7th graders at Kaibeto Boarding School, Aria Campbell and her 5th grade class at Crystal Boarding School, and Glenn Mengason and the 5th graders at Kayenta Community School.
In our eighth year (2003-2004) we worked with Rosie Suen and her 8th grade classes at Rock Point Community School, John Hall and his 8th graders at Kayenta Middle School, and Adrianne Keene and her 6th grade class at Hopi Day School.
2004 - 2006
In our ninth year (2004-2005), we worked with Judy-Suzanne Sadler and her 6th-8th grade classes at T’iis Nazbas Community School, Amanda Saganitso and her 5th grade class at Eagles Nest Intermediate School, Ann Satran and her 5th grade class at Tsehootsooi Dine Bi’olta’ School, and Dennis Lowe and 5th-8th grade students at Naatsis’aan Community School.
In our tenth year (2005-2006), we worked with Ali Henderson and her 3-6 graders at First Mesa Elementary School, Rochelle Barton-Silver and her 7th graders at Pinon Accelerated Middle School, Rowena Dolino and her 7th graders at Tse Ho Tso Middle School, and Katherine Billie/Loretta McNamee and their 7th and 8th graders at Dilcon Community School.
2006 - 2008
In our 11th year (2006-2007), we worked with Virginia Tulley and her 5th graders at Window Rock Elementary School, Rosie Terry and her 8th graders at Seba Dalkai Boarding School, Richard Thomson and his 6th grade classes at Jeddito Elementary School, Susan Holiday and her 7th and 8th graders at Leupp Middle School, and Laura Tsosie and her 5th graders at Pinon Elementary School.
In our 12th year (2007-2008), we worked with Charles Carter and his 6th grade class at Moencopi Day School, Alice Yellowhair and Nancy Bedonie and their 5th and 6th grade classes at Kayenta Community School, Verna Clinton and her 6th grade class at Chinle Elementary School, and Judy-Suzanne Sadler and Amy John who were team-teaching 7th and 8th graders at Tse Bit ‘Ai Middle School in Shiprock, New Mexico.
2008 - 2010
In our 13th year (2008-2009), we worked with Renee White and her students at Leupp Schools, Inc., Muriel Goldtooth and Charlette Davis and their 5th graders at Eagles’ Nest Intermediate School, Nicholette Wright and her 7th and 8th graders at Monument Valley High School, Marty McQuade and 6th graders at Wide Ruins Community School, Karen Duwyenie and 6th graders at Hotevilla-Bacavi Community School, and Allen Doering at Second Mesa Day School.
In our 14th year (2009-2010) we worked with Maxine Arviso and 5th and 6th grade students at Naschitti Elementary School, Lynda Taylor and Gilbert Tracey and their 7th and 8th grade classes at Rough Rock Middle School, Eric Stauth and 5th graders at Pinon Elementary School, Grace Mahkewa and 7th graders at Hopi Jr/Sr High School, Shara Kanaswood and 6th graders at Moencopi Day School, and Justin Roberson and 5th graders at Dzil Libei Elementary School.
2010 - 2018
2010 - 2012
In our 15th year (2010-2011) we worked with Lafina Willard and her 6th grade classes at Ganado Intermediate School, Eric Bedonie and his 5th grade class at Jeddito Elementary School, Melody Pierson and 5th graders at Tohatchi Elementary School, Pernell Begay and his 5th graders at Rocky Ridge Boarding School, and Clara Goodluck and 6th graders at Tsehootsooi Middle School.
In our 16th year (2011-2012) we worked with Berlinda Begaye and 5th graders at Window Rock Elementary, Irene Pelt and 6th graders at Naatsis’Aan Community School, and Mary Phillips and Gifted and Talented 5th graders in the Window Rock School District.
2012 - 2014
In our 17th year (2012-2013) we partnered with Ms. Verna Tallsalt and her 6th graders at First Mesa Elementary School, Ms. Jessica Baglione and 5th graders at Hopi Day School, Mr. Kevin Loughran, the Gifted and Talented teacher at Hopi Day School, and Ms. Nelaine Shorty and her 5th grade class at Chinle Elementary School.
In our 18th year (2013-2014) we partnered with Ms. Karen Duwyenie and Ms. Adrianne Keene and their 6th grade classes at Moencopi Day School, Mr. Bernard Leonard and his 6th grade class at Hotevilla-Bacavi Community School, Ms. Lindsay Bahe and Ms. Della Denetso and their 4th-6th grade students at Keams Canyon Elementary School, Ms. Bernadette Armstrong and her 5th grade class at Dzil Libei Elementary School, and Sheryl Jackson and her 6th graders at Tuba City Boarding School.
2014 - 2016
In our 19th year (2014-2015) we have partnered with the following teachers: Ms. Mary Erkman and and Ms. Yazzie and their 7th graders at Many Farms Community School, Ms. Jolene Smith and her 5th graders at Kayenta Middle School, Ms. Cynthia Johnson and her 5th/6th graders at Cove Day School, Ms. Lucinda Wauneka and her 5th graders at Hunters Point Boarding School, Ms. Rose Ann Benally and her 7th graders at Red Rock Day School, and Ms. Juanita Tso and her 6th graders at Tuba City Boarding School.
In our 20th year (2015-16) we partnered with Mr. David Greasewood and his 6th and 7th graders at Dilcon Community School, Ms. Patty Hatfield-Deering and her 7th and 8th grade classes at Tsaile Public School, Ms. Crystal Schalliol and students from different grade levels at Ganado Middle School, Mr. Duane Yazzie and his 4th graders at Tsehootsooi Intermediate Learning Center, Ms. Caroline Yazzie and her 7th grade classes at Lukachukai Community School, Mr. Ben McClellan and his 7th and 8th graders at Jeddito Public School, and Ms. Venita Vaughn and 6th and 7th graders at Seba Dalkai School.
2016 - 2018
In our 21st year (2016-17) we partnered with Ms. Mary Washburn and 6th graders at Kaibeto Boarding School, Ms. Tammie Bowman and 5th graders at Naschitti Elementary School, Ms. Mary Kate Suhy and 5th graders at Navajo Elementary School, Ms. Kristen Simo and Ms. Philarena Plummer and their 5th graders at Newcomb Elementary School, Ms. Debra Chee and 5th graders at Newcomb Elementary School, Ms. Kayla Begay and her 6th-8th graders at Dzil Ditl’ooi School of Empowerment, Action, and Perseverance (DEAP), Ms. Verna Tallsalt and her 5th grade class at Jeehdeez’a Elementary School, Ms. Cora Charley and her 7th grade class at Aneth Community School, and Ms. Esther Peaches and 6th-8th graders at Kaibeto Boarding School.
In our 22nd year (2017-18) we worked with Ms. Leola Secody and 7th graders at Shonto Preparatory School, Ms. Terri Chee and 8th grade students at Tiis Nazbas Community School, Ms. Josephine Willie and 6th and 7th graders at Wingate Elementary School, Ms. Analani Brown and 5th grade at Wingate Elementary School, Ms. Tammie Bowman and 7th and 8th graders at Ojo Encino Day School, Ms. Francelia Tom and 3rd-6th graders in the Gifted and Talented Program at First Mesa Elementary School, and Mr. Craig Young and 6th graders at Tuba City Boarding School.
We are grateful to these teachers for their dedication to their students.