A column by Governor Kristi Noem
Can you believe
the summer is almost over? The launch of the school year is a little different
for my family this year. Booker is beginning his senior year of high school in
a few days and will be starting football soon (Go Chargers!). Kassidy and
Kennedy are done with college now, so school supply shopping is a much easier
task… though I have to admit I miss the days of picking out boxes of crayons
and spiral notebooks.
With one in high
school and two having gone all the way through our state’s public schools, I’ve
been privileged to have a front-row ticket to the continuum of our education
system. And from this perspective, one thing is abundantly clear: we do a lot
of things right in our South Dakota schools.
Earlier this year,
I visited Todd County Middle School in Mission, South Dakota – a school that is
doing a lot of things right. Their work has been bolstered in recent years by a
state-funded Native American Achievement Grant, a 3-year project to jumpstart
improvements in academic outcomes for Native American students and increase
student success. The project requires schools to build cultural identities,
encourage academic perseverance, and develop student leadership skills. Schools
that received these funds are expected to integrate Native American culture and
language throughout their curriculum. It’s truly a remarkable program.
Because of this grant,
Todd County Middle School has implemented several changes that are benefitting
both the students and their community. They are incorporating Lakota language
and culture into their school, addressing mental health, and meeting students
where they are at for both behavior and academic needs.
It is a
student-centered environment. Each morning, teachers and students start the day
with wellness activities to get kids in the mindset for school. They make sure
every student has had something to eat. Teachers collaborate and work together
to instruct and support students. In addition to traditional counseling
services, they have implemented a recovery room where students can go to work
through anxiety or take time to sort through a difficult situation. These rooms
are staffed with counselors and have proven successful in curbing violence in
the school and helping students be ready to learn in the classroom.
And the results
speak for themselves. The 8th grade class I talked with went from 78 acts of
violence in their 5th grade year to only four incidents of violence as 8th
graders. Academic gains are emerging as well. The students are articulate,
confident, and optimistic – a reflection of the atmosphere throughout the
school.
I was incredibly
impressed by Todd County Middle School, and I know that successes like this are
mirrored all over our state. Teachers are working to inspire students and
prepare them for the workforce. I’m committed to further expanding
opportunities in this arena, too. In a few months, we’ll launch our “South
Dakota Week of Work,” which will expose students to high-demand careers and
innovative businesses right here in South Dakota.
