Every year, the Minnesota Indian Education Association (MIEA) celebrates the richness of Indigenous culture and honors the efforts of those dedicated to fostering it within their communities. Last month, Hopkins American Indian Student Specialist Debb Andreen was named Indian Education Liaison of the Year for the 2023-24 school year.
In her two years with the Indian Education Program at Hopkins Public Schools, Andreen has left an indelible mark as a beacon of wisdom, compassion, and cultural insight. She has provided students with teachings, traditional crafting, cultural insight, and taking on the unofficial role as “stand-in grandmother” to the scholars.
Andreen has fostered a sense of belonging and pride among Indigenous students by creating a safe space for students to learn and celebrate their heritage. In a nomination letter, one person wrote, Andreen is “the flame we need to spark the fire for Indigenous education.”