South Dakota Teach for America

Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in expanding educational opportunity. Teach For America teachers (corps members) go above and beyond to help their students achieve dramatic academic gains. Teach For America alumni are a growing force of leaders with the insight and added commitment to effect the systemic changes required to put children in low-income communities on a level playing field with children from more affluent areas. Currently, there are nearly 50 Teach For America teachers impacting the lives of more than 4,000 students in Todd County, Crazy Horse, Little Wound, American Horse, and Saint Francis. 
 
The Dakota ASSETS partnership will enable Teach For America to recruit more candidates for its South Dakota region and help provide the organization’s corps members with additional mentoring and ongoing professional development.   Take One!®, which is a unique offering from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards®, will allow corps members mentorship opportunities with National Board certified teachers in their grade level and subject area from across the state.  Those accepted into Teach For America attend an intensive summer institute to gain a solid foundation in the skills and knowledge necessary to lead students to significant achievement. South Dakota corps members attend Teach For America’s training institute in Houston, Texas. They learn the overarching approach utilized by successful teachers as well as specific skills such as instructional planning and classroom management. Institute courses are combined with extensive hours of student teaching, giving corps members firsthand experience in goal-oriented instruction. Teach For America continues to support corps members once they enter the classroom, clustering them in schools with fellow corps members to encourage peer collaboration and providing access to professional-development resources.

Please click on Catherine Pozniak’s picture to view a short video clip that provides additional information and insights about this program.

Visit Teach for America's website at www.teachforamerica.org/about/regions/south_dakota.htm.