The Team

About HEART

The Healing through Education and Art for Resiliency Teaching (HEART) project seeks to improve, self-reported well-being and school success of elementary students on an American Indian reservation.

Little is known about the efficacy of classroom-level interventions to reduce health disparity outcomes. This project seeks to build upon the community’s suggestions for an intervention project that incorporates student self-expression of their perceptions of subjective wellbeing into a pilot project designed to facilitate elementary-aged students’ resilience and self-expression in the classroom.

About HEART

The HEART intervention will consist of teachers participating in professional development focused on skills in trauma-informed and culturally responsive teaching, classroom observations and teacher coaching toward improving classroom climate, along with monthly activities in which students will be guided by a community Elder and cultural experts, a licensed clinical therapist, and nurse practitioner in the creation of artwork designed to reflect students evolving understanding of subjective well-being, self-identity, resiliency and coping.

Student Experience

• Students participate in a pre and post survey (PASS, 2022)
• Monthly resiliency eduction interventions include:
• Introduction to a new/unique food and nutrition education
  
• Read-Aloud of a picture book relating to well-being and resiliency
• Mindfulness Minute- teaching and practice of breathing techniques
• Culturally - relevant and creative art projects
  

Students are introduced breathing routines each month and reminded of the opportunities that they have to use the breathing routines throughout their day.

Mindful Minute

Student Gallery

Sample Curricular Schedule

Educator Experience

• Classroom Observations using the CLASS Assessment (Pianta, et al.,2008)
• Individual Teacher Mentoring
• Collaborative Team Coaching
• Culturally responsive pedagogy and trauma informed teaching practices
• Review of student work
  
• Educator Interviews

Educator Experience

Student Nurse Cultural Immersion Service Learning

• Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Education
• Acute and Minor Illness Care in the School-Based Health Clinic
  
• Oral, Vision, and Hearing Screening
  
• Community Wellness Events
• Cultural Immersions
• Community Service
• Preventative Health Presentations for K-12 Students

Student Nurse Cultural Immersion

Service Learning

Partnerships

The Mark and Robyn Jones

College of Nursing

Montana State University

College of Education

The Fort Peck Tribes

The Fort Peck Tribes HPDP

High Plains Motors

The Chante' Project

The Wolf Point School District

The Poplar School District

Publications

Books

• Calabrese, R.L., Allain, S., Binovi, J., Guadiano, T, Ruff, W. & Trautwein, B. (2002). Companion Guide to Leadership for Safe Schools. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press
  

Book Chapters

• Alexander-Ruff, J. H. (2021). Transcultural Service-learning: Preparing Nurses to Meet the Needs of Rural Indigenous Communities. In Charlene Winters (Ed.), Rural Nursing: Concepts, Theory and Practice (6th ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing.
  
• Ruff, W. (2017). The Ambiguity of Clarifying Organizational Expectations. In Touchton, D.L., Rodriguez, M.A., Ivory, G. & Acker-Hocevar, M. (Ed.), Quandaries of School Leadership: Voices from Principals in the Field (pp. 28). New York, New York: Palgrave-MacMillan.
  
• Carjuzaa, J., Ruff, W., Henderson, D. (2015). Promoting social justice through the Indian leadership education and development (ILEAD) Ed.D. program. In Dr. Virginia Stead (Ed.), The Ed.D. as a force for social justice and community leadership, Vol. 5, Equity in Higher Education Theory, Policy, & Praxis series. (1st ed., vol. 5, pp. 187-196). New York, NY: The Peter Lang Publishing Group..
  
• Gieselmann, S., Ruff, W. (2015). Pursuing a vision on which there is disagreement. In Ivory, G., Hyle, A.E., McClellan, R. & Acker-Hocevar, M. (Ed.), Quandaries in School Leadership. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Education (pp. 19-33). Lantham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
  
• Ruff, W., Gieselmann, S. (2012). The Development and Growth of Children. In M. Acker-Hocevar, J. Ballenger, A.W. Place & G. Ivory (Ed.), In M. Acker-Hocevar, J. Ballenger, A.W. Place & G. Ivory (Eds.) Snapshots of school leadership in the 21st century: Perils and promises of leading for social justice, school improvement and democratic community (pp. 31-54). Lantham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
  
• Ruff, W. & Dexter, R. (2007). Success strategy: Basing decisions on data. In G. Ivory & M. Acker-Hocevar (Eds.), Successful School Board Leadership: Lessons from Superintendents (pp. 103-127). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Education
  
• Dexter, R & Ruff, W. (2007). Challenge: Fostering student achievement. In G. Ivory & M. Acker-Hocevar (Eds.), Successful School Board Leadership: Lessons from Superintendents (pp. 81-102). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Education
  

