Assistant Interior Secretary for Indian Affairs Eddie F Brown today announced the appointment of John W. Tippeconnic as Director of the Office of Indian Education Programs in Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
"I am pleased that John Tippeconnic has agreed to direct our education program. We continue to have the strong support of President Bush and Secretary Manuel Lujan for the improvement of education at all levels and we are committed to working with Indian tribes to improve education at our Bureau funded schools," Brown said. "John Tippeconnic is a dedicated public administrator with an extensive background in education -- including Indian education -- and has the experience to lead our efforts." Tippeconnic, an enrolled member of the Comanche Indian Tribe of Oklahoma, has served for the past two years as Director of the Office of Indian Education in the U.S. Department of Education. His new appointment was effective July 13.
"It is an honor for me to head up the education program in the Bureau of Indian Affairs. I look forward to working with Dr. Brown, the tribes, and school boards to continue the improvements made in Indian education," Tippeconnic said. Tippeconnic, 49, has more than 26 years’ experience in the' field of education. He began his career in 1966 after obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree at Oklahoma State University as a classroom teacher in the Albuquerque, N.M. public school system. He later taught for four years in a BIA-funded school in Tuba City, Arizona, also served as vice-president and assistant to the president of Navajo Community College in Arizona, and spent one year on the staff of Pennsylvania State University·.
In 1978 he joined the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C., and in 1980 became Director of the Center" for Indian Education arid Assistant Professor at Arizona State University. He held various positions including Associate Professor of Education at Arizona State, until he returned to the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. as Director of the Office of Indian Education. He has remained in that position until the time of his present appointment. The new education director has a Master in Education from Pennsylvania State University and in 1975, received his Ph.D. from the same University. He is a member of the Senior Executive service. During his 26-year career, he has served on numerous state and national education related committees including President of the Arizona Native American Education Association, Program Chair for the American Indian/Alaska Native Education Special Interest Group, and the American Educational Research Association.
Tippeconnic is married to the former Debra Milone. They have one son and reside in Falls Church, Virginia.
