- I was going to introduce myself in Navajo which is what we always do.

(speaking Navajo) (gentle guitar music) My name is Terry James.

I teach at Monument Valley High School.

I teach grades nine through 12th, agricultural science.

- She, he is passionate about what she does and the kids really embrace that.

She teaches them with the idea that they're gonna be her leaders someday.

(gentle guitar music) - I'm not a true Ag teacher.

It's just because there was a need for one.

What I have found in the last three years of doing Ag is that a lot of my students didn't understand anything about gardening.

When the pandemic started, that's when it became really fun and big because they all planted gardens at their homes.

(gentle guitar music) A lot of them had to do trial and error this summer.

And so by doing that I think it helps them to think and become problem solvers.

It's really sparked an interest with a lot of my students.

- It's a family ordeal.

When you have a garden, everyone helps.

- And I think when they actually get to harvest and they feel that accomplishment and just to see the parents and the grandparents give them praise for that is really cool.

(gentle guitar music) - She goes out into the community and helps families restore gardens that they may have had in the past.

She does all of this so that the kids can interact with the elders in the community.

- I do a lot of talking Navajo in my classroom because we want the kids to be able to listen to the elders and speak the language and kind of get them immersed in that.

They got pretty good at it.

You know, I would say peaches or something in Navajo and the kids would understand.

So they're starting to catch on.

And I think it's super important because.. (gentle guitar music) That's how we identify ourselves.

And it's being lost.

It's just super important.

(gentle guitar music) - Here on the reservation, our elders are our treasures.

In Navajo we have a concept of, it's a phrase.

(speaking Navajo) That in the future, I want you to meet me halfway.

She truly believes that this is her investment.

You know, she's investing in these kids.

- And they remember this.

I know they do because I've had students come back and say, Ms. James, I remember doing this in your class.

- Sometimes kids are not sure about themselves, and so it takes being an advocate.

So I think that's what makes her a good person to teach the things that she does.

- I want them to be able to take care of themselves when they leave school, leave the community.

It is just why I teach.

Yeah.

(gentle guitar music) You know, when I see them go out and succeed and it just makes me feel really proud, proud for them.

(gentle guitar music) (gentle music)