Tuba City students impress governing board with presentation on D.C. trip

TUBA CITY, Ariz. — A group of Tuba City High School students impressed the Tuba City Unified School District Governing Board April 12 with a presentation on their recent trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools (NAFIS) Conference.

The conference was held March 12-14 and brought together educators, administrators and policymakers from schools impacted by federal lands, such as military bases, Indian reservations and national parks, to discuss issues and share best practices.

The students were selected based on their academic achievement and leadership skills and were accompanied by school administrators. The conference allowed the students to participate in discussions on education policy and advocacy, as well as learn about the impact of federal land on local schools.

During their presentation to the governing board, the students shared their experiences from the conference, including participating in a student panel discussion titled “Fostering Student Engagement in Indian Lands School Districts” alongside peers from Salamanca School. The panel discussion focused on ways to increase student engagement and success in schools located on Native American lands.

The NAFIS conference is the leading association advocating for Impact Aid, which replaces revenue lost due to the presence of nontaxable federal property in a community. Impact Aid ensures districts containing federal property have the resources they need to provide a quality education to the students they serve.

The students’ presentation was met with great enthusiasm by the governing board and they were commended for representing themselves, their families, the school and the community well at the conference.