By Fred Osborne, Director, South Dakota Office of Indian Education  The South Dakota Office of Indian Education and the Wóokiye Project, a Bush Foundation grant project, would like to share some of our upcoming events and initiatives. One of our primary goals is to spread awareness and education in schools about South Dakota’s unique American Indian culture. We are in the process of sending educational kits promoting the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings and Standards to every school across the state. Grade schools have received a copy of Muskrat and Skunk by Donald F. Montileaux ..read more

October is Farm to School Month, and with South Dakota’s deep agricultural roots, there’s no better place to celebrate. The South Dakota Department of Education’s (DOE) Child and Nutrition Services (CANS) is working to help schools make local food a part of education for South Dakota’s kids. The Farm to School effort seeks to bring together agricultural producers and education providers for three main purposes:  to educate children on where food comes from and the benefits of eating local food,  to maintain strong connections between youth and agriculture, and to offer opportunities ..read more

One pretty clear indication that I chose the right profession is my feeling about the first day of school. The day you walk in the building and that wonderful amalgam of smells—floor wax, dry erase marker, new bookbag, and school breakfast—coalesce to evoke just one beautiful thought: school! In my day, it was the smell of Elmer’s paste (that company’s glue just doesn’t have the same effervescence) that triggered a clamoring for school, but that different bouquet led to the same end, an acceptance of, and excitement for, a new academic year. Even better than the fragrance of a new school year ..read more

Four months ago, I left my school district—Mitchell—where I had served as superintendent for more than 23 years.  When I did so, I knew there were going to be some things I missed.  The students, first and foremost.  All the people I worked with.  All the sights and sounds of working in a school—the bells, the delightful squeals and chatter of a grade school playground, a freshly waxed terrazzo floor. Today, I realize that there is something else I missed that I hadn’t thought about, Teacher Appreciation Week. May 8-12, a never-ending cornucopia of cookies, bagels, homemade ..read more

Executive Proclamation Whereas, school counselors are employed in schools to help students reach their full potential; and, Whereas, school counselors are committed to helping students explore their abilities, strengths, interests, and talents as these traits relate to career awareness and development; and, Whereas, school counselors partner with parents to further the educational and personal growth of their children; and, Whereas, school counselors work with teachers and other educators to help students succeed in school and set realistic goals for themselves; and, Whereas, school counselors ..read more

Public hearings on proposed social studies content standards are underway. Learn more about the social studies standards revision process on the Department of Education website. Here is a collection of op-eds in support of the proposed standards: From Fred Osborn, Director of the Office of Indian Education in the South Dakota Department of Tribal Relations. Fred was a member of the Social Studies Standards Revision Commission. One purpose of the South Dakota Office of Indian Education is to support initiatives in order that South Dakota’s students and public school instructional staff become a ..read more

Whereas, the framers of the United States Constitution formed a unique, new form of government intended primarily to protect individual citizens' liberties; and Whereas, for those liberties to thrive, citizens have the responsibility to be well informed of their rights and the structure of their government and to cultivate a lifelong habit of learning about history and civic traditions; and, Whereas, the founders of South Dakota, and the people who have inhabited this great state ever since, have valued education of all kinds, but particularly lifelong learning that sustains our nation's excep ..read more

Embracing a Growth Mindset Earns Pierre Math Teacher Nichole Bowman a $25,000 Milken Educator Award Learn more about Nichole and find photos and video on her Milken Educator webpage. Brookings Science Teacher Camrin Vaux Receives $25,000 Milken Educator Award for Personalizing Student Learning Learn more about Camrin and find photos and video on her Milken Educator webpage ..read more

Nicole Weron (left) and Randi Hartman, 2021 SD School Counselor of the Year, in Washington, D.C., for recognition events From the American School Counselor Association's 2022 School Counselors of the Year publication: Nicole Weron School Counselor Hill City Elementary School Hill City, S.D. A school counselor since 2004, Nicole Weron has a bachelor’s degree in human services and political science and a master’s degree in counseling and human resource development, both from South Dakota State University. In her work at Hill City Elementary School, Weron built the K–5 comprehensive ..read more

Oceti Sakowin [oh-CHEH-tee shaw-KOH-we] means “Seven Council Fires” and refers collectively to the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota people. There are seven Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings.  Did you know? The WoLakota Project website includes a repository of Oceti Sakowin Elder interviews aligned with the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings.  OSEU 1 - Lands & Environment: The original land base and natural resources of the Oceti Sakowin were under communal stewardship prior to immigrant settlement. Oceti Sakowin have a distinct and unique interrelationship ..read more