Danielle Grant of Minneapolis Public Schools has been named one of the state's outstanding American Indian educators, the first urban district administrator so honored.
The honor was bestowed by the Minnesota Indian Education Association last month. Those cited are selected for their role in education, leadership and for how they reflect Indian culture in their lives or work.
Grant is the district's director of Indian education. During her tenure, the district shifted from an intervention model of serving Indian students to a more proactive approach, the district said.
She also led the district's renewal early this year of an agreement with the directors of local Indian agencies. That pact sets specific numeric achievement goals for Indian students.
Grant first worked as a community organizer for the Girl Scouts and later was policy director for the Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board. Her tribal affiliation is with the Turtle Mountain Ojibwe of North Dakota.
