We're celebrating Career and Technical Education Month! Thank you, CTE teachers, for all you do to prepare students for high-demand careers. Hear from Laura Scheibe, our director of college, career, and student success on the DOE Blog.

Read more at https://sddoe.blogspot.com/2022/02/celebrating-cte-month.html

Congratulations to Darcy Vincent and Merideth Wald on receiving the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)! The PAEMST is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government specifically for K-12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer teaching. The awards were established by Congress in 1983. The President may recognize up to 108 exemplary teachers each year.

Awards are given to science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science teachers from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Department of Defense Education Activity schools, or the U.S. territories as a group (American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands).

The award recognizes those teachers have both deep content knowledge of the subjects they teach and the ability to motivate and enable students to be successful in those areas. Since the program's inception, more than 5,200 teachers have been recognized for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession.

Awardees reflect the expertise and dedication of the nation's teaching corps, and they demonstrate the positive impact of excellent teachers on student achievement. The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on behalf of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Learn more about this prestigious award on the PAEMST website [https://www.paemst.org/].

Darcy Vincent, Camelot Intermediate School, Brookings School District
Darcy Vincent has been an educator for 13 years. She has spent the last six years teaching fifth grade mathematics at Camelot Intermediate School. She previously taught at Arlington Elementary School for seven years.

As a customized learning facilitator, Vincent works to meet the individual needs of her learners in mathematics. She facilitates approximately 120 learners in standards across multiple grade levels. Her knowledge of content and standards helps her meet them at their level. She develops skill-based playlists which provide for hands-on activities, group and independent work, and offers voice and choice opportunities across various learning styles. Vincent facilitates learners working at their own pace and taking ownership to meet their learning outcomes.

Her passion for mathematics is evident in her leadership among colleagues. She previously worked as a South Dakota Counts teacher leader during her time at Arlington Elementary. She spent this time in a cohort earning her master’s degree while leading her colleagues in implementing the Investigations mathematics curriculum. Vincent assisted in coordinating mathematics nights and informational meetings on implementing the Common Core State Standards. She currently serves as a Professional Learning Community mathematics leader as well as a Curriculum Committee representative. The past year, she worked with colleagues in the district to choose a new mathematics curriculum. Vincent currently serves as a member of the South Dakota Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Vincent earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Dakota State University and received her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Black Hills State University. She is certified in elementary education, career and technical education, and middle level education.

Merideth Wald, Black Hawk Elementary, Rapid City Area Schools
Merideth Wald has been a mathematics teacher in an elementary classroom for nine years. She has spent those nine years teaching kindergarten, first grade, and currently a kindergarten and first grade combination classroom. All nine years have been at Black Hawk Elementary School, which is part of Rapid City Area Schools.

She strives to create an environment that is developmentally appropriate for young mathematicians. She promotes problem solving and discourse to support student success. She believes that every student has the ability to achieve at high levels, and she also understands that each student does so at their own pace. Her classroom is an environment that meets each student exactly where they are in their own learning progression.

Wald continues to find ways to support student success both in and out of the classroom. She has served in several ways at the building, district, and state levels. She is currently part of the district Math Leadership Team and the building Leadership Team. She has also been part of the South Dakota Math Standards Revision Team, the SDMath/SDSci Leadership program, and also served on teams to adopt curriculum and create staff professional development.

Merideth holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Black Hills State University; a master’s degree in early childhood education from Capella University; and an education specialist degree in curriculum and instruction from Capella University. She is currently a South Dakota certified elementary teacher.

These official biographies from the PAEMST website [https://www.paemst.org/] were current at the time of the award.

The Department of Education is seeking public comment on an addendum to its 2021-22 State Plan required under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as revised by the Every Student Succeeds Act. Recognizing COVID-19’s continued impact on schools in school year 2021-22, and particularly the challenges around securing valid and reliable data, the department plans to submit changes to its State Plan relating to accountability and school improvement.

If approved by the U.S. Department of Education, the changes would impact accountability for the current school year (Report Card issued fall 2022). View the addendum [https://doe.sd.gov/essa/] with proposed changes. Public comments can be emailed to DOE.Accountability@state.sd.us or mail them to: Department of Education, Attn: Matt Gill, 800 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501. Public comment will be accepted until March 4, 2022.

