Preview upcoming trainings

The Department of Education offers numerous professional development opportunities. Click on a link below to learn more about an upcoming training or visit www.southdakotapd.com for a more complete calendar.

Math standards roll-out: Series ends with focus on geometry

Out of the five mathematics strands covered on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, South Dakota’s scores are lowest in geometry, at both grade 4 and grade 8. Yet, geometry is one of the most practical aspects of math. 

The last session of the Department of Education’s Math Standards Roll-Out covers the geometry strand. It takes place April 20 in Aberdeen, April 21 in Sioux Falls, and April 25 in Rapid City.

In this course, classroom teachers will look at the new mathematics content standards in the context of 1) best teacher practice, 2) engaging students in meaningful learning experiences and 3) providing strong support for all learners to reason and think mathematically. The instructors for this course are experienced classroom teachers who were involved in the revision of the standards.

For further information or to register, visit www.southdakotapd.com. On the calendar, click on the date of the course you wish to attend. Then click on “Math Standards Course.”   

Questions may be directed to Anne Thompson at the Department of Education. Call (605) 773-3247 or e-mail anne.thompson@state.sd.us.

Training covers health education standards and assessment

The department’s Coordinated School Health Program will offer a two-day training on health education standards and assessment May 2-3 at Cedar Shore Resort, Chamberlain. The training will run 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily.

Targeted at health educators, administrators, curriculum directors, school counselors, nurses and other interested partners, the session will cover the following:

• State health education standards, including core concepts and skills;

• Aligning health education standards, assessment and instructional activities;

• Scoring student work; and

• Differentiating between assessment for purposes of accountability and instructional improvement.

The training is free. Graduate and renewal credit will be offered. Some meals are provided.

For more information or to print out a registration form, visit www.southdakotapd.com and find the training dates on the calendar. You also may register by calling the Northeast Prevention Resource Center at (605) 884-3516.  

For more information on training content, contact Beth Davis with the department’s Coordinated School Health Program at (605) 773-6808. beth.davis@state.sd.us

Character Education conference slated for June

The State Character Education Conference is set for June 20-21 at the Ramkota RiverCentre in Pierre. The conference is hosted by the Department of Education.

This year’s keynote speakers include Dr. Phil Vincent and Charlie Abourjilie. Dr. Vincent has more than 20 years of experience in education. His work on school civility has been featured on CBS News and in USA Today. Dr. Vincent has written several books and numerous journal articles about developing character, gifted education, computer ethics, and working with at-risk students in an alternative setting.

Charlie Abourjilie is a former high-school teacher, principal and coach. He has worked in both inner city classrooms and the suburban countryside. He currently serves as the state coordinator of character education for the State of North Carolina. Abourjilie knows how tough it is to teach character at the secondary level. His book “Developing Character for Classroom Success: Strategies for Secondary Students” shows how it can be done successfully.

Breakout sessions will focus on programs such as Kids Voting, Learning for Life and Character Counts.

Cost of the conference is $50. One hour of graduate or undergraduate credit is available from Augustana College for an additional $50. Registration deadline is May 16.

To request a registration form, contact Mary Giddings at the South Dakota Department of Education. Call (605) 773-3261 or email at mary.giddings@state.sd.us.

Workshop to address youth internships

Educators interested in providing meaningful internships for high-school students should plan to attend a workshop July 21-22 at the Ramkota RiverCentre in Pierre. Colleen Keffeler, school-to-careers coordinator at Brown High School in Sturgis, will lead this informative session.

Hosted by the department’s Office of Career and Technical Education, the two-day workshop will provide school site facilitators with the knowledge and tools to:

• develop work-site experiences with local businesses;
• develop coursework necessary to prepare students for an internship;
• successfully place students and coordinate evaluation;
• develop internship opportunities for special-needs students; and
• assist with providing for legal safeguards and school liability protection.

The workshop, which is free, is open to 50 participating schools (one representative per school). Lodging, meals and mileage are the responsibility of the participating school.

Registration information will be available soon. Questions regarding the workshop can be directed to Steve Rounds at (605) 773-7006.

Daggett to address South Dakota educators

Dr. Willard Daggett, president of the International Center for Leadership in Education, will present the keynote address at the South Dakota Association for Career and Technical Education conference in August. Dr. Daggett’s presentation is slated for Aug. 9 at 1 p.m. The presentation takes place in the Performing Arts Center at South Dakota State University in Brookings.

Dr. Daggett is recognized worldwide for his ability to move education systems towards more rigorous and relevant skills and knowledge for all students. He has assisted a number of states and hundreds of school districts with their school improvement initiatives. A former classroom teacher and school administrator in New York state, Dr. Daggett spearheaded restructuring initiatives to focus the state’s education system on the skills and knowledge students need in a technological, information-based society.

Dr. Daggett is the creator of the Application Model, a practical planning and instructional tool for determining the relevance of curriculum and assessment to real-world situations.  The Application Model is part of the Rigor/Relevance Framework, which has become a cornerstone of many school reform efforts throughout the United States. 

Crosswalk workshop to align CTE with new content standards

A workshop scheduled for Aug. 8 will crosswalk career and technical education (CTE) program standards with the most recent state content standards in reading, communication arts, mathematics and science.

The workshop will be held 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on the campus of South Dakota State University in Brookings (room 344 of the SNF Building). It will be conducted by Charlotte Mohling, a family and consumer sciences teacher from Wessington Springs, and staff from the Department of Education’s Office of Career and Technical Education.

By April 2006, course syllabi for all CTE programs must be revised to reflect the new academic standards in reading, communication arts, mathematics and science.   

Teachers new to career and technical education should plan to attend. Other teachers are welcome to begin work on revising the present crosswalks. Participants should bring a laptop computer, curriculum, program standards, course syllabi, and other references. 

The workshop is free. Graduate credit and renewal credit from the Department of Education will be available as part of the South Dakota Association for Career and Technical Education Conference to be held Aug. 9-11 in Brookings.

For more information on the crosswalk workshop, contact Gloria Smith-Rockhold, 773-4747, or e-mail at gloria.smith-rockhold@state.sd.us. 

Mark calendars for Governor’s Teacher Leadership Conference

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