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Project Title: Strengthening Student Resiliency – Bureau of Indian Education
Helping educators support Native students through trauma-informed, visually inclusive eLearning.
The Challenge:
American Indian/Alaska Native youth face disproportionately high exposure to trauma, impacting learning and well-being. BIE needed a culturally sensitive, trauma-informed course that educators and community members would actually use—not just tolerate.
My Role:
I served as the sole Instructional Designer and Project Manager, translating emotionally complex, culturally nuanced material into a respectful and practical learning experience. I also led the visual concept, pitching a comic book-style aesthetic to boost engagement and representation.
The Solution:
I applied a hybrid ADDIE/SAM approach to rapidly iterate with BIE stakeholders. To address limited available imagery, I commissioned custom characters and scenes in a comic book format—visually dynamic, culturally appropriate, and accessible. All content followed WCAG and plain language standards to ensure clarity for a broad audience.
The Results:
- 98% learner satisfaction, with strong qualitative feedback from educators and tribal leaders
- Now used across BIE-funded schools and communities as a core training program
- Recognized internally as a model for culturally responsive design