The Department of Education is launching SD Regional Math Circles. This program provides educators opportunities to build their professional network while they engage in rich mathematics tasks and grade-specific tasks, develop their conceptual understanding of mathematics, and discuss equitable learning opportunities for all students.

SD Regional Math Circles will be held in five locations around the state: Aberdeen, Chamberlain, Eagle Butte, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls.

The fall Regional Math Circle workshops will be held on Friday, Oct. 29, or Saturday Oct. 30, depending on location. All travel expenses and district cost for substitutes will be reimbursed by the Department of Education, and one graduate credit is available for participants who attend three Math Circles throughout the year.

More information, including additional dates and registration, can be found on this SD Regional Math Circles flyer [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rQohjAM6hGrgJ5fUFvnICpJwvKAsEzIa/view?usp=sharing].

Registration for October SD Regional Math Circles is now open on GoSignMeUp [https://southdakota.gosignmeup.com/Public/Course/Browse]; search by location to register.

The South Dakota Department of Education is pleased to announce that Lyman High School, Oelrichs High School, and Roosevelt High School (Sioux Falls) have launched Jobs for America’s Graduates-South Dakota (JAG-SD) programs this school year, bringing the total number of schools to nine.

“I’m thrilled to see JAG-SD expanding to more schools,” said Secretary of Education Tiffany Sanderson. “This program has a proven track record of improving graduation rates, academic performance, attendance, job placement, and pursuit of further education and training. This is a terrific opportunity for students in Lyman, Oelrichs, and Sioux Falls.”

JAG is a state-based national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving graduation rates and academic achievement for students. The program is implemented at the school level through the work of teachers called JAG specialists, who work with students to develop leadership and employability skills.

“I’m excited for the young people in these new JAG schools to become part of the JAG family,” said Beth Schneider, state director of JAG-SD. “One of the great things about this program is that JAG specialists continue to check in with JAG students for a full year after graduation. Our JAG-SD programs continue to outpace the JAG National standard. As of the end of school year 2020-21, 87% of our JAG-SD students maintained full-time employment 12 months after high school.”

Andes Central Middle and High School, Bennett County High School, Todd County High School, and Wagner Middle and High School also have JAG-SD programs.

South Dakota Public Broadcasting recently covered JAG-SD [https://www.sdpb.org/blogs/news-and-information/high-school-program-teaches-students-tools-for-the-future/].

Learn more about this program on the Department of Education’s JAG-SD webpage [https://doe.sd.gov/JAG-sd/].

Ten students have received Richard Hagen-Minerva Harvey Memorial State scholarships. This scholarship program provides up to $6,000 over four years for study at a public or non-public accredited university, college, or technical college located in South Dakota to enrolled members of American Indian tribes.

The scholarship program is funded by the estate of Minerva Harvey, in memory of Richard Hagen, who was a state legislator from Pine Ridge.

Congratulations to the following scholarship recipients for the 2021-22 school year:

• Year One
  • Lexi Ballard, New Underwood
  • Aiyana Byrd, Faith
  • Brycen Cheney, Wall
  • Jaida Haynes, Philip
  • Elle Hoops, Huron
  • Alyssa Jones, Lower Brule
  • Raleigh Lunderman, Rapid City
  • Emma Lusk, Pierre
  • Aubre Westover, Pierre
• Year Two
  • Kaycee O’Daniel, Kadoka

Find more information about this program on the South Dakota Department of Education’s Richard Hagen-Minerva Harvey Scholarship webpage [https://doe.sd.gov/scholarships/HagenHarvey.aspx].

Do you know an exemplary math or science teacher working with students in grades K-6? Nominate them for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. These awards are the highest honors bestowed by the United States government specifically for science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science teaching.

Anyone—principals, teachers, parents, students, or members of the general public—may nominate a teacher by completing the nomination form [http://www.paemst.org/nomination/nominate] available on the PAEMST website. To submit a nomination, you will need the teacher’s name, email address, and school contact information. If you know more than one teacher deserving of this award, you may submit more than one nomination. Teachers may also apply directly at www.paemst.org.

Since 1983, more than 5,000 teachers have been recognized for their contributions to STEM education. Awardees serve as models to their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of STEM education. Up to 108 awardees may be recognized each year.

The PAEMST program is open to outstanding STEM teachers in the 50 states; Washington, D.C.; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; Department of Defense Education Activity schools; and the U.S. Territories as a group.

Presidential Awardees receive a certificate signed by the President of the United States; a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities; and a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation. They also join a network of award-winning teachers from across the country. The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

The nomination deadline is Jan. 7, 2022, and the application deadline is Feb. 6, 2022, for elementary grades (K-6). Secondary grades (7-12) will be eligible to apply during a future cycle.

Use this flyer [https://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/zebra/21/09/documents/PAEMS.pdf] to promote the PAEMST in your school.

Other than the above, why would a nominee want to complete the application process?

Forty-five continuing education contact hours from the South Dakota Department of Education can also be earned toward certificate renewal by completing the application process. To be eligible, a PAEMST candidate must complete all components of the application process and submit a scorable application that can be sent on to the state selection committee. All applicants submitting a scorable application will earn credit, not just the state finalists whose materials will be sent on to a national selection panel.

Questions? Please contact:

Allen Hogie
SD PAEMST Mathematics Coordinator
Allen.Hogie@k12.sd.us
605-553-8095

Jennifer Fowler
SD PAEMST Science Coordinator
Jennifer.Fowler@k12.sd.us
605-431-5438

• Learn about “Bright Spot” Suicide Prevention Learning Collaborative

Join partners in suicide prevention to celebrate Bright Spots, successful and impactful work going on right here in South Dakota. This learning collaborative will take place virtually monthly. There will be a brief presentation from a partner in South Dakota followed by discussion and networking. This is a great opportunity to learn from various organizations and take back to the communities that you serve.

