May 15, 2013
BHSU To Help K-12 Schools Improve Science, Math Instruction

A federal grant has paired BHSU with Todd County, Andes Central and Wessington Springs high schools.

 

More than 134 South Dakota teachers will receive professional development under a Title II U.S. Department of Education grant, according to a post on KOTA's MyTown site.

Faculty from Black Hills State University in Spearfish and South Dakota State University in Brookings will help high school teachers develop instruction techniques.

BHSU faculty will be working on best practices for teaching mathematics and physics.

 

April 3, 2013
American Indian Higher Ed Corsortium Celebrates 40 Years

The American Indian Higher Education Consortium, held March 18-20, celebrated 40 years as the voice of the United State's Tribal Universities.

The American Indian Higher Education Consortium, held March 18-20, celebrated 40 years as the voice of the United State's Tribal Universities. The 2013 consortium was held in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) 2013

For more information visit:
AIHEC's website and http://www.lltc.edu/aihec/index.html

March 18, 2013
Rapid City Veterans Resource Center Finds New Home

New location dream come true for military veteran.

A ribbon cutting was held for the new Veterans Resource Center at the University Center-Rapid City.  Started as a club at school for veterans, Joshua Kosola's dream was to help his community of fellow veterans.  Read the full article in the Rapid City Journal and at KEVN Black Hills Fox.&

March 8, 2013
Scholarship Programs Approved by SD Legislature

Scholarships would aid students with financial need and promote teachers in fields of critical need.

The SD Senate voted unanimously to accept House bill changes that will create two scholarships.  One measure would set up an awards program based on students' financial needs.  A second scholarship would target college students who agree to teach in critically needed fields.  Read the full article and

February 13, 2013
Wounded Knee Occupation of 1973

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the 1973 occupaton of Wounded Knee.

This information is provided as a tool to help the user determine the historical context and significance of the events discussed. Information has been aggregated from academic journals, reference books, online databases, and newspaper articles.

January 9, 2013
Wall School Board Wins State Award of Excellence

The Award of Excellence is given for leadership, improving student achievement and being effective.

An independent four-person panel selected the Wall School Board for the award from the Associated School Boards of South Dakota. The board will receive a recognition plaque and a $1,000 cash award, which was provided by BankWest.

The board has focused on continued support of technology by putting a laptop computer in the hands of each student in the 6-12 grades, provided a monthly magazine for parents and community members detailing classroom projects and continued to develop as a board through training.

Read the press release announcing the award attached to this post.

December 21, 2012
Native American Technical College To Open In Rapid City

United Tribes Technical College announces new student center in Rapid City.

A college devoted to educating Native Americans will open a new student center in downtown Rapid City.  The new United Tribes Technical College learning center will be housed on the National American University campus at 321 Kansas City St.

November 15, 2012
Teacher Strives to Build Strong Network of Native Educators

Decorated educator and Oglala Lakota Robert Cook works to put great teachers in reservation classrooms through Teach for America.

 

Native Sun News

By Brandon Ecoffey

Native Sun News Staff Writer

October 16, 2012
Rapid City Educator Celebrated as SD Teacher of Year

An all-school assembly celebrated East Middle School's Katie Anderson as South Dakota's Teacher of the Year.

South Dakota Teacher of the Year Katie Anderson will be a candidate for the national teacher of the year award, to be announced next April, KOTA TV reports.

Anderson receives the use of a new car for one year, a technology package to use in her classroom, and $10,000.

Learn more about South Dakota's Teacher of the Year program at the South Dakota Department of Education's website.

 

September 19, 2012
Rapid City Area Schools Could Receive $4 million From One-Cent Sales Tax

The Rapid City Journal reports that the Initiated Measure 15 could bring $175 million a year.

The Rapid City Journal reports that the Initiated Measure 15 could bring $175 million a year, which must be divided equally in two: half going towards K-12 education and the other for South Dakota Medicaid providers.

August 12, 2012
BHSU to Offer New Health Degree

Black Hills State University will begin offering an applied health sciences degree geared toward students seeking a career in nursing.

(Image from BHSU website)

Students seeking a bachelor's degree in nursing or another healthcare field can get their start with a new associate's degree in applied health sciences from Black Hill State University, according to a news report on the KEVN TV website.

August 12, 2012
Sturgis Educator Named Outstanding Teacher in Community Service

Darla DeKraai and her students have helped those in need by buying shoes, serving breakfast and giving money for medical bills.

Darla DeKraai, right, is presented the Outstanding Teacher in Community Service Award by Dianne Rider, president-elect of the South Dakota Association for Career and Technical Education. (Image from KOTA MyTown)

July 23, 2012
Rapid City Catholic Schools Ready New Elementary School

Rapid City Catholic Schools is ready to open a new elementary school at the Terra Sancta facility.

 

A new elementary school will open in the fall as Rapid City Catholic Schools moves into the diocese's Terra Sancta facility, KNBN TV reports.

Families were able to see the new school after walking 7 miles to reach the school.

Visit the Rapid City Catholic Schools website by clicking here.

Visit the Terra Sancta website by clicking here.

