{"id":15348,"date":"2025-12-05T16:06:31","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T23:06:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/central-consolidated-schools-grapples-with-cultural-harm-after-classroom-incident\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T03:46:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T03:46:41","slug":"central-consolidated-schools-grapples-with-cultural-harm-after-classroom-incident","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/central-consolidated-schools-grapples-with-cultural-harm-after-classroom-incident\/","title":{"rendered":"Central Consolidated Schools grapples with cultural harm after classroom incident"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Shiprock
Shiprock High School is the only school in the Central Consolidated district that runs on a block schedule, giving students 80 minutes with teachers and four classes a semester. The high school is now reverting to a traditional seven-period schedule for the 2024-2025 school year. (Alx Lee\/Tri-City Record)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

A teacher\u2019s use of a human skull during a Shiprock High School class on Nov. 19 led to the teacher\u2019s removal, prompted multiple cleansing rituals and triggered a district review of cultural sensitivity policies.<\/p>\n

The incident began when a parent called the school at 12:45 p.m. to report the skull\u2019s presence in a classroom. Principal Staci Gallaher entered the room, removed the teacher and confirmed the allegation.<\/p>\n

The skull was taken out of the building, and Elvin Keeswood, a heritage language teacher, was consulted on next steps. Keeswood recommended a traditional cleansing immediately. After meeting with the Intercultural and Community Outreach Department, a traditional practitioner performed a cleansing at 7:44 a.m. the next morning with department staff and school leadership.<\/p>\n

Nathan Brady, a Navajo instructional coach, presented that timeline during a special board meeting on Dec. 1.<\/p>\n

The district announced the meeting on Nov. 28, drawing parents, students and community members to comment on agenda items, including a review of the equity policy, inclusion in the strategic plan and follow-up on the incident.<\/p>\n

Brady said parents called the district saying students were affected by the ceremony and the incident.<\/p>\n

A second cleansing was conducted Nov. 22, and after conversations with leadership, an optional cleansing for students and staff was held on Dec. 1 before the start of the school day.<\/p>\n

Brady said about 85% of the students entering the north doors participated, along with about 50% of staff.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a good turnout this morning, and students were well aware of what had happened, so it was like a an additional cleansing for them. It was sort of another step- like a healing process for them to go back into the classroom,\u201d he said. \u201cWe saw a lot of smiling faces..\u201d<\/p>\n

The district did not disclose the teacher\u2019s name but shared an apology letter expressing regret for breaking trust with the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m truly sorry for the hurt or concern anyone experienced as a result of the item being present in my classroom. I care deeply about the well being of my students, their families in this community,\u201d the teacher wrote. \u201cPlease know that I take these concerns to heart. I am grateful for the guidance and perspective shared with me, and I remain committed to ensuring that my classroom reflects respect for the cultures that guide my teaching and learning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Superintendent Steve Carlson read the letter at the meeting.<\/p>\n

Carlson answered board questions, including two from Christina Aspaas about whether the New Mexico Public Education Department had been notified and how long the item was on school grounds.<\/p>\n

The department has not been notified, Carlson said, and the after an internal investigation, it was concluded the item had been stored on campus for a couple of weeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo me, it was quite serious, and I think if we\u2019re going to change things, and if we\u2019re going to have that respect and acknowledgment of our culture, somebody needs to let PED know,\u201d Aspaas said about the discussion around the policy change.<\/p>\n

Recommendations presented by the ICO department at the special board meeting were:<\/p>\n

A policy the does not permit funerals or funeral receptions in schools. Including holistic services in grants that will be accessible to all schools. The cleansing of schools based on culturally sensitive situations such as lightning strikes, the entering of snakes in buildings, and at the beginning of school years and during breaks. Mandatory culture education, etiquette and protocols. A review of field trips that may be culturally inappropriate. Reestablishing a cultural response team to address cultural situations. <\/div>\n

According to Berlinda Begay, a bilingual multicultural education coordinator, the ICO department learned two schools had held funeral services inside their buildings.<\/p>\n

Berlinda Begay said Din\u00e9 traditions view death as part of a process.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way we look at it is we respect that it\u2019s no longer here. When you associate with death you\u2019re supposed to balance that back out with using these herbs to balance yourself back out, to cleanse yourself, because a lot of that death is all around you,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Public comment also drew on the cultural sensitivity around death.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo put this into perspective for you, what happens when there\u2019s a school shooting, somebody dies \u2013 you evacuate, make sure everybody\u2019s safe,\u201d said a community member. \u201cThis is the same \u2026 you should have shut the school down right then and there immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n

Doris Harrison, a grandmother of a student, said the situation goes much deeper for those students who came in contact with the item, as many left without cleansing, potentially affecting family members.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlso going home, back to their families, their parents, their grandparents, their great-grandparents, their siblings, maybe even newborns. It\u2019s been affected right there, all around in the community,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Alexus Uentillie, a Shiprock High English teacher, said cultural training for teachers is often too broad, offering little guidance on which traditions to respect.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you don\u2019t know what you\u2019re supposed to respect, I don\u2019t know how you\u2019re supposed to do it,\u201d she said, adding that the teacher was unfamiliar with local customs and felt embarrassed when the issue came to light.<\/p>\n

Alexus Uentillie said the teacher did not intend disrespect and noted the mistake could have happened to anyone. \u201cTo hear some of the words being used about the situation and the teacher, I just feel really bad,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Several board members and district representatives thanked the community for coming together to discuss policies and next steps.<\/p>\n

Board member Gary Montoya said the district now has \u201ca very good model\u201d that could guide not only Shiprock but other communities across the county, state and nation.<\/p>\n

The first reading of the drafted policy is scheduled for the next meeting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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