University of South Dakota School of Education is addressing South Dakota's teacher shortage through strategic initiatives and programs.
The USD School of Education is proud to uphold a long-standing commitment to attract and support South Dakotans into the education profession.
Years before the current teacher shortage and national reduction in enrollment in university teacher preparation programs, the School of Education responded to research from the Learning Policy Institute by enacting recruitment and retention strategies to safeguard against predicted declines. USD's School of Education efforts to serve South Dakota extend well beyond teacher preparation, including sport officiating certification, school mental health resources and high caliber graduate degree programs.
Read more about the School of Education's strategic initiatives and programs and how USD is actively working to meet the need for educators and other essential school personnel in South Dakota.
In response to South Dakota’s sports official shortage, the University of South Dakota has partnered with the South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA) to train more officials across the state.
The University of South Dakota School of Education will receive $15,000 from Start Today SD and the U.S. Department of Labor and Regulation (DLR) to develop a Teacher Fellows Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP).
The University of South Dakota School of Education was awarded a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to increase the number of school mental health providers in high-need areas of the state.
On Sept. 25, the University of South Dakota School of Education hosted members of Educators Rising South Dakota for an event aimed at inspiring high school students across the state to consider a career in education and introducing them to the opportunities available in the USD School of Education.
The University of South Dakota School of Education is celebrating the graduation of the first cohort of Sioux Falls Teacher Pathway high school students.
As the teacher shortage continues to take its toll on educators and schools across the state, the University of South Dakota School of Education continues to push initiatives that offer solutions.
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When she graduates with her degree in Elementary Education this weekend, Alisa Larsen, a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, native, will become the first student to complete the Teacher Pathway Program at the University of South Dakota School of Education.
On Sept. 25, the University of South Dakota School of Education hosted members of Educators Rising South Dakota for an event aimed at inspiring high school students across the state to consider a career in education and introducing them to the opportunities available in the USD School of Education.
To combat the state’s teacher shortage, the University of South Dakota School of Education updated their Division of Teacher Residency & Education (TRE) placement policy in the fall of 2022 to allow education students to complete their residency in their hometown.
The University of South Dakota School of Education was ranked No. 149 on U.S. News and World Report’s 2023-2024 “Best Graduate Education Schools” list, ranking the highest in South Dakota and North Dakota.
Established in 2017, Teacher Pathway is a unique partnership between the Sioux Falls School District (SFSD) and the USD School of Education that facilitates opportunities for students in the district who are interested in becoming teachers. While in high school, SFSD students in the program can take two USD education courses and transfer the credits directly into the USD teacher education program, giving students an early start on their educational journey toward becoming teachers.
As the demand for teachers continues to grow, our faculty are always looking for innovative ways to better serve and meet the needs of schools in the state and throughout the region.
Dan Mourlam, Ed.D.
Chair of the Division of Teacher Education
