Esther Nystrom
Yá’át’ééh. Esther Nystrom is a Navajo woman, an educator, a mother, and a friend. She is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water) and Bilagáana (European) and her maternal grandfather is 'Áshįįhi (Salt Clan) and her paternal grandmother is Bilagáana (European). Her mother is from Twin Lakes, New Mexico and her father is from Long Beach, California. Esther grew up in an urban setting in San Diego, California where she embraced her culture in lessons from the Kumeyaay Tribes of California and Navajo teachers. She is the Native American Education Program Specialist for Mesa Public Schools, the Vice President for the Arizona Indian Education Association and sits on the Arizona Department of Education Office of Indian Education Advisory Council both based in Phoenix, Arizona. She has a passion for creating opportunities based on cultural learning and academics. At the MPS Native American Education Program, she has the unique privilege to provide innovative and Indigenous-based learning methods for over 3,500 Native American students. She has a supportive husband, Tony, of 27 years and 5 beautiful children, two who are married and 1 grandchild on the way. Some of her hobbies include presentations in various methods of beading and creating regalia.
