In November, the Education Expedition made a meaningful stop at Willamina School District, a rural district of fewer than 1,000 students in Yamhill County, near the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Originally, the visit aimed to learn about Willamina’s celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day, but it quickly became clear that the district’s commitment to integrating tribal history and culture runs far deeper than a single event.

From dual-language programs to embedded social-emotional learning (SEL) and cultural celebrations woven throughout the school day, Willamina is working in close partnership with the local tribal community to ensure Native students see themselves reflected in their education.

At Willamina Elementary, Principal Cera Norwood underscores the district’s approach:

“These aren’t just our kids—these are our kids, the tribe included.”

A key driver of this work is Rebecca Arredondo, a Tribal Attendance Promising Practices (TAPP) advocate whose role extends beyond traditional attendance tracking. While attendance is in her job title, Arredondo emphasizes that the real mission is fostering a deep sense of belonging—addressing the root causes of chronic absenteeism by ensuring students feel valued and connected to their school community.

Thanks to ongoing efforts, the district recently secured funding for an additional TAPP advocate to expand these supports to the middle and high school levels. This investment marks a significant step forward in continuing the work of uplifting and celebrating student identity across all grades.

See It in Action
To hear the full story and see Willamina’s commitment firsthand, watch the latest episode of our Education Expedition series on YouTube.