Harold Ott: What works in Native Education (Native Voices) | Native Students

Harold Ott is a 39-year veteran of education in Washington and Idaho, currently serving as superintendent of the Lapwai School District in western Idaho. Lapwai has 553 students, 84 percent of whom are Native Americans, mostly from the Nez Perce Tribe. Ott, who is not Native, has been at Lapwai since 1999.

What role does culturally based education have in your school district?

We have a multicultural imperative. We understand and appreciate cultural diversity and have woven it as tightly as we possibly can into our school improvement efforts. We have created a close partnership between school and community, including the tribe. That hasn't always been the case here. Without that connection, little success happens.

What are some specific things you have done to create that connection?

Each month we hold a Lapwai Education Summit with our community partners. Together we review our strategic plan to see how we're doing. One thing you have to do is face the facts. What do the data say? Everyone—teachers, administrators, parents, community and tribal leaders—has to look at the same set of facts. Without data all you have are opinions.

Once we see the data we have to decide: Are we happy with it or not? If not, what do we do differently to change it?

What are some of the practices you have instituted after looking at data?

We studied school reform experts around the country. As a result of this study we extended the school day and the school year. Other best practices we now use include all-day, every-day kindergarten, extensive tutoring for kids who need it, small classes (one teacher for 15 children in the elementary grades), and a consistent structure for first- and second-graders, who remain with the same teacher for both grades.

What kind of results have you seen?

We are having some success. Last year, our fourth-graders ranked third out of Idaho's 114 districts on the state's math assessment.

We operate on the idea that learning is not negotiable. It doesn't happen by chance; you have to plan for it.