Make sure to register via the links on this flyer [https://sdsuicideprevention.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Suicide_Bright_Spot_Learning_Collaborative.pdf]. CEUs are available.

In celebration of Farm to School Month in October, states throughout the Mountain Plains Region (CO, MT, MO, KS, NE, ND, SD, WY) are competing to see which state can get the most “crunches” into a local apple or other local produce, per capita.

South Dakota State University Extension and the South Dakota Department of Education’s Division of Child and Adult Nutrition Services are partnering to bring the event to South Dakota Oct. 4-8.

Schools are invited to join them in crunching into local produce. Join students, teachers, farmers, parents, community members, and local food enthusiasts in celebrating the wonderful produce South Dakota has to offer.

Here's how to host a crunch event: Schools, preschools, daycare organizations, offices, families, and farms are just some great examples of groups to host a crunch event. Anyone can participate. Upon registration, hosts will receive examples of activities to make the crunch engaging and educational for pre-K through high school participants. Hosts can create their event to suit their group, ranging from simply biting into local produce to hosting an assembly with guest speakers. Each crunch event is responsible for finding and supplying local crunchable produce. However, staff are available to help connect interested area participants and growers.

Why participate?

“Serving local foods as part of farm to school programs has been shown to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among students” says Anna Barr, SDSU Extension Farm to School Nutrition Field Specialist and Registered Dietitian. “Getting youth excited about fruits and vegetables sets them up for a healthy future.”

But the benefits don’t end there, Barr says: “Purchasing local foods stimulates the local economy and supports area growers, and it’s health-promoting for all ages to pause and appreciate a piece of local produce.”

All crunchable local produce can be used for this event, including apples, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cucumbers, peppers, pole beans (aka green beans or snap beans), peas (snap or snow), etc.

To register a crunch event, follow this link: www.surveymonkey.com/r/79XXHNM. You’ll receive a toolkit along with other helpful resources upon registration.

Follow SDSU Extension Food & Families [https://www.facebook.com/SDSUExtensionFoodandFamilies] and the South Dakota Department of Education on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/sddoe] for more updates and Crunch Off photos.

For more information, contact Anna Barr at anna.barr@sdstate.edu.

South Dakota has joined more than 30 other states to become a National Consortium for Health Science Educators state leader. NCHSE is a nonprofit organization that helps to promote best practices in health science education programs, develop and maintain the national framework for health science standards, provide resources, professional development, and networking to health science educators and state leaders nationwide, and work with industry partners to advance health science education in K-12 and postsecondary schools.

What does this mean for schools in South Dakota and science/health science educators and HOSA advisors in South Dakota? Through their teacher affiliate, Health Science Educators Association (HSEA), educators have access to:

• A network of more than 1,200 fellow health science educators across the U.S. to collaborate with
• A voice in the national standards for health science education
• Give students the ability to earn a nationally recognized certificate in health sciences
• Free and discounted classroom resources
• Professional development opportunities
• Webinars and newsletters highlighting current trends and best practices in the health sciences

A recent report from the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Central [https://marzanoresearch.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5e8f100cda8a9fb9b1b43215b&id=6b0aab37cc&e=2cdc549bbc] shows students who were career and technical education (CTE) concentrators were more likely than non-CTE concentrators to graduate from high school on time, enroll in postsecondary education, and attain a postsecondary award or degree within two years.

The study results cover 112,764 Nebraska and South Dakota students whose expected high school graduation year was between school years 2012-13 and 2016-17. Postsecondary outcomes were assessed two and five years after students’ expected high school graduation year.

“There are a lot of positive results for local CTE programs to point to from this study, including CTE concentrators getting a faster start toward postsecondary education compared to their peers,” said the study’s lead author, Marc Brodersen from Marzano Research. “There is a clear value in CTE programs, and state and local education agency leaders can consider the study results when deciding whether to fund, strengthen, or expand CTE programming.”

CTE is broadly defined as programs that offer high school courses aligned to high-demand career fields. CTE concentrators are students who earn multiple credits aligned to a specific career field, such as finance, information technology, or health science. Participation in CTE programs has previously been associated with decreased dropout rates as well as increased high school attendance, college enrollment, and employment rates.

The Nebraska Department of Education and the South Dakota Department of Education partnered with REL Central to explore the short-term and longer-term educational impacts among students in Nebraska and South Dakota who become CTE concentrators. Across Nebraska and South Dakota, about 50 percent of all students become CTE concentrators.

“This study proves what we’ve long suspected: career and technical education has positive, lasting impacts for our students and communities,” said South Dakota Secretary of Education Tiffany Sanderson. “CTE engages students and sets them up for success in high-demand careers. That’s a win for them individually and a win for South Dakota’s employers.”

Key findings from the study include:

• CTE concentrators were seven percentage points more likely than non-CTE concentrators to graduate high school on time.
• CTE concentrators were 10 percentage points more likely to enroll in postsecondary education and two percentage points more likely to attain an award within two years.
• CTE concentrators were eight percentage points more likely to enroll in postsecondary education within five years and four percentage points more likely to earn up to an associate degree. They were one percentage point less likely to earn a bachelor’s degree or higher within five years.

REL Central, operated by Marzano Research, is one of 10 Regional Educational Laboratories funded by the Institute of Education Sciences at the U.S. Department of Education. RELs work in partnership to conduct applied research and training with a mission of supporting a more evidence-based education system. REL Central serves Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.