In this episode of Highest Aspirations, Sandra Medrano-Arroyo speaks with Georgina Owen, Indian Education Coordinator at the Colorado Department of Education, about advancing authentic and equitable education for Native American students. Georgina shares how collaboration with tribal nations has shaped Colorado’s culturally grounded curriculum, strengthened trust, and ensured that Indigenous voices guide classroom instruction. Listeners will learn about innovative initiatives supporting Indigenous language and culture, efforts to refine identification processes under Title III, and strategies for sustaining meaningful partnerships between schools and tribal communities.

Key questions we address:

1. How can state education systems authentically collaborate with tribal nations to create accurate, culturally grounded curriculum?
2. What challenges and opportunities exist in identifying and supporting Indigenous students under federal education policy?
3. What systemic steps can strengthen culturally relevant instruction and ensure Indigenous voices remain central in education?

For additional episode and community resources:

• Download the transcript here.
• Information on Colorado’s American Indian Education
• Resources from History Colorado
• Register for IMPACT 2025! 
• Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Community Brief
• For additional free resources geared toward supporting English learners, ⁠visit our blog.

Georgina Owen has worked at the state level as an English Language Development (ELD) Specialist and Indian Education Coordinator for more than 11 years. Prior to that, she served as a Title III Coordinator and Exceptional Student Services Specialist for the San Juan BOCES, an adjunct professor at Colorado Christian University, a Title I Reading Specialist, and an elementary teacher. She holds a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership with a principal license from the University of Northern Colorado.

Currently, Georgina serves as the Indian Education Coordinator at the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). In this role, she manages Title VI, a federal program that supports the academic, cultural, and linguistic needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students. She facilitated the first government-to-government agreement between the CDE and Colorado’s federally recognized tribes, represents the CDE as an ex-officio member of the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs, and has led the development of Nuu-Ciu Strong: Lessons About the Ute People of Colorado, among other educator resources. In addition, Georgina works with educators across Colorado to strengthen programming that supports Native American students.

She has also served on the Colorado Commission to Study American Indian Logos in Schools, Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs Education Committee, the Southwest Native American Education Committee, the Urban Indian Education Committee, the Indian Education State Leaders Network, and the Western Educational Equity Assistance Center Indian Education Community of Practice.