Interior's Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Eddie F. Brown today announced the appointment of Edward F. Parisian as Deputy to the Assistant Secretary and Director of Indian Education Programs in the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Parisian, an enrolled member of the Chippewa-Cree tribe of Montana, has served as Superintendent of Schools of the Rocky Boy Indian reservation in Box Elder, Montana, since July 1983. His new appointment is effective Feb. 1.
"I am pleased that Ed Parisian has agreed to come aboard to direct our education program in the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This is an exciting time in education: President Bush has committed his Administration to improving education at all levels and we have the active support of Secretary Lujan as we work with the tribes to finalize our education goals for Indian children for this decade," Brown said. "Ed Parisian has the educational background and experience to lead our efforts."
"It is an honor to be asked to head up the education program in the Bureau of Indian Affairs. I look forward to working closely with Assistant Secretary Brown to make the necessary changes in Indian education programs to better serve our young people. I know that we have the support and commitment of President Bush and Secretary Lujan; together, we can make a difference," Parisian said.
Parisian, 40, has more than 19 years experience in the field of education. As superintendent of Schools at Rocky Boy, he directed all phases of administration and supervision of a 472-student school system from Headstart through 12th grade. Prior to his appointment as superintendent in 1983, he served for two years as director of the Rocky Boy tribal education program. From 1980 to 1981, Parisian was tribal health director and planner for the Rocky Boy Health Board while pursuing his doctoral degree in educational administration at Montana State University. His teaching experience includes courses in human growth and development at Stone Child College, and social studies .at Browning (Mont.) Junior High School. He has evaluated more than 30 Indian education programs under Title IV and Title VII for school systems in North and South Dakota, Washington, D.C., Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Mississippi and Utah.
The Fort Belknap, Montana, native holds an M.A. in educational administration from the University of South Dakota (1977), and a B.A. in physical education (1974) and a A.A. in liberal arts (1973) from Eastern Montana College. He has been a member of the National Indian Education Association since 1973, a member of its board of directors since 1982, and served as its president for the 1988-89 term. He is a member of Phi Delta Kappa, American Association of School Administrators, National Indian Impact Schools, and Montana Indian Education Association.
Parisian was named to Who's Who in the West in 1985; Outstanding Indian Administrator by the Montana Indian Education Association, 1982, and one of the Outstanding Young Men of America the same year.
He is married to the former Barbara Racine. They have two children.
