Summer 2024 Professional Development Menu is ready for your order!

Summer may seem to be far away, but now is a great time for educators to begin making plans for their summer professional development.

The Learning & Instruction team at the Department of Education (DOE) has created a menu of professional development options for educators of all levels in South Dakota. Here’s a review of some of them.

• As part of the state’s Literacy Initiative, educators interested in honing their skills in teaching reading can take advantage of a variety of in-person instruction in locations throughout the state. There are classes in foundational reading, explicit instruction, reading facilitation, and literacy instructional coach training.
• Math educators can take part in STEM educator camps in Spearfish and Brookings, as well as a course called “Math Connections: Best Practices for the Classroom,” for K-8 math teachers.
• New teachers – those in their first or second year in the classroom -- can sign up for the Statewide Mentoring Program, in which they will be paired with an experienced teacher who can offer guidance and support during those first two years as a teacher. Veteran teachers who would like to share their knowledge are invited to sign up to become mentors.
• Teachers who are in years 3-5 of their careers can sign up for the Good to Great Teachers Program, which is designed to help teachers fine-tune vital classroom skills: communication skills, classroom management, and student engagement. This year-long program has virtual and in-person components; participants will be reimbursed for their travel expenses as well as substitute expenses for all in-person events.
• Teachers hoping to develop ideas in how to incorporate the new social studies into their classrooms have two incredible opportunities to do just that with the Civics & History Summit and the South Dakota Road Trip. These events will allow for networking with other teachers as well as a chance to discover new ways of presenting history to classes of all levels.

Learn more about these and other professional development opportunities that will best fit your needs, and save your spot by registering early!