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    Kerrie Troseth, the Indian Education School Counselor, collaborates with the District Office, outside organizations and agencies, and colleges/universities to advocate for and to provide opportunities to support American Indian students.  Many of these collaborations lead to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) or other types of partnerships to benefit our SPPS American Indian students.  Additionally, Kerrie actively seeks out grant opportunities to support the Catching a Dream (Indian Education school counseling programming) goals and objectives.

    The following highlights provide more insights into the elements of past Systemic Change Support and/or Program Development activities:

    2022-2023

    • In development: Red Lake Nation College and SPPS collaboration for early college experiences
    • Joined the Northern Arizona University's Institute for Native-Serving Educators (INE) - Indian Country School Counselors Institute to develop culturally responsive counseling curriculum   
    • SPPS Communication partnership that developed Native youth poster series
    • Supported Humboldt Students with their Land Acknowledgement project 
    • Bridging the relationship with Right Track and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) to provide students with AISES Native Financial Cents (NFC) through the Cities for Financial Empowerment grant 
    • Rebranded Indian Education School Counseling Program to Catching a Dream
    • Ramsey County Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) advisory council member. 
    • Facilitated monthly Circle of Support for Teens and Their Families nights - participants meet community resources who support teens and families throughout the high school journey
    • Native American College Fair committee member and organizer
    • MOU created to partner with the Indian Health Board for Drum Teachings for Success
    • MOU created to partner with American Indian Family Center's Youth Services for afterschool academic and cultural enrichment opportunities
    • MOU created to partner with Roots Cafe to create an afterschool space/hub for American Indian students
    • MOU created to partner with the Minnesota Historical Society's Native American Initiatives
    • University of MN, Twin Cities High School Counselor Advisory Committee member
    • Collaboration with St. Paul College, Right Track/Ramsey County, and the American Indian Family Center to continue the Four Directions Pathway to SPC program for graduating seniors

    2021-2022

    • University of MN, Twin Cities High School Counselor Advisory Committee member
    • Collaboration with St. Paul College, Right Track/Ramsey County, and the American Indian Family Center to continue the Four Directions Pathway to SPC program for graduating seniors
    • Collaboration with SPPS OCCR to provide Education Pathway with consideration for American Indian students
    • Collaboration with Minnesota State University, Mankato on pre-college summer experiences for American Indian students
    • Panelist on the Minnesota State University Mankato's AIS class regarding Indigenous Education
    • SPPS American Indian Education Taskforce member
    • Native American College Fair committee member and organizer
    • Completed Loom Beading learning kit for District-wide use and available in the Indian Education Resource Room
    • Completed Native Flute learning kit for District-wide use and available in the Indian Education Resource Room
    • Created and provided Winds of Change professional development series for SPPS school counselors: Historical Trauma and Effects on Students (December): Smudging as a Counseling Strategy (January); Career Counseling Considerations with American Indian Students (February)

    2020-2021

    • Collaboration Panelist on the Minnesota School Counselor Association's "Anti-Racism & Equity Open Space"
    • University of MN, Twin Cities High School Counselor Advisory Committee member
    • Grant recipient for EcoLab Grant for SEL through Hand Drum Making and Circles
    • Native American College Fair committee member and organizer
    • SPPS American Indian Education Taskforce committee member
    • Collaboration with Indian Ed Programs on designing Native student groups during Distance Learning (Spring Lake Park, Blue Sky Charter, Cass Lake)
    • Completed The Grass Dancer learning kit for use in high school English classrooms (Minnesota Historical Society grant)
    • Completed Bandolier Bag learning kit for District-wide use (Minnesota Historical Society grant)
    • Completed Smudging learning kit for District-wide use (Minnesota Historical Society grant)
    • Co-Facilitated Walking in Balance (SEL): Weekly Drumming for Success student group during distance learning with the Indian Health Board and American Indian Family Center (MOU)
    • Co-Facilitated Walking in Balance (SEL): Weekly Loom Beading student group during distance learning with SPPS Indian Education Sewing Society
    • Co-Facilitated Walking in Balance (SEL): Weekly Traditional Food Teachings and Cooking student group during distance learning with Dream of Wild Health (MOU)
    • Established network with 20+ colleges with Native American-specific support on campus to begin collaboration to support SPPS American Indian students to explore college options
    • Co-Facilitated Walking in Balance (SEL): Weekly Three Sisters Cooking & Gardening student group during distance learning with Dream of Wild Health, American Indian Family Center, and Spring Lake Park Indian Education (MOU)
    • Co-Facilitated Walking in Balance (SEL): Weekly VANS Beading student group during distance learning with Indian Education Sewing Society
    • Co-Facilitated Walking in Balance (SEL): Weekly Drumming (Rattle) for Success student group during distance learning with the Indian Health Board and American Indian Family Center (MOU)
    • Collaboration in the development of Four Directions Pathway to St. Paul College Summer Bridge Program with St. Paul College, Right Track/Ramsey County, and the American Indian Family Center
    • Collaboration AIS-PSEO at U of M planning committee member
    • Collaboration with Junior Achievement to develop culturally-responsive programming for our SPPS Indian Education high school students
    • Co-created an Indian Education Resource Room for student, family, community, and staff access to cultural books and resources (grant from the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Program)
    • (In Progress) Creating Independent Learning courses with the District specific to American Indian culture

