From a tarpaper shack to Outstanding Educational Leadership
Alvera Cook selected as Outstanding Graduate Student
By Clara Caufield
BUSBY, Mont. –– Although she was happy to mark the end of a three year journey leading to a second master’s degree in education, Alvera Cook, (Vé'ho'kevá'e, Little White Woman) Northern Cheyenne, didn’t realize until the May 9, 2015 commencement ceremonies that she was selected as the Outstanding Graduate Student of 2015 by her professors in the Department of Educational Leadership at MSU Bozeman.
“Holy smokes! I was so surprised,” she exclaimed in her usual cheerful and modest manner.
Cook earned a master’s degree in educational leadership paving the way for certification as a k-12 principal. That tops off another master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Montana in 2002, a BS degree in elementary education from Northern Montana College in the 1990’s and a high school degree from St. Labre.
And, for the past twenty years she taught elementary and Cheyenne language classes at Northern Cheyenne Tribal Schools (NCTS) in Busby, for the last year serving as assistant principal. When her certification is finalized this summer by the Office of Public Instruction she hopes to become a k-12 principal.
Alvera Lone Elk Cook, “Outstanding MSU Graduate Student, Department of Educational Leadership, Montana State University, 2015. Photo courtesy A Cheyenne Voice
Cook was nominated by her professors and selected for the prestigious award by a panel of professors from the College of Education, Health and Human Development. 52 other Native Americans also received advanced educational degrees during the commencement. Cook particularly credits Dr. Ruff who teaches core graduate classes.
“He was always there to support me, as were so many of the MSU professors who are so helpful if you communicate with them and ask for help,” she said.
That is pretty impressive for a Northern Cheyenne woman who grew up in a family of 10 children in Lame Deer to Margaret Medicine Elk and George Lone Elk. They lived in a tiny tarpaper shack without running water, observing strict Cheyenne traditions and Cheyenne language speakers. So far, the only college graduate in her family, she credits her loving parents and siblings who always treated her with respect and for supporting her efforts.
Her traditional views rang clear when she commented “I dedicate my degrees to Maheo’o (the Creator), my family and my wonderful professors, who all helped me get here,”
When asked what motivated her, Cook said “I wanted to escape from poverty and make a new path and chapter in my life.”
From her childhood experience growing up on the reservation, Alvera has deep compassion for the students she works with. Drawing from her training in curriculum development, she believes students can be motivated with holistic learning materials related their culture, history, language and contemporary reservation experience.
“Our youth should be eager to come to school, open up books and learn. They are highly intelligent, but need an environment where they feel they belong. That atmosphere begins with school leaders which is what we are trying to accomplish at NCTS," Cook said.
“It doesn’t matter where you grew up, how much money you have, your appearance or dress, or your age” she noted. “At the end, you are the only one who can choose what kind of life you want. From my experience, I know you can be in very deep poverty, but stand up and make a difference for yourself through some type of education, including high school graduation and post – secondary education, no matter what it is.”
Cook gained her second master’s degree over a three year period, balancing a full-time job at NCTS with raising a family of four children, married to Tim Cook for 26 years, their home in Busby while he works for the State in Lame Deer. During the summers she moved to Bozeman carrying a “pretty heavy” credit load and during the school year she took classes on line. She is particularly proud of her 17-year-old daughter Rebecca Cook who will participate in a MSU college enrichment program, MAPS, this summer, one of 50 students in the state selected for that opportunity.
“I hope you can mention that,” she smiled. “It would make her day. And she does read the paper.”
She loves working at NCTS which is about 110 years old, a former BIA boarding school serving a student population of primarily Northern Cheyenne. In addition to Alvera there are three other Cheyenne teachers at the school including Jolene Walkslast, elementary; Ronald Seminole, Cheyenne language and Rueben Littlehead, culture. In addition she praised the core staff of tribal paraprofessionals who work at the school.
Cook has high personal and professional expectations for all Cheyenne youth. “We need them all to graduate from high school and continue on with some type of additional education to be successful.” With one of her typical broad smiles, she joked: “I didn’t work all this time to see them fail.”
(Clara Caufield can be reached @ acheyennevoice@gmail.com)
Copyright permission Native Sun News
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