Educators

The Dakota Dreams Teacher Leadership Academy offers teachers who have taught for three+ years an experience-based learning opportunity to further develop their educational leadership skills and explore administrative roles and responsibilities in schools. Teachers who successfully complete the course will earn three graduate credits. These can be applied toward an advanced degree in education.

The Elementary Teacher STEM Initiative is designed to support teachers of grades 2 through 5 in strengthening the integration of Science, Math, Technology, and Engineering in the classroom. This summer course is an intensive week-long residential session with follow-up support.

During the 2024 Legislative Session, lawmakers passed House Bill 1201, which allocated funds for a second cohort (supporting up to 90 participants) for the two-year Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway to provide paraprofessionals employed in an accredited school system the opportunity to earn a teaching certificate, assuming a full course load each term. Through completion of this program, participants will earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, special education, or secondary education while continuing to work as a paraprofessional in their school and receiving support from experienced mentors. 

This program is possible due to partnerships with the South Dakota Department of Education, Dakota State University (elementary and special education), Northern State University (secondary education), the South Dakota Board of Regents, the South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation, and local school districts. This effort aims to address teacher shortage challenges across the state.

The application period for the second cohort closed May 1, 2024.

What is the Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway? 

• The Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway is a program aimed at moving paraprofessionals (i.e., teacher’s aides) currently working in South Dakota schools to certified teaching positions.  
• NSU and DSU offer the necessary coursework over two years, culminating in a student-teaching experience in the paraprofessional’s home district and resulting in a bachelor’s degree in education. 
• Coursework is offered virtually in the evenings or at other convenient times, so the apprentice teacher can continue working in the school as they take classes. 

Who is eligible? 

• Selected participants must be employed as paraprofessionals (also known as an “aide,” “educational assistant,” or “teacher’s aide”) during the apprenticeship until the beginning of their student-teaching period. Participants will continue to be compensated at rates determined by the district during this employment.  
• Participants will be responsible for $1,000/year to assist with tuition and the cost of required books and state-designated assessments, such as the Praxis test. 
• School districts will complete a statement of assurance and recommendation form for their paraprofessional(s). This form will be provided to the district near the close of the application period. This form will be returned directly to the SD Department of Education to ensure the privacy of the recommendation.
• School districts will be responsible for $1,000/year to help support the local mentors working with the teacher apprentices. 
• School districts will identify and provide the local primary mentor for their apprentices. Guidelines for selection will be provided.

Timeline:

• April 4, 2024 – Applications Open
• May 1, 2024 – Applications Close
• June 1-15, 2024 – Acceptance Notifications
• July 16, 2024 – Orientation in Pierre for Apprentices and Mentor-Teachers
• Fall 2024 – Classes Begin
• Summer 2026 – Cohort Two Classes Complete