THE LODGE APPROACH EDUCATORS’ CONFERENCE
Let’s Ignite Student Success
Presenters
Father David Bailey is a Catholic priest with the Diocese of Tyler. He has over thirty years of experience working as an advocate for Native issues across Indian Country. He studied Sociology and Native American Studies in Oklahoma and currently studies Cheyenne Language studies online through Chief Dull Knife College. He has a Masters Degree in Theology from Notre Dame Seminary. He is a parish priest in the Diocese of Tyler (in northeast Texas). He also advocates for Native issues as a member of the Native American Advisory Board to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in Washington, D.C.. He is also a co-host of The Church and Indian Country Podcast. He typically travels to Montana, specifically to the Northern Cheyenne reservation, to visit with friends and relations an average of three or four times every year.
John Bennett has over 40 years of experience as a teacher. After retiring from the Akron Public Schools, where he was the 2012 APS Teacher of the Year, he joined The Lippman School as an embedded technology specialist. John is passionate about using technology to bring cross cultural learning into experiential education that targets a technologically savvy student base. John has presented at numerous local, state and national technology conferences. He was part of the working group of the National Education Technology Plan 2010 and is the creator of the problem-based learning unit for walkportagepath.org. John has a B.S. in Elementary Education and a Masters in Educational Administration from The University of Akron.
Sam Chestnut has over 30 years of experience as an educational leader with expertise in cross cultural and experiential learning. His ground-breaking work with The Northern Cheyenne Nation has received significant national attention and has presented at national and international conferences. For over ten years he has developed programs for schools, adults and families to learn with The Northern Cheyenne Nation. In addition, Sam has developed partnerships with schools in China and facilitated learning experiences for students in China and Israel. Sam holds a B.A. from Kenyon College and a M.A. in Education from The University of Akron.
Doug Ellison: Dr. Ellison is an associate professor of Physical Education Teacher Education in the School of Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum Studies at Kent State University. Their scholarship explores the mechanisms that facilitate teacher sustainability. Additionally, they examine equity-based trauma-informed practices in schools.
Mary Beth Henning, Ph.D., is a professor of education at The University of Mount Union specializing in social studies. Now in her 20th year as a professor, Dr. Henning has published 25 peer-reviewed articles related to teacher education and edited the book, Innovations in Economic Education: Promising Practices for Teachers and Students, K-16. She will present with Dr. Lucey, “The Big Ones Get Away: Native American Art and Music Exploring Financial Literacy.”
Thomas A. Lucey, Ed.D., is a professor of elementary education in the School of Teaching and Learning at Illinois State University. Dr. Lucey has published numerous peer-reviewed articles related to teacher education. He has authored or edited several books related to social studies learning. Most recently, Dr. Miranda Lin and he co-edited the volume, Rekindling Embers of the Soul: An Examination of Spirituality Issues Relating to Teacher Education. He will present with Dr. Henning, “The Big Ones Get Away: Native American Art and Music Exploring Financial Literacy.”
Burt Medicine Bull, Setovaatse, is a member of the So’taa’e band of theNorthern Cheyenne people. He is a professor of Cheyenne Language and Culture at Chief Dull Knife College in Lame Deer, MT. Setovaatse has held multiple significant teaching positions from 4th grade through college levels in Montana and South Dakota. His B.A. from Montana State University, Billings, is in elementary education with a Minor in Native American Studies. He received his M.A. in Leadership/Elementary Administration and graduated with honors, Magna Cum Laude from Oglala Lakota College. He is a practicing member of the Native American Church and participates in the sweat lodge. He is a fluent speaker of his native Cheyenne language and is passionate about teaching his language and sharing his culture.
Matt Russ has 20 years of experience as an educator in both the middle school and college settings. He currently serves as Director of Curriculum and Student Affairs at The Lippman School. Matt is the educational program director for The Lippman School’s cross-cultural partnership with the Northern Cheyenne Nation and Chief Dull Knife College. He also authored an adolescent novella, which is in the process of publication, to use as a teaching tool in the middle grades social studies classroom. Matt holds a B.S. in Journalism from Appalachian State University and a M.A. in Religious Studies from John Carroll University.
Pete Schneller, Ph. D. is an Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Mount Union (UMU), where he designed and taught numerous courses, including topics such as Comparative Education, Creativity, Middle School Teaching Methods, Adolescent Development, and a Capstone Course called ADDICTION. One of his favorite experiences while professing was a sabbatical during which he taught at the Tibetan Children’s Villages Schools in Dharamshala, India. He has published numerous articles including “The Creative Spirit” and “The Ethical Bounds of a Self-actualized Teacher” and coedited a book with South African, Charl Wolhuter, titled Navigating the C’s: Creativity, Care, Compassion, Character, Cosmopolitanism, Contribution, and Critical Awareness. His doctoral work in Moscow, Idaho included exploring Native American education. Dr. Schneller is particularly interested in the vagaries of the spirit.
Raven Shannon is a teacher in a multiage classroom of first and second grade children at the Lippman School in Akron, Ohio. She is passionate about social constructivist education and believes in facilitating inquiry-based experiences with young children while integrating an anti-bias framework into her practice. Raven maintains a professional affiliation with the Children and Nature network, as she highly values learning and exploring outdoor environments alongside children. Raven holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Kent State University.
Linwood Tall Bull is an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe who has spent over 30 years working with the tribal health programs and the elderly programs as the director of the Shoulder Blade Independent Living Center. Linwood has been a teacher of medical programs in hospitals, teaching doctors how to diagnose native patients using Indian sign language. Linwood is an active member of an ancient warrior Society; their role is to preserve our culture and traditional beliefs. Linwood’s Cheyenne name is Ho’neh’eso, which means Young Wolf. He now teaches Ethnobotany and other cultural courses at Chief Dull Knife College.
Randall James Tall Bull, H’aest’ohena’hane (Many Kills) is a skilled craftsman of traditional tools, weaponry, and ancient skills. Randall has shared the teaching of the ethnobotany summer course at Chief Dull knife College. Randall will carry on the teachings of his father Linwood Tall Bull and grandfather William Tall Bull. Randall has collected artifacts for the Buffalo trunk, which is a hands-on teaching tool that will be used by schools to bring awareness of the importance of the Buffalo and the Indian people.
Jennifer Walton-Fisette: Dr. Walton-Fisette is a professor of Physical Education Teacher Education in the School of Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum Studies at Kent State University. Their scholarship explores the critical examination of how sociocultural issues and social justice are included and addressed in PETE programs locally, nationally and internationally.e Resident Educator Mentor. She is currently working on a book project with members of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe that will soon be in publication. Alisa holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from The University of Akron and a M.A in Educational Technology also from The University of Akron.
Alisa Westover has over 20 years of teaching experience in early childhood education grades K-5. She currently teaches in a multiage classroom of first and second graders at The Lippman School. Alisa is a member of the Leadership Team at Lippman and serves as the Resident Educator Mentor. She is currently working on a book project with members of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe that will soon be in publication. Alisa holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from The University of Akron and a M.A in Educational Technology also from The University of Akron.