    2019-2020

    • Presenter at the National Indian Education Association conference on "Offering a Culturally Responsive College Fair: A Collaborative Approach"
    • Native American College Fair committee member and organizer
    • University of MN, Twin Cities High School Counselor Advisory Committee member
    • Grant recipient from the Minnesota Historical Society to create three learning kits and resources for the SPPS Indian Education Resource Room
    • Braided Journeys expansion to third school, Como Park High School
    • Partnership with Equity Alliance to provide leadership training to two high school students at Como Park, Harding, and Johnson
    • American Indian AVID expansion to Johnson High School
    • Collaboration with English/Language Arts District Leads to create The Grass Dancer Supplemental Learning kit for student book clubs and independent learning
    • Collaboration with Ramsey County Right Track to present summer employment program information to Indian Education students at Como Park, Harding, and Johnson
    • American Indian Family Center (AIFC) to provide Healing Generations therapy to third site, Como Park High School
    • Grant recipient of Ancestry Classroom to provide students with free access to Ancestry.com and to Fold3 Native American Records
    • Focus Group facilitator with University of Minnesota, Twin Cities to assess current and past Native student perspectives on college 
    • Coordinated Professional Development for counseling staff on Identifying and Properly Gathering the Traditional Medicine of Sage to compliment PD on Smudging as a Counseling Strategy PD

    2018-2019

    • Native American College Fair committee member and organizer
    • Member of SPPS Strategic Planning Team for Family Engagement and Community Partnerships
    • University of MN, Twin Cities High School Counselor Advisory Committee member
    • Presenter at Minnesota School Counselor Association state conference on Smudging as a Cultural-Responsive Counseling Strategy
    • Presenter at SPPS/MPS College Access Network Convening Conference on "Strategies to Support American Indian Students with College Access"
    • Partnership with Equity Alliance to provide leadership training to two high school students at Como Park, Harding, and Johnson
    • Partnership with Sanneh Foundation to provide tutoring support to Braided Journeys Program at Harding and Johnson
    • SPPS District 506 Wrap Around team member
    • American Indian Family Center (AIFC) Healing Generations therapy expanded to a second site, Johnson High School
    • Indian Education Professional Learning Community (Lead)
    • SPPS Secondary Administrator District Meeting member
    • Grant recipient of Ancestry Classroom to provide students with free access to Ancestry.com and to Fold3 Native American Records
    • Created a cultural office space for American Indian students at Harding High School ($5000 office redesign)

    2017-2018

    • Braided Journeys expansion to second school, Johnson High School
    • Native American College Fair committee member and organizer
    • Grant recipient for Minnesota Arts Grant for regalia making with Harding's Braided Journey program
    • Campaign developer for GiveMN's College Horizon online fundraising
    • Coordinated partnership with SPPS AVID to provide American Indian AVID at Harding High School
    • Professional development facilitator to train counselors at Como Park, Gordon Parks, and Johnson on Smudging as a Cultural-Responsive Counseling Strategy
    • Partnership with Sanneh Foundation to provide tutoring support for the Braided Journeys Program at Harding and Johnson
    • Indian Education Professional Learning Community (Lead)
    • Guest Speaker at University of Minnesota, Twin Cities School Counseling Career Course to discuss career counseling considerations with American Indian students
    • SPPS District 506 Wrap Around team member
    • Grant recipient of Ancestry Classroom to provide students with free access to Ancestry.com and to Fold3 Native American Records
    • Coordinated Professional Development for staff on Understanding the Medicines of Sage and Sweetgrass
    • Grant recipient through Education First to design a cultural space at Harding for American Indian students.

    2016-2017

    • Researched and developed Braided Journeys model program for SPPS in collaboration with Pam Sparklingeyes, Program Manager Edmonton Catholic Schools
    • Braided Journey program begins at Harding High School
    • Native American College Fair committee member and organizer
    • Campaign developer for GiveMN's College Horizon online fundraising
    • Grant recipient of Ancestry Classroom to provide students with free access to Ancestry.com and to Fold3 Native American Records

    2015-2016

    • Collaborator with American Indian Family Center (AIFC) to provide Healing Generations therapy at Harding High School
    • Native American College Fair committee member and organizer
    • Grant recipient of Ancestry Classroom to provide students with free access to Ancestry.com and to Fold3 Native American Records
    • Collaborator with SPPS College and Career Readiness to provide College in the Schools (CIS) Ojibwe at Harding High School

    2014-2015

    • Hosted financial aid information night with MN Office of Higher Education Indian Scholarship coordinator 
    • Supported SPPS Thinking College Early Fair with recruiting colleges that support American Indian student success and culture
    • Grant recipient of Ancestry Classroom to provide students with free access to Ancestry.com and to Fold3Native American Records

    2013 (November)-2014

    • Researched and developed a comprehensive school counseling model to support Indian Education high school students at SPPS
    • Supported SPPS Thinking College Early Fair with recruiting colleges that support American Indian student success and culture