While I was a program director in South Dakota from 2007-2009, I forged some close friendships with community members, and through that I developed a deep belief in the potential of kids on the reservation. I’m excited to be back in South Dakota helping community leaders bring their vision for their children to fruition.

In 2004, Teach For America first placed 17 corps members in South Dakota. Today, we have 55 corps members working tirelessly to unleash the potential of approximately 2,000 children growing up in South Dakota’s most underserved communities. Shannon Brady (South Dakota ’06) was named South Dakota State Middle School teacher of the year as a corps member. In 2011, corps members and alumni joined forces to start a Saturday school at one of our lowest-performing placement schools

By 2015, we will reach half of the Native students in our state and two thirds of Native students living on South Dakota reservations.  We will be on track to close the achievement gap between Lakota students and their non-Native peers; the high school graduation rates of our district partners will increase; and more Native students will be prepared to enter and complete college with pride in their cultural identity.  In conjunction with school districts, tribal entities, community members, and educational leaders, we will lead the charge for educational equity in South Dakota.

Rooted in the potential of our students and communities, our corps members and alumni are driven by the belief that radically different educational outcomes are possible.