Lillian Vallely School

Lillian Vallely School History
P.O. Box 790, 350 South 700 West, Blackfoot, ID 83221 Phone: 208-785-1890 Fax: 208-785-1884

The Lillian Vallely School, an independent Christian elementary school for Indian children, was begun at the request of a group of elders on the Fort Hall Reservation in eastern Idaho. These elders, mostly grandmothers, led by a wonderful Shoshone woman, an Episcopal Deacon named Lillian Vallely, were concerned about their grandchildren and great-grandchildren and all the children on the Reservation. They wanted the children to experience the greatness of their people and to achieve their highest potential. That would require a situation in which they were genuinely honored and in which excellence would be expected of them.

They asked Bishop John Thornton, Episcopal Bishop of Idaho (now retired from that position), if he would start a school in the old brick school building, on the campus of the Church of the Good Shepherd, on the Reservation, where some of them had gone to school as children. Upon investigating the situation, he realized why the grandmothers were concerned. Two school counselors,serving the Reservation, also reported concerns. The March 11, 2001 issue of The Arizona Republic reported that Native Americans are twice as likely to experience violence during their lifetimes as any other ethnic group in the United States. Something needed to be done to help.

We opened January 1998 with fifteen children in a combined class of first, second and third grades in a refurbished room in the old building. In the fall of 1998 we painted two more rooms and added kindergarten and fourth grade. That put us at capacity for the building. In the Spring of 1999, with a large grant from the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation of Boise and several other gifts, we were able to purchase a sixty-acre farm just off the Reservation and move the school. After a summer of volunteer effort on the part of eight different volunteer groups, tearing down barns, leveling the land, bringing in rented portable classrooms, and refurbishing the old house, we opened school on schedule late August. We accepted thirty children and added fifth grade.

We have since added a library wing onto the administration building, a beautiful playground and, with the help of nine volunteer teams from Episcopal and Methodist churches, we have built two new classroom buildings during the summers of 2005 and 2006. The library, the bus and the latest classroom building were built with the financial help of the Gladys E. Langroise Advised Fund in the Idaho Community Foundation.

From the beginning, we have had small classes with lots of individual attention. Two highly qualified, nurturing teachers with Idaho Teaching Credentials teach the academic subjects. In addition, students are taught the Shoshoni language, Indian dance, music, and crafts. A well-qualified and experienced Shoshone Indian woman teaches the culture. Students have opportunities to present dance performances off the Reservation, so that they can experience a wider world and gain self-confidence. They have performed at the College of Southem Idaho and in Denver for a large convention.

We also teach the Christian faith in the Anglican tradition, another request of the elders. We believe that if they are grounded in the faith, know their native heritage and can feel proud of who they are, they will do better in all subjects. We want them to be comfortable in both their native culture and in the culture of the majority, to excel academically and to have the skills to attend any college or university in America if they wish.

We do not charge tuition, because the children's families would be unable to pay it. The families help with time and talent as they are able. Except for the Government School Lunch Program, we do not receive any government help. All of the funding for the school is raised from the private sector through foundation and corporation grants, fund-raising events and gifts from many generous individuals. It costs $20,000 each month to operate, so we are very thankful for all of this support.

Currently we are a kindergarten through fifth grade school. The parents and grandparents of the children would like us to offer sixth, seventh and eighth grades, but we do not have the funding to maintain more than what we are doing now. We have the land for expansion and hope that someday it will be possible to have more classes and beautiful playing fields.

updated:08/22/06
LVS Webmaster

	Lillian Vallely School History P.O. Box 790, 350 South 700 West, Blackfoot, ID 83221 Phone: 208-785-1890 Fax: 208-785-1884


		The Lillian Vallely School, an independent Christian elementary school for Indian children, was begun at the request of a group of elders on the Fort Hall Reservation in eastern Idaho. These elders, mostly grandmothers, led by a wonderful Shoshone woman, an Episcopal Deacon named Lillian Vallely, were concerned about their grandchildren and great-grandchildren and all the children on the Reservation. They wanted the children to experience the greatness of their people and to achieve their highest potential. That would require a situation in which they were genuinely honored and in which excellence would be expected of them.
	They asked Bishop John Thornton, Episcopal Bishop of Idaho (now retired from that position), if he would start a school in the old brick school building, on the campus of the Church of the Good Shepherd, on the Reservation, where some of them had gone to school as children. Upon investigating the situation, he realized why the grandmothers were concerned. Two school counselors,serving the Reservation, also reported concerns. The March 11, 2001 issue of The Arizona Republic reported that Native Americans are twice as likely to experience violence during their lifetimes as any other ethnic group in the United States. Something needed to be done to help.
		We opened January 1998 with fifteen children in a combined class of first, second and third grades in a refurbished room in the old building. In the fall of 1998 we painted two more rooms and added kindergarten and fourth grade. That put us at capacity for the building. In the Spring of 1999, with a large grant from the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation of Boise and several other gifts, we were able to purchase a sixty-acre farm just off the Reservation and move the school. After a summer of volunteer effort on the part of eight different volunteer groups, tearing down barns, leveling the land, bringing in rented portable classrooms, and refurbishing the old house, we opened school on schedule late August. We accepted thirty children and added fifth grade.
	We have since added a library wing onto the administration building, a beautiful playground and, with the help of nine volunteer teams from Episcopal and Methodist churches, we have built two new classroom buildings during the summers of 2005 and 2006. The library, the bus and the latest classroom building were built with the financial help of the Gladys E. Langroise Advised Fund in the Idaho Community Foundation.
	From the beginning, we have had small classes with lots of individual attention. Two highly qualified, nurturing teachers with Idaho Teaching Credentials teach the academic subjects. In addition, students are taught the Shoshoni language, Indian dance, music, and crafts. A well-qualified and experienced Shoshone Indian woman teaches the culture. Students have opportunities to present dance performances off the Reservation, so that they can experience a wider world and gain self-confidence. They have performed at the College of Southem Idaho and in Denver for a large convention.
	We also teach the Christian faith in the Anglican tradition, another request of the elders. We believe that if they are grounded in the faith, know their native heritage and can feel proud of who they are, they will do better in all subjects. We want them to be comfortable in both their native culture and in the culture of the majority, to excel academically and to have the skills to attend any college or university in America if they wish. We do not charge tuition, because the children's families would be unable to pay it. The families help with time and talent as they are able. Except for the Government School Lunch Program, we do not receive any government help. All of the funding for the school is raised from the private sector through foundation and corporation grants, fund-raising events and gifts from many generous individuals. It costs $20,000 each month to operate, so we are very thankful for all of this support. Currently we are a kindergarten through fifth grade school. The parents and grandparents of the children would like us to offer sixth, seventh and eighth grades, but we do not have the funding to maintain more than what we are doing now. We have the land for expansion and hope that someday it will be possible to have more classes and beautiful playing fields.