 

 

July 15, 2012
Rapid City's Reptile Gardens Launches Educational Video Series

Rapid City's Reptile Gardens and Junior Adventure Guide, Jace Oldham, take children on exploration of reptiles through educational videos. 

Rapid City's Reptile Gardens has launched a new series of fun and educational videos aimed at teaching children about specific reptiles within the park.  Junior Adventure Guide, Jace Olham, takes children on an exploration of Komodo Dragons, Poison Arrow Frogs and Burmese Pythons.  Read the full article on KOTA My Town Community News.  Watch the first video featuring the Burmese Python.

May 5, 2012
Historic Commission Asks for More Info

The Rapid City Historic Preservation Commission has requested more information regarding building materials from the architect for President's Plaza.

The Rapid City Historic Preservation Commission has requested more information regarding building materials from the architect of President's Plaza. The architect was asked to bring this material to the Historic Preservation Commission meeting to be held on May 18th. The Commission will look at the report and then send it to state officials for making the final decision on the future of the project.

May 4, 2012
New Kind of Testing on Horizon for US Students

From "A Nation at Risk" to "No Child Left Behind," the decades of debate over education reform in the United States are about to bear fruit in the form of overhauled assessment tests and a nationalized "core curriculum," said a former South Dakota education secretary at the recent Data Matters Forum on Education.

 

From "A Nation at Risk" to "No Child Left Behind," the decades of debate over education reform in the United States are about to bear fruit in the form of overhauled assessment tests and a nationalized "core curriculum," said a former South Dakota education secretary.

April 25, 2012
Rapid City Candidate Forum Centers Around Billboards, Education

City council and legislative candidates participated in a candidates forum hosted by the West Boulevard Neighborhood Association.

A forum hosted by the West Boulevard Neighborhood Association featured two candidates running for the Ward 5 City Council seat and all four candidates for the State House of Representatives in District 32. Billboards and education reform dominated the debate, according to the Rapid City Journal.

April 20, 2012
Early School Closure on Wednesdays Recommended for Rapid CIty Schools

The choice by a 39-member task force was made after considering 1,800 responses from an online survey.

A specially appointed task force recommended to the Rapid City School Board that school close early on Wednesdays, according to the Rapid City Journal.  Budget cuts led to a proposed change of shortening one day of the week, and the task force considered 1,800 responses from parents and staffers to an online survey. The board postponed a decision until the 2012-2013 school year calendar is completed.

April 12, 2012
25 Area Teens Are 'Job Shadowing' Rapid City Law Enforcement

“I can’t wait to be a cop,” says one student participating in the eight-week program introducing young people to police work.

Shooting guns, driving a patrol car and examining drug paraphernalia are among the experiences provided during the YO! RCPD Academy program, according to a story in the Rapid City Journal.

April 12, 2012
New Government Site Assists in Calculating College Costs

Still in a testing phase, the site would would help calculate how much you could owe in student loans after graduation.

According to the Rapid City Journal, the site already includes information from about 7,500 colleges to help prospective students with their planning.

April 10, 2012
Rapid City Schools Consider Approaches to Schedule Change

District administrators are asking parents for feedback on two options for setting aside planning time for teachers.

Budget cuts that eliminate outside planning time for teachers will lead to a change in classroom hours. School will either start late or end early one day a week, to allow time for professional development. Administrators are asking parents to indicate their preference in a two-question survey.

February 11, 2012
Rapid City Hosts Third Legislative Crackerbarrel

Legislators updated citizens on pending bills and discussed the need to address issues related to bills that have already died in committee.

The third area legislative crackerbarrel was hosted by the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Opening the crackerbarrel was Senator Bruce Rampelberg, who addressed the failure of Senate Bill 1200, which would have granted local governments more authority to regulate outdoor advertising, including digital billboards and the moving forward of Senate Bill 157, which prohibits certain billboard restrictions. 

January 31, 2012
School Officials, Teachers Debate Governor's Education Reform

Merit pay and teacher evaluations are at the heart of the conversation.

Governor Daugaard's education reform proposals have sparked a growing debate over merit pay and teacher evaluations. While nearly everyone agrees that effective teacher evaluations are critical to improving education, there is less consensus on whether teachers should receive extra or "merit" pay if they receive high marks on their evaluations. Last summer, a legislative work group explored the Danielson Model as one option for teacher evaluations.

January 25, 2012
Native American Tribal Leaders Skeptical About Federal Education Enhancements

Former chairman of Yankton Sioux tribe sometimes feels federal efforts to fix education are an 'exercise in futility'.

An education rountable between White House officials and tribal leaders was held in Rapid City Friday January 20, 2012.

Read full article in Rapid City Journal.

Individual school report cards: Pine Ridge

Bureau of Indian Education website.

January 25, 2012
Pennington County 4-H Program Welcomes New Members

Utah native no stranger to the Black HIlls; Tiffany Meyer is the new 4-H youth program advisor.

Pennington County 4-H offers monthly workshops. Self defense will be the featured workshop in February.

Families interested in learning more about 4-H may contact the Pennington County Extension Office.

Read full article at Rapid City Journal.

Visit the Pennington County 4-H webpage.