St Michaels Indian School

Mission Statement

St. Michael Indian School provides students from local Native American communities with a quality education that is rooted in Catholic values, is sensitive to Native heritage, teaches leadership skills, and enables students to contribute in a culturally diverse world.

Core Values

We believe that the ultimate purpose of education is to help each student become an effective, responsible person with high moral and spiritual values, and to be a productive citizen in democratic society. We create a safe, caring environment where good teaching and cooperative learning are taken for granted, and we provide opportunities for service to others that will enhance our students' own self-knowledge. We strive in everything we do to carry out our mission statement and express our five core values: Respect: we will treat each other with dignity and respect. Excellence: we will strive towards excellence in all areas. Empowerment: our decision and actions are in line with our mission. Cultural diversity: we value our differences and expand our awareness of others. Diversity results in better decisions. Openness: we will strive towards open communication and value others' viewpoints.

History

St. Michael Indian School was founded in 1902 by St. Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. At its founding, the school was an elementary-level boarding school which provided a practical, skills-oriented education to the children of Navajo families. Over the course of the 20th century, the school evolved away from this model into a K-12 academic institution. Today, the school educates over 340 students, nearly all of whom go on to college or other post-secondary education. The school is a 501c(3) non-profit organization which has been able to remain in operation for over a century, thanks to the generous support of individuals and organizations.

SMIS is accredited by AdvancED/NCA for quality assurance and school improvement. SMIS is a member of the National Catholic Education Association and the Diocese of Gallup Catholic School System. The school's talented and diverse faculty are recruited from across the Navajo Nation and the United States.