Achieving national accreditation is a huge accomplishment for Haskell Indian Nations University’s School of Education.

Haskell is the first tribal college to receive national accreditation for its teaching program. The program already had received state accreditation, but the national recognition gives the program added prestige and help its graduates find teaching jobs in other states. That’s especially important to Haskell, which draws most of its students from outside Kansas.

The education school, which trains elementary school teachers, was established in 1994 as part of Haskell’s move to a four-year, baccalaureate-granting university. The program graduated three students last year and is set to graduate nine this year and eight more in 2014. Although the students will be qualified to teach anywhere, one goal of creating the program at Haskell was to train teachers who would take their skills to Indian elementary schools, where they could serve both as teachers and role models.

Haskell has been an important part of Lawrence for more than a century and holds a special place of honor among Native tribes across the nation. It has taken major steps in recent years to upgrade its programs and its status as an institution of higher learning. The national accreditation for its teacher education program is a significant recognition of Haskell’s continuing efforts to build its curriculum and serve as a center of pride and accomplishment for its students, alumni and American Indians across the country.