Joyce Dugan to Take Over Cherokee Central Schools

Former Principal Chief Joyce Dugan has been hired to take back over the Cherokee Central School System. Dugan, when I was hired as editor of the One Feather, told me that she was dedicated to hiring educated tribal members for certain positions, and I did see a certain attention paid to hiring qualified tribal members for certain positions with certain requirements then. The tribe has gotten away from that as political connections and family ties now take precedence over talent and credentials.
I've had great concern about the quality of education at Cherokee Central Schools. Too few graduates go to college, and of those too few are attending the best colleges they can get into. Other issues about test scores, and readiness for college still remain. The school system is a remnant of a federal government-run educational system designed to make Native Americans second-class citizens. With the problems that have gone unresolved, it appears that the current way of doing things is designed to do the same thing.
Dugan has a mess to clean up, and it won't be solved by new school buildings. It will take years to undo the damage that's been done the past few years, caused by problems tribal and school leadership failed to address. I wish her the best, and I certainly hope to see real improvements.