Skip to main content

2022 State Teacher of the Year, Washington- Jerad Koepp (Wukchumni)

Jerad Koepp (Wukchumni)

STAte: Washington
SCHOOL:North Thurston Public Schools
SUBJECT:Native Culture, Social Studies
GRADE LEVEL: K-12

Biography

Jerad Koepp (Wukchumni) has over 12 years of professional experience in Native American education. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (2004) and Master in Teaching specializing in Native education (2008) from Evergreen State College, and he is endorsed in history and social studies. Since 2013, Koepp has served as the Native student program specialist for North Thurston Public Schools in Lacey, Washington. He provides cultural and academic support for approximately 230 Native American students from more than 50 tribes, nations, bands and villages in his 22-school district. Koepp is currently leading the development of his district’s growing Native studies program; regularly teaches Native studies; and provides training and support for staff. He also serves as North Thurston’s tribal liaison, fostering strong relationships with tribal partners. Koepp believes our education system is in need of a fundamental redesign. He asserts that, by embracing indigenous practices and traditions in our schools and Native contributions to the founding of the U.S. and the current fights for justice, we can have schools that serve all students equitably. He has led and participated in numerous presentations and workshops to help decolonize classrooms and create culturally sustaining environments for school districts, state agencies, organizations and institutes of higher education. Koepp recently worked with a team of tribal and administrative leaders to draft legislation requiring professional training in equity and government-to-government work for all administrators and certificated teachers. It was passed into law and is being implemented in districts across Washington.