Mission & Philosophy

College of Menominee Nation’s Teacher Education Program prepares teachers as decision makers who are reflective, collaborative, educational leaders, committed to equity and social justice for families and community, and dedicated to maximizing the potential of all children, especially American Indian children. Underlying this mission is a constructivist philosophy that prepares teachers as decision makers predisposed to care, reflect, respect, take risks, and become collaborative participants in pursuit of becoming a professional teacher. The knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for this endeavor are guided by the tribal clan structure that portrays the early social organization of the Menominee.

Clan structure provides the kinds of responsibilities a teacher needs for effective decision making:

• Moose Clan - security to make productive decisions that come from building a strong knowledge base with a cultural perspective;
• Crane Clan - construction to build a safe environment that honors tribal “ways of knowing” and “learning together”;
• Wolf Clan - hunting and gathering to pursue problem solving situations guiding teachers/learners to seek information and search for reasoned arguments that explain life forces;
• Bear Clan - governance to develop a governing or professional voice that comes from communicating and collaborating with major stakeholders; and
• Eagle Clan - freedom and justice to challenge and monitor one’s own teacher beliefs that serve as barriers to social justice.