School news of the week: Teacher Pathway program helps encourage future educators

Amazing things happen in our schools every day — if you know where to look! Do you know some school news others would love? Let us know at [email protected].

The Sioux Falls School District has started a Teacher Pathway program to expose students at all four high schools to the education profession. Last fall, Teacher Pathway students took a trip to the University of South Dakota’s School of Education. “They learned about what it takes to specialize in elementary, middle or high school teaching, heard from current students pursuing a degree in education, met with college advisors and faculty and experienced life on campus,” according to the Sioux Falls School District. “Roosevelt High School teacher Gina Benz also met up with some of her former Teacher Pathway students who are now earning their education degrees.”

Additional shoutout to Benz and the other Teacher Pathway teachers: Sara Klawonn of Lincoln, Jessica Pomerenke of Jefferson and Ali Terhorst of Washington for their work in helping develop future educators.

The program clearly is making an impact for students on several levels. In this podcast, the district introduced Taliyah Hayes, a senior at Jefferson High School who is planning to pursue a career in special education. Listen as she shares with Superintendent Jane Stavem what inspired her to make her career decision so early and how the Teacher Pathway program is helping her achieve those goals.

The 147th Army Band of the South Dakota National Guard has been touring schools recently, including a stop at Sioux Falls Lutheran School.

High school English classes at Sioux Falls Lutheran recently got to work with Vicki Fuller, an artist-in-residence who taught a Shakespeare intensive course to each of the high school classes. They learned about Shakespeare’s writing style and his reasons for writing in iambic pentameter and looked at excerpts from “Romeo and Juliet.” The seniors focused on “Macbeth.”

Last week included National School Resource Officer Day, prompting many schools to thank their officers — including George McGovern Middle School, which shared: “Officer Bertram builds positive relationships with our students and staff and is an awesome member of the Eagles.”

Making the best of indoor recess at St. Lambert Elementary:

And finally, a great reminder courtesy of Fred Assam Elementary: