Principles of Ideal Learning
Drawn from the strength of world-renowned early childhood approaches including Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Friends Center for Children, Tools of the…
Report
Equity
Parents & Familes
Place-Based
Public Policy
- Title
- Former Director
- Organization
- Office of Indian Education Programs
- Location
- Washington, D. C.
Mr. William Mehojah, Jr. is a member of the Kaw Tribe of Oklahoma and has been the Director of the Office of Indian Education Programs in Washington, D. C. He has served in various positions in that office, including Deputy Director, Special Assistant to the Director, Branch Chief for Elementary and Secondary Education, and Division Chief for Education Programs. He also administered a technical assistance office in Alaska for seven years that provided professional development for BIA schools located throughout the state. William got his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Dakota and a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology from the University of South Dakota. He started his career in 1972 at the Flandreau Indian Boarding School in South Dakota and later served as an elementary and secondary counselor and an administrator at Rosebud Agency. While at the Office of Indian Education Programs he was instrumental in starting the Family and Child Education Program (FACE) that provides early childhood and family literacy services to children and their families at 50 Bureau of Indian Education schools.
Mr. Mehojah was the National Indian Education Association Indian Educator of the Year in 2004. He also received in 2004, the Goodling Award for Leadership in family literacy from the National Center for Family Literacy located in Louisville, Kentucky, and the Partnership Award from the Parents as Teachers National Center in St. Louis, Missouri. In 2019 he received the Trailblazer award from Parents as Teachers for his work in developing the FACE program and his commitment to supporting families and children.
He has also served on the Board of Directors for the Parents as Teachers National Center and the High Scope Research Foundation in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Although William retired from the federal government in 2008, he is currently a private consultant working in the field of early literacy. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his two children and five grandchildren.
