What’s your plan for PD this summer? Pencil us in!
The Department of Education (DOE) will host or sponsor a variety of opportunities for educators to extend their learning this spring and summer. These events are a chance to pursue learning on a variety of topics, collaborate with colleagues, and earn graduate credit or continuing education contact hours.
LITERACY
Literacy Conference – June 2-3, Sioux Falls: Designed for any educator for whom student literacy is important to success in the classroom, this conference will provide sessions on Science of Reading research and strategies and other topics related to supporting student literacy. Register now.
Foundational Reading Courses – These courses use the “Teaching Reading Sourcebook” and “Assessing Reading: Multiple Measures” to provide evidence-based strategies, practical lessons, and instruction in key reading skills. Courses are scheduled throughout the summer. You can find more information and register via the DOE’s PD platform at sded.sd.gov. Search via session title. Offerings include the following:
- K-3 Foundational Reading
Madison, May 27-29
Sioux Falls, June 9-11
Chamberlain, July 28-30 - 4-8 Foundational Reading
Madison, June 16-17
Sioux Falls, June 12-3
Chamberlain, July 31-Aug. 1 - Foundational Reading Train the Trainer
Attendees will be provided facilitation and training tools that align with DOE’s literacy initiatives and incorporate the science of teaching reading and foundational reading skills in phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocab, reading comprehension. This training is for literacy coaches, teacher-leaders, literacy teams, and administrators.
Sioux Falls, June 18-20; 25-26
Brookings, July 7-9; 21-22 - Explicit Instruction
Attendees will explore how to develop and deliver effective lessons while learning engagement techniques for active learning. The workshop instructors have trained under Anita Archer to deliver her instructional methods. This course is appropriate for all teachers.
Sioux Falls, July 21-22
Spearfish, July 24-25
SOCIAL STUDIES
Civics & History Summit – June 24-25, Sioux Falls: Back by popular demand, this event is designed for educators who teach civics, history, and other Social Studies subjects. Each session will provide participants with valuable content, resources, and activities that can be implemented directly into classrooms. Registration for the 2025 event is now open!
History Road Trip – July 14-17, Statewide: The South Dakota History Road Trip will be back again with routes in East River, Central, and West River South Dakota. Registration will open mid-April.
SPECIAL EDUCATION
South Dakota SPED 2025 – March 18-19, Rapid City: This conference is designed to help teachers meet the needs of their students who require special education services. This conference is unique in that parents of special education students are invited to attend as well. Registration closes March 10.
Transition Summer Institute – July 8-9, Oacoma: This conference is for educators and specialists who help special education students as they transition from school to adulthood. Registration is now open. Contact Lori Kwasniewski for more information.
Early Intervention Conference – Aug. 12, Mitchell: Hosted by DOE’s Birth to Three program, this event will provide information about the system of services and supports for families to help understand their child’s development and how to address areas of delay. Contact Jennifer Kampmann with Birth to Three for details.
ENGLISH LEARNERS
Andrea Bitner: Best practices for working with EL students and their families – July 23, Fort Pierre: Do you feel challenged by what to do when an English Learner (EL) joins your classroom, and struggle with how to confidently communicate with families? Do you know what to ask, who to reach out to, and how to create EL accommodations in your class? This engaging presentation, from an EL teacher, will help K-12 educators build relationships and immediately communicate with English Learning students and their families. You’ll leave this session with strategies to engage and serve EL students and their families. Register online.
CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
CTE Summer Conference – July 27-30, Mitchell: The CTE Summer Conference is the must-attend event of the year for Career and Technical Education teachers in South Dakota. It offers a variety of informative and engaging sessions. Visit DOE’s CTE webpage for conference information, which will be updated soon, or contact Amy Miller.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
2025 Behavioral Health Conference – Aug. 4-5, Sioux Falls: Expanding on previous suicide prevention conferences, this event will be a comprehensive behavioral health conference, offering information on suicide as well as substance misuse prevention, treatment, recovery supports, and compassion fatigue. Although geared for a variety of audiences, a specific youth track relevant to educators and school counselors will be featured. Learn more about the event. Registration will open in May.