Remembering Cheryl Singer (1960-2025)
The Yale National Initiative remembers Cheryl Singer, a dedicated educator, cultural steward, and Navajo Language Teacher at Monument Valley High School on the Navajo Nation. Cheryl was guided by a mission to preserve the Navajo language and promote cultural literacy among her students. She leaves behind a powerful legacy of commitment to Indigenous education, language preservation, and cultural storytelling.
Cheryl was a 2023 Yale National Fellow and participated in the national seminar "Writing About Nature," led by Professor Jill Campbell of Yale University's Department of English. As a Fellow, she developed "Through the Eyes of a Navajo: Nature Writing," a curriculum unit that blended traditional Navajo perspectives with contemporary educational approaches. Both she and her student, Nashauni Laughter, were invited to Yale University to speak about the unit at our 2023 Annual Conference.
Navajo educator and Yale National Fellow Jolene Smith remembers Cheryl fondly: "She always had open arms to anyone who loved and taught children. The Navajo culture, language, and traditions were valued life lessons she taught to her students and to others who wanted to know more." Baker Middle School Teacher and National Fellow, Priscilla Black, said, "History and language are keys to our Dine Language. It is a precious gift. We as elders gift our culture and language to our next generation. That was Cheryl's life mission."
The Yale National Initiative extends our deepest condolences to her family, her students, and the Kayenta community.