The South Dakota Department of Education maintains a list of Emerging Classroom Leaders, which consists of distinguished teachers and principals from across the state. These educators are considered for membership on advisory boards and task forces.

In addition, they represent their communities and our state, and may ultimately receive prestigious recognition. The Department of Education is seeking to add classroom teachers and/or principals who have demonstrated all of the following to the Emerging Classroom Leaders Pool:

• Exceptional educational talent as evidenced by effective instructional practices and student learning results in the classroom and school
• Exemplary educational accomplishments beyond the classroom that provide models of excellence for the profession
• Individuals whose contributions to education are largely unheralded yet worthy of the spotlight
• Early- to mid-career educators who offer strong long-range potential for professional and policy leadership and
• Engaging and inspiring presence that motivates and impacts students, colleagues and the community

To recommend an educator:

1. Complete one Talent Pool Recommendation Form [https://doe.sd.gov/oatq/documents/19-talentlPool.doc] for each candidate with confidential, succinct and specific information. All questions must be answered. Typewritten submissions are preferred.
2. Write a one-page letter that addresses how the candidate meets the previously mentioned criteria.
3. Obtain a copy of the candidate’s resume.

The statewide mentoring program provides a first-year teacher access to a mentor teacher for a period of two years and participation in a summer academy following the first and second year of employment.

This is an excellent opportunity for experienced South Dakota teachers (current and retired) to share their skills and help guide beginning teachers. In addition, through this program, South Dakota’s newest teachers will be supported and welcomed into the education community.

Requirements have also been established for districts that would like to receive funding to handle mentoring locally.

Visit the mentoring program’s webpage [http://doe.sd.gov/mentoring/] to learn more and find the following:

• Applications for new mentors and first-year teachers
• Program information for second-year participants

Those who are already participating in the program are not required to complete a new application.

Today’s teens are more likely to use e-cigarettes than cigarettes, yet many don’t understand the risks associated with e-cigarettes, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse.

School input is needed to determine materials South Dakota educators need to help students learn about the health risks related to e-cigarette use. Please take the survey at https://ecigeducatorsurvey.questionpro.com and share it with your middle and high school teachers, school nurses, school counselors and school resource officers. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete. Participation is voluntary, and identities of respondents remain anonymous.

The survey closes March 30.

This study is being conducted by the South Dakota State University School of Communication and Journalism on behalf of the South Dakota Department of Health Tobacco Control Program. It has been approved by the South Dakota State University Institutional Review Board.

Questions? Please email Dastinee.Domonoske@sdstate.edu or the SDSU IRB compliance officer at Dianne.Nagy@sdstate.edu.

The Department of Health appreciates your input and help with distributing this survey.

School administrators, teachers, city leaders, librarians and library trustees are invited to open forums [https://library.sd.gov/CAL/2019/sdsl-openforums.aspx] scheduled statewide this month to discuss the future of library services in South Dakota. This summer, the State Library will be writing its next five-year strategic plan which will extend through 2023.

The State Library’s current strategic plan and the current federal LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) five-year plan are available on the State Library’s Publications webpage [https://library.sd.gov/SDSL/publications/index.aspx], under the Plans heading.

Pat Wagner, with Research Patterns, Colorado, will facilitate the open forums. The results of a statewide survey will be discussed.

School administrators, K-12 classroom teachers, content teachers and ESL teachers are invited to site visits in Huron middle and high schools and a Sioux Falls elementary school on March 25. Attendees will learn about how to engage English learners in the classroom for content and language instruction. This event is sponsored by the SD State-Wide Title III & Migrant Consortia. Choose from three locations and grade levels. Learn more and register on the Consortia website [https://www.eventbrite.com/o/sd-state-wide-title-iii-amp-migrant-consortia-11100444974].

The U.S. Department of Education has issued a comprehensive set of FAQs on schools’ responsibilities under FERPA related to school safety. "School Resource Officers, School Law Enforcement Units, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act" [https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/sites/default/files/resource_document/file/SRO_FAQs_2-5-19_0.pdf] consolidates previously issued guidance and technical assistance into a single resource. Understanding the provisions of FERPA relative to circumstances that threaten the health or safety of individuals can empower school officials to act more quickly and decisively when challenges arise.

Conducting Functional Behavior Assessments and Writing Behavior Plans
March 8, Rapid City

Title Programs Wednesday Café
March 13
[https://doe.sd.gov/title/]

STARS Account Manager online training
March 13

Board of Education Standards
March 18, Rapid City
[http://doe.sd.gov/board/]

2019 South Dakota Special Education Conference
March 19-20, Deadwood
[https://2019sdsped.wordpress.com/]

Understanding Trauma/Successful Engagement with Families Today
March 23, Rapid City

School Finance Accountability Board
March 25, teleconference
[https://boardsandcommissions.sd.gov/Meetings.aspx?BoardID=165]

Spring DOE/Infinite Campus user groups
April 2-5, various locations statewide
(For more information, contact Judy Merriman [judy.merriman@state.sd.us] or Teri Jung [teri.jung@state.sd.us])

Special Education Advisory Panel
April 3 [https://boardsandcommissions.sd.gov/Meetings.aspx?BoardID=16]

SD Early Childhood Education Conference
April 4-6, Pierre [http://sdececonference-org.doodlekit.com/home]

SD School Library EdCamp
April 6, Rapid City and Sioux Falls [https://schlibedcampsd.weebly.com/]

TIE Conference
April 7-9, Rapid City
[https://web.cvent.com/event/69c7f2ce-957d-47bf-98ad-82d5efe3e286/summary]

SD-STARS topical webinar
April 24

State Historical Society History Conference
April 26-27, Pierre
[https://history.sd.gov/aboutus/eventsanded.aspx]

SD Dept. of Education Annual Conference
May 29-30, Pierre
[https://doe.sd.gov/title/2019-conference/index.aspx]

Save the Date! MTSS Summer Conference
June 11-12, Chamberlain

Save the Date! Indian Education Summit
Sept. 22-24, Pierre