Helen Thomas

Helen Thomas is a Hunkpapa Lakota educator, professional learning expert, and writer originally from North Dakota. An enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, she currently serves as Professional Learning Manager for the National Indian Education Association. Helen has worked as a classroom teacher, Native American student achievement specialist, and most recently as the Professional Learning Coordinator for the Office of Indian Education at the Arizona Department of Education. Helen has a bachelor's degree in economics and public policy from Dartmouth College, a master's in Elementary Education from the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, and a master's in Indigenous Education from the School of Social Transformation at ASU. Helen is passionate about creating learning opportunities that center the strengths of Native students and nations and has led workshops for national audiences on this topic.