Blackfeet man named Montana Teacher of the Year

Kevin Kicking Woman, a Blackfeet language and cultural teacher at Browning High School, will go on to compete in the National Teacher of the Year competition

The Montana Office of Public Instruction presented Kevin Kicking Woman with the 2024 Teacher of the Year award during an assembly at Browning High School on the Blackfeet Nation on Sept. 28, 2023.

The announcement came as a surprise to Kicking Woman, as he found out during the impromptu assembly where the state’s superintendent, Elsie Arntzen, as well as Kicking Woman’s family and Browning school district leaders, waited to present him the award.

“I literally believe that we carry our ancestors with us, and I just felt so good that from past teachers, to family, to just everything about Native people and how we got here and how we came to be and so on,” said Kicking Woman, describing his reaction. “And just to do it in front of them, especially my family, my kids in the school, these kids and teachers, it was awesome.”

Kicking Woman, Blackfeet, began working in the high school as the Blackfeet culture and language teacher in 2018. Before that, he taught Blackfeet language at the college level at the University of Montana.

He said he feels fulfilled every day he walks through the school doors. It’s not only important to make connections and relationships with his students, but it’s also saving and preserving the culture and language of the Blackfeet people.

“We came a long way from almost losing it, from cultural genocide to where we’re at today. We’re making a comeback and that is so powerful to me to know that, to be a part of that process, to say the language, the songs, and the culture, the way of life,” Kicking Woman said.

Browning Public Schools Superintendent Corrina Guardipee released a statement on the school district’s Facebook page that shares how Kicking Woman’s teaching qualities impact the students.

“His innovative teaching methods and understanding of the Blackfeet Language and Traditions has created a passage where his students learn about their heritage but also feel a profound connection to it. This connection helps our students foster a sense of pride and a positive self-identity. He also has an excellent sense of humor and really cares about our students,” she stated.

The school district’s Blackfeet Native American Studies program director, Robert Hall was also in attendance at the assembly. Hall spoke with ICT and gave insight to just how impactful the award is, saying it is an honor felt throughout the community, state and country.

“He is teaching an Indigenous language. He is a Blackfoot language instructor. And he was recognized as Montana Teacher of the Year. That is monumental. That’s monumental for the state of Montana,” said Hall.

Amy Andreas, the high school librarian, put together a short video clip that’s composed of the school’s staff and students sharing what they love about their teacher.

“What I really respect about Mr. Kicking Woman is [that] he is the funniest person I’ve ever met and the funniest person at the school and he is always so supportive of me of my athletics and my achievements,” one student said.

“He’s funny when he needs to be and he is serious when he needs to be,” said another student. “He really fueled my love for the Blackfoot culture and the language and he really just opened up the door for me to just start learning about the Blackfoot language.”

One student shared his relationship with Kicking Woman in the video, “Thanks for being a leader in the school and a father [figure] and role model to me.”

The Montana Teacher of the Year selection comes from representatives from Montana education leadership and government officials such as the Office of Public Instruction, the Governor’s Office, the Montana Advisory Council on Indian Education, the Montana Board of the Public Instruction and last year’s Teacher of the Year recipient.

Now, Kicking Woman will go on to represent Montana at the National Teacher of the Year competition.

The message he leaves with all students of the district?

“Don’t give up. Always try hard, and if I can do it, you can do it,” said Kicking Woman.

Dateline:

BROWNING, Mont.