gmeier587

Gene M. Meier founded the Wyoming E Academy of Virtual Education and the Fort Washakie Charter High School. This educational innovation is Wyoming’s premiere public online high school located on the Wind River Indian Reservation in the mountains of Wyoming. WeAVE not only serves the reservation, but also the state of Wyoming as a choice for high school education. Gene was also the Principle Investigator for the Wind River Rural Systemic Initiative (WRRSI), a program that was originally funded by the National Science Foundation to promote and increase science, technology, engineering and math literacy amongst Native American Students and communities. Gene was the Regional Coordinator for the Tribal College Rural Systemic Initiative located at Turtle Mountain Community College in Belcourt, North Dakota. Today, he maintains his relationship with tribal colleges as a consultant providing technical assistance and evaluation services. He has been involved with math and science reform for Native Americans for 15 years. Recently Gene was as a panelist for the Committee of Visitors, a review of programming to minority serving institutions by the National Science Foundation. He also served on the legislative task force in Wyoming to develop rules and regulations for distance education. He has been a chef, paramedic, a forest service botanist, and a technology director. Gene enjoys mountain biking, fly fishing, snowboarding and enjoys the outdoors with his family. He maintains two homes, with the other in the Black Hills near South Dakota. He has five children; two are in education programs at Colorado State University, one who works for the Bureau of Land Management, one who attends Casper College and the youngest who attend the WeAVE high school. "Break The Cycle" is Gene's quote for his high school students and feels that with the use of technology and increased opportunities in science and math, the walls of education will tumble down for all Native American students and others who have been historically undeserved. Gene has a B. S. in Biology, a M. A. in Education, and is currently engaged in a Doctorate program in education at the University of Wyoming.