Publications

Conference Proceedings

• Alexander-Ruff, J., Bangert, A., Ruff, W. (2017). Using a Cultural Immersion Service-Learning Experience to Facilitate Cultural Consciousness. Washington DC: 2017 American Education Research Association Conference Proceedings. www.aera.net/aera17_proceeding_1186765.pdf
  
• Ruff, J., Bangert, A., Ruff, W. (2017). Using a Cultural Immersion Service-Learning Experience to Facilitate Cultural Consciousness. Washington DC: 2017 American Education Research Association Conference Proceedings. www.aera.net/aera17_proceeding_1186765.pdf
  
• Ruff, W., Gieselmann, S. (2011). Administrators Perceptions of Growth and the Development of Children in a post-No Child Left Behind Environment. UCEA Voices of Principals and Superintendents Post NCLB /University Council for Educational Administration, Austin, TX (pp. 30). Austin, TX: UCEA.
  
• Ruff, W.G. (2006). Assumptions about school reform: Understanding the meaning of NCLB at the state, district, school and classroom levels. In D.C. Thompson and F. E. Crampton (Eds.) Second Annual UCEA Conference Proceedings. Retrieved November 15, 2006 from http://coe.ksu.edu/ucea/2005/RuffUCEA2005.pdf
  
• Painter, S., Ruff, W. & Gable, K (2005). Considerations in the implementation of electronic portfolios. In D.C. Thompson and F. E. Crampton (Eds.) UCEA Conference Proceedings. Retrieved November 15, 2006 from http://coe.ksu.edu/ucea/2004/04ucea27.pdf
  

Book Review

• Ruff, W. (2002). [Review of the book Challenges of conflicting school reforms: Effects of new American schools in a high-poverty district], Teachers College Record, 105, 571-573 [Available online: http://www.tcrecord.org/PrintContent.asp?ContentID=11038].
  

Publications

Non-Refereed Journal Articles

• Carjuzaa, J., Ruff, W. (2017). In Carjuzaa, J. & Ruff, W.G. (Ed.), Revitalization of Indigenous Languages: Designing and Facilitating Immersion Programs. Oxfordshire: Cogent OA, Taylor & Francis Group. https://www.cogentoa.com/collection/revitalization-of-indigenous-languages-designing-and-facilitating-immersion-programs
  
• Ruff, W. G. (2016). Teaching Scenario: What Your Principal Wants You to Know. In Carjuzaa, J. & Kellough, R.D., Teaching in the Middle and Secondary Schools. New York: Pearson.
  
• Ruff, W. (2003). Walking the Plank of the H.M.S. Bounty: Reflections on Requiring APA Writing Style in Principal Preparation Programs. UCEA Review, 45/1, pp.7-9.
  
• Ruff, W.G. & Shoho, A.R. (2002). Exploring New Teacher Induction Relationships: A Path to Establishing a Dominant Organizational Model for Schools. ERIC Clearinghouse on Educational Management.
  
• Merchant, B. & Ruff, W. (2001). International Activities in UCEA: Past and Future Conventions. UCEA Review, 42/2, p.25.
  
• Ruff, W.G., (1995). Guidelines for Organizational Assessment and Report Writing, Operating Instruction 4-1. Office of the Inspector General, Headquarters, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.
  
• Ruff, W.G., (1988). Implementation of the Revised Air Force Officer Evaluation and Promotion System for Joint Service Units, Joint Administrative Instruction 623-1. Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, DC.
  

Refereed Journal Articles

• Alexander-Ruff, J., Moyce, S. C., Galloway, A. P., Shannon, S. E. (Under Review). Vaccinating against COVID-19: Using a real-life situation as an inter-professional education Event. Journal of Professional Nursing
• Alexander-Ruff, J., Hodgson, C. (2022). Engaging Members of a Northern Plains Indian Community to Promote School-based Responsive Healthcare. NASN School Nurse.
• Alexander-Ruff, J., Ruff, W. (2021). A University-Community Alliance for Health Equity: The Community’s Voice. Academia Letters(Article 2357), 4.
• Alexander-Ruff, J. H., Ruff, W. (2021). Impact of Cultural Immersion Service Learning on BSN Graduates: A Quasi-experimental Evaluation. Nurse Education in Practice, 135(9), 15.

