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District curriculum director outlines social studies adoption, ELA changes and teacher training
Summary
The district curriculum director told the board new K–5 social studies materials are aligned to incoming South Dakota standards, ELA updates will emphasize writing and decodable texts, and professional development included Kid Whisperer trainings with broad teacher participation.
At the May 12 meeting the district curriculum director reviewed year‑end reports on curriculum, assessment and professional development and described next steps for 2025–26.
On curriculum, the director said the district completed a social studies adoption aligned to South Dakota’s new standards and received the K–5 materials last week. National Geographic materials were chosen for the middle school and McGraw Hill for the high school; the director said teachers will receive copies and the district will circulate a handout showing standards alignment.
The district is in year three of an ELA adoption but will implement revisions that emphasize writing instruction and a stronger decodable-text library. The director said interim assessments that mirror state tests helped produce high participation during the recent South Dakota assessments — “around 99% to 100%,” she said; the legal testing minimum is 95%.
Professional development highlights included Kid Whisperer behavior/leadership training with 46 teachers participating in a book study and roughly 115 registered for a planned Kid Whisperer conference co‑hosted with Black Hills State University. The director said the Cognia review and staff feedback will guide next year’s professional development priorities.
Principals from district schools then gave year-end highlights: middle and high school reports emphasized student participation in activities (an estimated 85% at middle school with a 90% target), CTE course expansion (four new CTE classes at the high school) and student recognitions such as three students invited to the ASBSD Governor’s Luncheon. Board members asked clarifying questions and thanked staff for the work this year.
