OUR LEARNING MODEL

At Six Directions Indigenous School, we are no longer just “imagining” a better school for Indigenous youth — we are living it. Our award-winning, decolonial 6–12 charter school blends rigorous academics, Indigenous knowledge systems, and holistic wellness practices to prepare students for college, careers, and community leadership.

Key Elements of Our Model

1. Indigenous & Decolonial Education

Zuni & Diné Language: Daily heritage language blocks and a collective immersion hour where the entire school engages in language learning.
Knowledge Keeper Hour: Daily instruction led by cultural leaders, artists, and community experts, connecting students to ancestral knowledge, land stewardship, and traditional arts.
Interdisciplinary Curriculum: Students engage in high-level, project-based learning that integrates history, science, ELA, and math with Indigenous perspectives and real-world issues.

2. Academic Excellence & Student Voice

Proven Results: ELA proficiency has risen from 6% to 56.6%, with a 100% graduation rate and recognition by the Public Education Commission for Turnaround Excellence.
Skills & PBL Labs: Our mornings begin with reading, writing, and math labs for targeted skill building, followed by PBL blocks that apply those skills to complex, interdisciplinary projects.
Student Governance: Youth take an active role in decision-making and advocacy, learning to analyze systems of power and design solutions for their communities.

3. Holistic Wellness & Restorative Justice

Wellness Framework: Every student sets personal goals for emotional, physical, spiritual, and identity-based wellness, supported by our new Wellness Room.
Advisory: Each student belongs to a family-like Advisory group, fostering belonging, reflection, and academic check-ins.
Restorative Practices: Our discipline model is rooted in healing, repair, and accountability rather than punitive measures.
Outdoor Education: Land-based learning including sacred site visits.

4. Electives, Arts, and Career Readiness

Electives: Students choose from art, vocational courses, and cultural electives — from pottery and weaving to coding and 3D printing — supported by CTE and STEM grants.
Capstone & College Readiness: High school students develop a College & Career Capstone Project aligned with their post-secondary goals, supported by internships and dual credit options.

5. Community & Partnerships

Collaborative Partnerships: We work with the NACA-Inspired Schools Network, Charter School Testing LLC, TNTP, and Knowledge Keepers to strengthen our programming.
Family & Community Engagement: Families are involved in monthly IEC meetings, cultural events, and student showcases.
Recognition: In 2025, SDIS became the only charter school in NM to receive the PEC Turnaround Recognition Award for excellence in both academic growth and cultural innovation.

What’s Next

We are entering a new era of growth, facility expansion, and curriculum innovation, while staying rooted in the values that make our school unique: Indigenous brilliance, critical consciousness, and collective wellness.

MEET THE STAFF