National Indian Parent Information Center (NIPIC)
&
Education for Parents of Indian Children with Special Needs (EPICS)

Strengthening the Circle:
Including children and young adults with disabilities

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About the Conference

Each year the National Native American Parent Center presents an Annual Conference for Native American family members, tribal leaders, health professionals, mental health workers, tribal and public school administers; teachers, counselors, educators, and staff, BIA and IHS staff, elders and others who are interested in ensuring the Special Education needs for Native American students who are age 0 – 26.

This year we are going to New Mexico!! We are excited this year to work in Collaboration with Education for Parents of Indian Children with Special Needs (EPICS) Parent Center from New Mexico.

Workshops and presentations will focus on strategies and methods to increase the family’s participation in the special education process. Best practices working with Indian students with disabilities that produces successful educational outcomes.  Successful strategies that promote collaborative relationships between tribes, schools, and families.  Successful methods in positive Behavioral interventions. The Latest research and data on effective classroom practices and strategies for Native American students.

Proposals are being accepted for presentations that are related to working

Conference Goals:

• Families will be giving skills to increase their ability to advocate for their child in the special education process
• Families will learn stress reduction techniques to assist them with having a child with disabilities.
• Professionals and parents will have knowledge about:
• Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
• Tips for participation in the IEP & IFSP process
• Positive Behavioral interventions
• Parent leadership skills
• Successful strategies for improved educational outcomes for children with disabilities

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Key Note Speaker: Bart Stevens

Bart Stevens is a Shoshone – Bannock and Northern Ute from Fort Duchesne, Utah and Fort hall, Idaho where he was raised. He is also Maricopa and San Carlos Apache. He joined the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Education as an Education Line Officer for the New Mexico South Education Line Office in July 2006 and is now acting as the Associate Deputy Director East and West.

Bart brings over twenty years of experience in the educational field from the classroom level to school administration in both the elementary and secondary education systems within Utah’s public school system. His commitment to creating safe and secure learning environments for students has been proven through his effective leadership style and desire to do what’s best for students. He has created changes needed to specifically address pedagogical practices designed to effectively meet the needs of all students and focus on student learning and achievement. He is truly committed to improving the systems in place within the Bureau of Indian Education.

Bart attributes his work ethic and leadership style to what was taught him by his maternal grandparents, the late Albert LaRose (Northern Ute – Bannock) and the late Mary Kniffin LaRose (Shoshone) as well as his paternal grandparents the late Jesse Stevens (San Carlos Apache) and the late Leah Sundust Stevens (Maricopa).

Bart obtained an undergraduate degree from Utah State University and went on to get a Masters Degree in Educational Supervision from the same university. He also has a masters degree from the University of Utah.

Bart is very much dedicated to Jackie, his wife of 26 years, and their two sons; 20 year old Adrian who is a junior in college and Ian who is a junior in high school. As a family they travel extensively within the pow wow circuit and through this have a very large extended family, as well as many friends. Bart is also committed to the cultural practices of the Northern Ute and Shoshone Bannock Tribes and participates in activities associated with this way of life as was taught by his relatives. He supports and encourages his family to know themselves and where they come from in order to be able to maneuver within the two worlds in which we exist while positively contributing to society.

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Keynote Speaker: Lynda M. Lovejoy

Work and Elective Office Experiences:
April – December 2007
Consultant
National Indian Telecommunications Institute

January 2007 – present:
New Mexico State Senator
District 22—Counties of McKinley, Sandoval, Cibola, Bernalillo, & Rio Arriba

1999 – 2006:
Commissioner, NM Public Regulation Commission
Also, served as Commission chairperson in years 1999, 2002 & 2003
Served as Commission vice-chairperson in 2001

1989 – 1998:
New Mexico House of Representative
District 69—Counties of McKinley, Cibola & Sandoval
Also, served as chairperson of House Government & Urban Affairs Committee

1995 – 1998:
Director, Adult Basic & Continuing Education
Crownpoint Institute of Technology, Crownpoint, NM

1992 – 1994:
Executive Staff Assistant
Office of the President/Vice-President, Navajo Nation, Window Rock, AZ

1988 – 1993:
Administrative Service Officer II
Eastern Navajo Agency, Crownpoint, NM

Other Experiences:
Candidate for Navajo Nation president, primary & general election, 2006
Board of Trustee, Navajo Technical College
Recipient of University of New Mexico Alumni Assoc. ZIA Award, 2005
Featured in New Mexico Women magazine, November 2006 & 2003 issues
Selected as one of Year 2000 New Mexico’s top 100 “Power Brokers” by NM Business Weekly
Recipient of NM Governor’s Award for NM “Woman of the Year” in 1992
Speaker/facilitator/panelist

Education:
Associate of Arts Degree, University of NM, Gallup Campus, Gallup, NM, 1985
Bachelor of Science Degree, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, 1987
MBA in progress, NM Highlands University, Las Vegas, NM

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