Recognized as JOM Exemplary Program, Region 1 

 The National Johnson-O’Malley Association banquet and awards dinner was held in Denver, Monday, Nov. 10 in the Hyatt Regency’s Centennial Ballroom, where outstanding education programs and educators were recognized throughout Indian Country. The Southern Ute Education Department’s Johnson-O’Malley program has been chosen as the National Johnson-O’Malley Association (NJOMA) Exemplary Program of the Year for Region 1. The awards were presented as part of the 2025 NJOMA Conference, which convened in Colorado this year. 

The Johnson-O’Malley Program, housed in the Southern Ute Education Department, supports Native American students in the Ignacio and Bayfield School Districts through academic services, cultural recognition, and family engagement. 

“The Johnson-O’Malley Program is one of the Tribe’s longest-running educational efforts, and this award reflects the lasting impact of collaboration among Native families, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Ignacio and Bayfield school districts, and our federal partners, and our shared commitment to supporting Native students,” said Southern Ute Education Department Director, Joseph Claunch.  

“I would like to add that I am extremely grateful to have inherited a program with such a strong foundation and I want to acknowledge all of the Southern Ute Education past and current employees involved in the long standing success of the Southern Ute Johnson-O’Malley program as well as all of the parents and guardians who have committed their time and efforts into helping our Native American students,” said Kaylyn LeClaire, Public Education Specialist with Southern Ute Education.  

“We currently have a supportive parent committee,” LeClaire said. “And I also always want to take the opportunity to extend the invite to any parent or guardians who want to be on the committee as we currently have two vacancies that need to be filled.” The parent committee meets on the first Monday of every month at the Public Education Office at the Southern Ute Education Center from noon-1 pm.  

The Mission of the Johnson-O’Malley program is to address the unique cultural needs of American Indian students attending the Ignacio and Bayfield Public schools through a supplemental program of services planned, developed and approved by the Johnson-O’Malley committee. 

The last award that was presented to the Southern Ute Johnson-O’Malley program was dated October 1991. “The award we received was the Exemplary Program of the Year for Region 1,” LeClaire said. “The award from 1991 is a ‘Recognition of Excellence’ presented by the Office of Indian Education Programs, Bureau of Indian Affairs.” 

The Johnson-O’Malley Act was an Act of the United States Congress passed on April 16, 1934, to subsidize education, medical attention, and other services provided by States or Territories to Native Americans living within their borders. It also helped to provide for Native Americans in rural areas, where it was more difficult for the Federal Government to provide education, medical attention, and other services. 

Southern Ute JOM provides tutoring, school supplies, and educational support items such as lab/testing fees, graduation regalia, athletic shoes, and glasses. JOM graduates are honored with stoles, Pendleton blankets, and an honor song at the annual Southern Ute Education Department Graduation Banquet. 

2024–2025 Johnson-O’Malley Program Highlights include: 215 students enrolled in JOM, 129 JOM students received school supplies, 69 JOM students received in-school academic support, 15 JOM students participated in after-school tutoring and a 100% graduation rate among JOM seniors. 

The program’s parent committee and coordinator actively engage in tribal and district events, including open houses, the Tribal Fair, general tribal membership meetings, Career Fair, and Native student check-ins. JOM also collaborates with Title VI programs in Ignacio and Bayfield School Districts, receiving regular updates and aligning efforts to support Native students. In Ignacio, Native Studies teacher Faustino Trejo serves as a key liaison, strengthening connections between students, schools, and the Tribe. 

Historically, the Johnson-O’Malley Program provided assistance with: 

Tutoring: JOM will not supplant programs already in place within the school district, it’s our goal to support these activities and offer our American Indian students the means to increase their studying capacity.  

Parent Involvement: Parents wish to be involved but are not knowledgeable about the educational system and the way it works. Additionally, cultural differences are a large part of the parent’s lack of comfort in their interaction with school personnel. The Southern Ute Tribe’s Education Department partners with the Johnson-O’Malley program in creating programs or presentations to increase parent involvement. In addition, JOM is a vehicle with which the school district can use to usher parents into the schools and help make them feel more at ease. 

School Supply distribution/Educational Support Items: Each year JOM eligible students have the unique opportunity to obtain their school supplies through funding from the JOM program. In recent years JOM has also partnered with the science labs, math labs, and elective courses for supplies as they are unique and specialized, and not a duplication of any service already provided by federal funding in the district.