Teach For America is an alternative certification pathway in South Dakota. Corps members receive a one-year alternative teaching certificate that is renewable for their second year of teaching. In order to qualify for this certification corps members must complete the following:

• Pass their Praxis II content test
• Submit an alternative certification application along with supporting documents

Becoming Certified to Teach

Corps members may apply for their five-year certification upon completion of their two-year commitment. To do so, they must:

• Complete 15 credit hours of education work in pedagogy and related fields, three hours of which must be the Indian Studies course
• Pass the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching exam for their grade level
• Submit an application, fees, and documentation supporting that they have met all requirements

Graduate School 

Local master’s degree options are available through Sinte Gleska University or Oglala Lakota College. There is no requirement to receive a master’s degree to teach in South Dakota.

TFA Training

Once you join Teach For America, you will engage with your fellow corps members and our staff virtually, and complete a suite of pre-work designed to orient you to our values and to the history of education in Native communities in South Dakota.

You will engage in pre-service training both centralized virtually and customized with the South Dakota region. In 2022, this included an in-person practicum teaching experience locally in South Dakota. 

By late July/early August, you will return to South Dakota to move into your teacher housing unit, and typically during the first week of August, we convene for a one-week training called Kickoff to ensure you are ready to begin the school year. Throughout the year, you will work closely with your coach, your fellow corps members and alumni, and school-based staff to grow professionally. You will engage in workshops and professional development sessions on an at-least monthly basis, often meeting more frequently. Our training locally focuses intensively on culturally sustaining pedagogy, Lakota language and culture, teacher identity development, and family engagement.