Refereed Journal Articles

• Alexander-Ruff, J., Kinion, E. (2019). Developing a Cultural Immersion Service Learning Experience for Undergraduate Nursing Students. Journal of Nursing Education, 58(2), 117-120.
• Alexander-Ruff, J., Kinion, E. (2018). Engaging Nursing Students in a Rural Native American Community to Facilitate Cultural Consciousness. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 35(4), 196-206.
• Brazill, S., Ruff, W. G. (2022). Using Transformational Leadership to Create Brave Space in Teaching Multicultural Education. International Journal of Muilticultural Education, 24(2), 114-131.
• Ruff, J., Ruff, W. (2021). A University-Community Alliance for Health Equity: The Community’s Voice. Academia Letters(Article 2357), 4.
• Ruff, J. H., Ruff, W. (2021). Impact of Cultural Immersion Service Learning on BSN Graduates: A Quasi-experimental Evaluation. Nurse Education in Practice, 135(9), 15.
• Hanson, J., Bangert, A., Ruff, W. (2016). A Validation Study of the What’s My School Mindset? Survey. Journal of Educational Issues, 2(2), 23. http://dx.doi.org/10.5296/jei.v2i2.10138
  
• Hanson, J., Ruff, W., Bangert, A. (2016). Identifying Factors of a Growth Mindset at the School Level. Journal of Educational Issues, 2(2).
• Hanson, J., Bangert, A., Ruff, W. (2016). Exploring the Relationship between School Growth Mindset and Organizational Learning Variables: Implications for Multicultural Education. Journal of Educational Issues, 2(2), 22. http://dx.doi.org/10.5296/jei.v2i2.10075
  
• Carjuzaa, J., Ruff, W. (2016). American Indian English Language Learners: Misunderstood and Underserved. Cogent Education, 3(1). http:// dx.doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2016.1229897
  
• Carjuzaa, J., Ruff, W., Henderson, D. (2016). Redefining and Decolonizing Philanthropy in American Indian Communities. Journal of Global Research in Education and Social Sciences, 8(2), 12.
• Henderson, D., Carjuzaa, J., Ruff, W. (2015). Social justice leadership for American Indian sovereignty: A model for principal preparation. Journal of Education and Social Justice, 4(1), 75-91
• Henderson, D., Carjuzaa, J., Ruff, W. (2015). Reconciling leadership paradigms: Authenticity as practiced by American Indian school leaders. International Journal of Multicultural Education, 17(1), 211-231. ijme-journal.org/index.php/ijme/index
  

Publications

Refereed Journal Articles

• Ruff, W. (2014). Identity, heritage and achievement: Comparative case study of effective education in Indian country (1st ed., vol. 26, pp. 18-21). The Researcher,26, pp 18-21.
• Ferris, D. L. & Ruff, W. G. (2011) Special Education Director Burnout in Montana. 2011 Yearbook of the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration, pp 81-92
• Redburn, M. K. & Ruff, W. G. (2011) The Administration of Special Education Programs in Rural Schools: A Preliminary Study. 2011 Yearbook of the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration, pp 109-119
• Carjuzaa, J. & Ruff, W.G. (2010). When western epistemology and an indigenous worldview meet: Culturally responsive assessment in practice. Journal of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 10 (1), pp 68-79.
• Rodriguez, M. Murakami, B. & Ruff, W. (2009). Urban elementary principals leading with heart: Social justice agents and community builders in historically underserved contexts. Educational Considerations, 35(2), pp 8-13.
• Ruff, W.G. (2008) Leadership, quality, and school improvement: A reflection. Education Leadership Review, 9(2), 166-174.
• Ruff, W.G. & Erickson, J.L. (2008) Contextualized principal preparation for the improvement of American Indian education: Negotiating cross-cultural assumptions. In Papa, R. (Ed.), Leadership on the Frontlines: Challenges in Preparation and Practices, pp. 244-254. Lanham MD: Rowman and Littlefield.
• Erickson, J.L., Terhune, M.N. & Ruff, W.G. (2008). Measuring work conditions for teachers of American Indian students. The Researcher,21(2), 14-23.
• Ruff, W.G. & Shoho, A.R. (2005) Understanding instructional leadership through the mental models of three elementary school principals. Educational Administration Quarterly, 41/3, 554-577.
• Ruff, W.G. & Perry, E. (2005). Collaborating to groom effective school leaders. In C.L. Fulmer & F.L. Dembowski (Eds.) National summit on school leadership: Crediting the past, challenging the present, and changing the future (pp. 329 – 332). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
• Ruff, W.G., Hansen, C.C. & Gable, K. (2004). Beyond research: Improving how we improve reading. Academic Exchange Quarterly, 8/2, 40-45.
• Ruff, W.G. (2006). Assumptions about school reform: Understanding the meaning of NCLB at the state, district, school and classroom levels. In D.C. Thompson and F. E. Crampton (Eds.) Second Annual UCEA Conference Proceedings. Retrieved November 15, 2006 from http://coe.ksu.edu/ucea/2005/RuffUCEA2005.pdf

Publications

Get in touch!

Email: Julie.Ruff@montana.edu

Phone: 406-599-9576

Address:

Dr. Julie H. Alexander Ruff

Assistant Professor of Nursing, HEART- P.I.

Montana State University

The Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursling

Ana Pearl Sherrick Hall

P.O. Box 173560

Bozeman, Montana

59717-3560

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