The State Board of Education and Early Development granted final approval to the Kenaitze Tribe’s Tułen Charter School application during a meeting in Juneau. The new school, designed for students in kindergarten through third grade, will emphasize Dena’ina culture and traditional tribal values, offering an education deeply rooted in the Tribe’s heritage.
Anticipated to open this fall, Tułen Charter School will be located on the second floor of the Kahtnuht’ana Duhdeldiht Campus. The name “Tułen” is derived from a Dena’ina word meaning “the current is flowing” or “the river will flow,” symbolizing the dynamic, ever-evolving nature of the Tribe’s educational approach.
Education Director Kyle McFall said the tribe’s vision for the new charter school is to create a school that’s known for educational excellence and cultural pride.
“We really want to focus on interweaving Dena’ina culture into kind of every aspect of the school, so that includes learning, any activities that we’re doing, community involvement, and then really allowing our students through that cultural experience to develop a deep sense of belonging, pride, and self-confidence. Ultimately to develop students who are grounded in who they are as individuals. That they are able to lead and inspire positive change in our community and wherever their future takes them.” McFall said.
The school will integrate traditional Dena’ina teachings with a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) curriculum, offering a well-rounded education that preserves and celebrates indigenous knowledge while preparing students for future success. “It’s going to be a lot of culturally based experiential learning projects and just giving students more interactive and hands-on experiences to work with different curricular options there.” McFall says.
The initial staff will consist of a principal/teacher, a full-time certified teacher, a full-time teacher with a special education endorsement, a three-quarter-time certified teacher, and a half-time administrative assistant. All staff members will be school district employees, and additional support services will be provided through a memorandum of understanding with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. The details for the MOU are still being finalized.
In a fun and meaningful nod to the community’s heritage, the school’s mascot will be qunshi, the Dena’ina word for beluga whale, which means “the one that comes upward.” The mascot was recently approved by both the Tribal Council and the school’s Academic Policy Committee. McFall said they wanted a mascot symbolic of “our immediate area close to the bluff.”
“It has that nice connotation in education as we are developing students and helping them traverse their educational experience that they’re constantly moving upward.” Says McFall.
Families interested in learning more about Tułen Charter School or enrolling their child can contact Education Director Kyle McFall at 907-335-7254. An interest survey is also available online at Survey Link.
The Tribe looks forward to this significant step in preserving and fostering Dena’ina culture while providing high-quality education to the next generation of students.