SD EveryTeacher: Teacher Quality Enhancement
Overview
South Dakota’s
EveryTeacher
grant increases the capacity of the state’s teaching force to advance student
learning. Aligned with the “highly qualified teachers” component of NCLB and
based on the National Board Professional Teaching Standards, EveryTeacher
emphasizes content knowledge and pedagogical skills of teachers as essential
for effective teaching and learning. EveryTeacher is a systemic effort engaging K-20 leaders in
collaboration to ensure coherence and effectiveness across the career continuum
from preparation programs for teaching through professional development for
experienced professionals.
Led by South Dakota’s
Department of Education (DOE), the three-year grant is invested in a set of
activities to accomplish the grant’s goal of “increased capacity of the
teaching force.” DOE is leading activities to train paraprofessionals and to enhance
teachers’ knowledge base and skills in core subject areas such as reading and
math. As a primary partner in the grant, the Board of Regents, with public universities,
is analyzing and aligning teacher preparation curriculum with local, state, and
national standards and assessments. Technology and Innovations in Education
(TIE), in a management role for the grant, is directing a mentoring program
designed to support new teachers, teachers pursuing National Board
Certification, and teachers seeking alternative certification.
With the support and involvement of a host of partners such
as professional organizations, private and tribal colleges, and high-need schools,
grant leaders are establishing a Teacher Development Planning Team. The team
identifies connections across the community of partners invested in teacher
quality and plans activities for more cooperatively and effectively conducting
teacher training. The efforts of the Planning Team in conjunction with the work
of EveryTeacher
leaders position the grant as a sustainable, statewide project with the
potential to influence policies and practices impacting teaching quality across
the state in the remaining two years of the grant as well as well beyond the
grant period.
More information about the EveryTeacher grant is available
from members of the Executive Team or Director Team
-
Deb Barnett, Deputy Director, DOE
-
Melody Schopp, Director of Accreditation and Teacher Quality, DOE
-
Lesta
Turchen, Senior Administrator, BOR
-
Lynda
Oldenkamp, Coordinator of Teacher Quality Project, BOR
-
Jim Parry, EveryTeacher
Director, TIE
-
Joe Hauge, EveryTeacher
Assistant Director, TIE
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