Winnebago Public Schools in Nebraska is expanding mental health services, cultural learning opportunities and support for rural students with a new 10,000-square-foot resource center.

The building includes dedicated mental health therapy rooms, student support spaces and areas for students to learn.

Superintendent Kamau Turner said the center also features paintings representing all 12 clans of the Ho-Chunk Tribe in the middle of the room.

“We had kids and they’re like, ‘Hey, here’s my clan. Hey, let’s all stand on our clans,’” Turner said. “That was awesome to see that they understand that and they know that.”

The resource center is part of a broader effort by educators to provide culturally grounded and relevant lessons to students.

Winnebago Public Schools serves just under 700 students in Nebraska, up from 300 a few years ago. Turner said the district is growing because some tribal members are deciding to come home and raise their children.

“We want to make sure that when you make that decision to come back home that you can trust that your kid’s getting a good education and that they’re gonna be treated well in Winnebago Public Schools,” Turner said.

Turner said Winnebago is working on housing to accommodate growing families and those who want to return to the area.

Source: Public News Service