Upcoming Events

For a more complete list of professional development opportunities, visit www.southdakotapd.com.

• Reading First Conference planned
• HIV prevention training offered
• Web-based training available for graduate credit
• Learn more about Title IX and sexual harassment
• Conference to address alternative education
• Trainings to tackle bullying, sexual harassment issues

Reading First Conference planned

The 2^nd annual South Dakota Reading First Conference will be held Oct. 17-18 at the Watertown Events Center – Ramkota Inn, Watertown.

The conference focuses on early literacy practices grounded in research. There are three strands to the conference: assessment, leadership, and systematic and explicit instruction – ensuring that there will be sessions to interest everyone. Breakout sessions will address a range of topics, including vocabulary strategies, articulation, comprehension strategies, DIBELS, and more.

Any educator working with K-3 literacy may attend. You do not have to be part of a Reading First school.

For more information about this event, please contact Michelle Mehlberg at (605) 280-3614. michelle.mehlberg@state.sd.us.

HIV prevention training offered

Circle of Life curriculum training will be held Oct. 26-27 in Lower Brule at the Golden Buffalo Motel. Circle of Life is an HIV prevention curriculum for elementary and middle school grades. Graduate, undergraduate and Department of Education renewal credit will be offered. For more information, please contact April Hodges, South Dakota Department of Education, at (605) 773-6898 or april.hodges@state.sd.us.

Web-based training available for graduate credit

Coordinated School Health will host a South Dakota Health Education Standards and Assessment Web-based training Nov. 1-30. The training is designed to provide participants with information and skill-building opportunities related to the implementation of the state’s health education standards.

Participants will explore the state’s health education standards, including the core concepts and skill categories. They will learn to align standards, assessment and instructional activities as well as obtain practice in scoring student’s work. And, they will learn to differentiate between assessment for the purpose of accountability and assessment for the purpose of instructional improvement.

The training is appropriate for elementary teachers, curriculum directors, health education teachers, administrators, school counselors, school nurses, extension educators, family and consumer science teachers, and special education teachers. 

One hour of graduate or undergraduate credit is available through Augustana College for $59 or Black Hills State University for $50. One hour of teacher renewal credit is available through the South Dakota Department of Education at no cost. 

Click here for more information about the course objectives or to access a registration form.

Questions regarding the training design and content can be directed to Karen Keyser, Coordinated School Health, at (605) 773-6808 or karen.keyser@state.sd.us. 

Learn more about Title IX and sexual harassment

School leaders are invited to attend a Title IX and Sexual Harassment Investigative Training, hosted by the department’s Office of Career and Technical Education. The training will be held Nov. 16-17 at the State Library in Pierre. It is provided by Colorado State University – Interwest Equity Assistance Center.

Pre-registration is required and due by Nov. 2. Cost of the training is $35, which includes materials, supplies and lunch. Registration is available online at www.southdakotapd.com.

For information, contact Jerry Sauer at (605) 773-4740. jerry.sauer@state.sd.us.

Conference to address alternative education
Alternative education will be the topic of a conference Nov. 21-22 at Cedar Shore Resort in Chamberlain. The conference is designed for school leaders at the high school level. The agenda will include:

• Discussion of alternative education models

• Examination of new directions for delivery

• Developing plans for research-based delivery systems

This free event is hosted by ESA Region 3 and the South Dakota Department of Education. Lodging is at your own expense.

To register and find hotel information, visit www.sddial.org/esa/index.htm.

Trainings to tackle bullying, sexual harassment issues

Bullying, sexual harassment prevention and Title IX are the topics of a two-day training being held across the state. Hosted by the department’s Office of Career and Technical Education, the sessions will take place:

• Dec. 18-19, Western Dakota Technical Institute, Rapid City

• Jan. 23-24, 2007, Lake Area Technical Institute, Watertown

• Feb. 13-14, 2007, Southeast Technical Institute, Sioux Falls

The training is provided by Colorado State University – Interwest Equity Assistance Center. It is appropriate for superintendents, principals, special education directors, school nurses, school counselors and others interested in these topics.

Pre-registration for the events is required. Cost is $35 per person, which includes materials, supplies and lunch. CEU credits are being arranged. Registration is available online at www.southdakotapd.com.

For more information, contact Jerry Sauer at (605) 773-4740. jerry.sauer@state.sd.us.  

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