(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - Five key employees representing the Tribal Education Department of the Southern Southeast Alaska Technical Education Center (SSEATEC) submitted their letters of resignation Wednesday afternoon to the Ketchikan Indian Community Tribal Council.

In a joint letter to KIC President Irene Dundas and the KIC Tribal Council, the resigning employees based their resignations on the Ketchikan Indian Community's not valuing the importance of following policy in relation to supervisors and employees. Quoting the joint letter, "While we feel strongly that the programs we represent serve our Tribal members well, we cannnot continue our employment while impacted by the lack of respect and appreciation for hard-working, committed employees demonstrated over the last two months."

Southern Southeast Alaska Technical Education Center
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Those submitting letters of resignations Wednesday are: John Brown, Tribal Education Director; Camille Booth, SSEATEC Director; Pete Jensen SSEATEC Program Coordinator; Cameron Sivertsen, Success Pathways Coordinator; and Judy Leask Guthrie, Tribal Education Department Office Manager.

The five further stated in their joint letter, "With the resignations of the key individuals representing the Tribal Education Department and the SSEATEC Department, the programs currently in place will not be able to continue. We certainly hope that programming more in line with Tribal capacity will soon replace the high quality programming previously operating at KIC."

Inferring the current program is being dismantled and their dissatisfaction, the five stated in their joint letter, "We regret that the only course left to us is to walk away rather than bear responsibility for the dismantling of the programs that have been consistently meeting the needs of our people."

"We had an excellent education team who operated with passion, integrity and concern for all Native peoples." The five also expressed their sadness in leaving and their pride of the programs they created and implemented within the KIC educational department.

Brown, KIC Education Director, submitted a 30-day resignation notice to KIC Executive Director Chas Edwardson. Brown's resignation will become effective on April 3, 2014. All others resigned effective March 5, 2014. Brown, who has represented the Tribe in every capacity, has been with KIC for at least 20 years.

According to the joint letter obtained by SitNews, those resigning said, "We feel that policy and process are essential to the appropriate functioning of any quality organization."

Camille M. Booth stated in her personal letter of resignation. "Unfortunately, without committed leadership at the highest level in the organization, efforts cannot come to fruition."

Cameron Sivertsen, an employee of five years, stated in a personal letter of resignation, "without leadership that supports our educational vision and direction, our efforts are meaningless."

KIC Tribal President Irene Dundas was contacted by SitNews for comment Thursday afternoon. Dundas, who is currently out of town, said she would return the call when she could establish a better connection.

The Southern Southeast Alaska Technical Education Center (SSEATEC, a learning and vocational training center completed in 2011, is located at 615 Stedman Street in Ketchikan.

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