When people think about a school's impact, they often think about academics, graduation rates and college acceptance letters. But at St. Labre Indian School, success is measured by something even bigger: helping communities thrive.

Under the leadership of Executive Director Curtis Yarlott, St. Labre has embraced a vision that extends far beyond the classroom. “One of the things has been to be more than a school,” Curtis shares. “Our core service has revolved around elementary and secondary education, but we’ve also provided [various] human or social services.” 

For many families throughout the Crow and Northern Cheyenne communities, St. Labre serves as more than a place of learning. Through food assistance, clothing support, transportation help and other outreach services, the school strives to meet needs that impact a family's ability to thrive.

At the same time, St. Labre is investing in the future by helping preserve and revitalize Indigenous languages. Through language immersion programs and classroom instruction, students are gaining opportunities to connect more deeply with their culture and heritage.

The impact often extends beyond the classroom. “[One thing] we try to instill in our students is not to limit yourself to what you have seen happen or what folks here have done in the past,” Curtis explains. “Expand the horizons.” For some students, this includes going to post-secondary school, which is an accomplishment that previous generations couldn’t do. Many of these children are inspiring adults to reconnect with their own language and culture.

St. Labre's commitment to community transformation also means confronting difficult chapters of history. “We have challenges like other rural schools in Montana and, in particular, rural Indian reservation schools,” Curtis shares. As conversations about Indigenous boarding schools have grown nationwide, the organization has taken steps to examine its own past through independent research and community engagement. “Research was conducted over 18 months, accessing archives from across the country where there were records of boarding schools or government records,” he explains. That work reflects a belief that healing begins with honesty, and that progress requires both acknowledgment and action.

Looking ahead, St. Labre continues to focus on creating opportunities for students long after graduation. Through post-secondary mentoring and ongoing support, graduates are encouraged to pursue their goals while remaining connected to the communities they call home. “I think this has helped a lot with providing a consistency of support and guidance,” Curtis describes. “It’s helped our students to continue to be successful once they leave St. Labre.”

What makes St. Labre unique is the belief that schools can play a larger role in the lives of the people they serve. Creating a vision of expanding horizons while keeping roots strong, St. Labre proves that when you uplift a student, you uplift an entire nation.