Summary of proposed changes:

• Shift long-term goals forward by two years (goals for Academic Achievement, Graduation Rate, and English Learner Progress)
• Use only one year (SY 2021-22) of assessment data, rather than the typical three years, to calculate the Academic Achievement indicator
• Not report School Performance Index Scores publicly; however, the state would report those scores privately to school districts and identify schools for improvement based on those scores (list of Schools in Improvement would be public, just not scores)

Career and technical education (CTE) teachers, administrators, school counselors, postsecondary partners, and business/industry professionals are invited to apply by March 1 [https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SDSTANDARDS22] to participate in the following content standards revision work groups this summer. Some work will also be required this spring. Questions? Email Amy Miller [amy.miller@state.sd.us].

• Business Management and Administration
• Hospitality and Tourism
• Marketing
• Transportation
• Capstone Courses

Recognizing high demand for a video streaming option for educators, the South Dakota Department of Education has entered into a three-year statewide agreement with Swank Motion Pictures. Through Swank's K-12 Streaming platform [https://library.sd.gov/LIB/SLC/swank.aspx], South Dakota educators and their students will have easy online access to films commonly used in K-12 subject areas including science, social studies, and English language arts.

Read more at https://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/zebra/22/02/documents/Swank.pdf.

This year’s SD MTSS (Multi-tiered System of Supports) Conference will take place June 21-22, in Oacoma. Individuals and teams are encouraged to submit presentation proposals for breakout sessions on Day 1. One presenter for each selected breakout session will receive free conference admission. Submit proposals [https://forms.gle/d88Tn2jiVEyLFsBL8] by March 4. Presenters will be notified by March 18. Questions? Email Brandi Gerry [brandi.gerry@state.sd.us].

The State Historic Preservation Office of the South Dakota State Historical Society is holding an essay contest for fourth-grade students. Prizes will be awarded to the top three essays during Archaeology and Historic Preservation Month, which is celebrated in May. Submission deadline: March 18.

The State Historic Preservation Office of the South Dakota State Historical Society is holding an essay contest for fourth-grade students. Prizes will be awarded to the top three essays during Archaeology and Historic Preservation Month, which is celebrated in May. Submission deadline: March 18.

The competition is open to any fourth-grade public, private, or home school student who studies South Dakota history. The essay contest will expose students to an appreciation of their historic places, the stories they tell, and why they should be preserved for future generations, according to Benjamin F. Jones, state historian and director of the State Historical Society.

“We look forward to sponsoring this contest and seeing what places and stories students come up with,” said Jones. “We think it will give students a better understanding of their history and culture.”

With the theme of “This Place Matters,” students are asked to write a 100–400-word handwritten essay about any South Dakota location that is at least 50 years old, why it is their favorite place, and why it should be preserved. It does not need to be a historic site and writing a history of the location is not necessary.

The deadline for sending in essays is March 18. Entries should be sent to: SHPO Student Essay Contest, Cultural Heritage Center, 900 Governors Drive, Pierre SD 57501-2217. Entries will be judged on quality of writing, content and theme, and originality of thought. Prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third places.

The first-place winner will receive a $100 cash prize and a one-year family membership to the South Dakota State Historical Society (a $55 value). The second-place winner will receive a $75 cash prize and a one-year family membership to the society. The third-place winner will receive a $50 cash prize and a one-year family membership to the society. The winning entries will be posted on the State Historic Preservation Office's webpage [https://history.sd.gov/preservation/] during the month of May.

Additional information, including complete guidelines and an entry form, are posted on the State Historic Preservation Office's webpage [https://history.sd.gov/preservation/] under “In the Spotlight” on the right, then “Archaeology & Historic Preservation Month.” Questions may be directed to Katherine Shroyer at 605-773-2907 or katherine.shroyer@state.sd.us.

The Department of Education is seeking proposals for breakout sessions at the 2022 Mentoring Summer Academy. More than 1,000 new teachers and mentors who are participating in the statewide mentoring program will attend this event scheduled for June 1-2 in Sioux Falls at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.

The purpose of the Mentoring Summer Academy is to provide a time of celebration, reflection, and professional development. Presenters will be reimbursed travel expenses and will receive $150 per session for their work.

Proposals are due by March 18. Find more information on the Proposal Application page [https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/82CSMD2].