Emma Fanning serves as the NICE specialist for Omaha South.
Have you ever wondered who the Native Indigenous Centered Education (NICE) specialist at South is?
Emma Fanning is new to the position at South as of June 2024 and also serves as the NICE specialist at Burke and North High school. Fanning said she provides social, emotional and academic support to South’s Native/Indigenous community through interactive cultural projects, field trips and weekly meetings.
Fanning is a NICE alumna as she participated in the program as an OPS student and also grew up in Omaha. Fanning said she majored in anthropology at Miami University and participated in language revitalization projects such as working to protect and reintegrate Indigenous languages throughout diasporic (people who live outside of their traditional homeland by force or by choice) communities.
“As an enrolled member of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, I have an intense passion to help communities and individuals like mine who share similar experiences and challenges,” Fanning said.
Fanning said her favorite part of her job is as NICE specialist is when “I am able to see my students connect with their heritage, explore new ways of being, excel at their academics and continue to demonstrate resistance and determination.”
Fanning’s motivation to continue working as a NICE specialist is the investment in seeing students that she has known and worked with graduate high school with plans for their futures. The NICE graduation ceremony, which is held annually – “strengthens this moment by surrounding our students with community involvement and support through cultural celebration,” Fanning said. “It is my favorite time of year and the pinnacle of achievement.”