by Jeff Fastnacht, superintendent, Ellendale (N.D.) School District The need for teachers has been a reoccurring topic in both South Dakota and North Dakota for several years. It was thought to be more significant in South Dakota, and that may be so, but according to a recent story in The Fargo Forum, it is a growing concern here as well. ... Read More »
Splitting their time between classrooms in school districts even a few miles apart takes extra planning for teachers, but might be one answer to South Dakota's teacher shortage. Read More »
The January/February 2016 issue of Dakotafire is the last issue of the Prairie Idea Exchange project. The final gathering of the Prairie Idea Exchange brought together people from around the region to talk about what kinds of efforts to look beyond their communities are working, what has torpedoed the regional reaches that didn’t work, and how other efforts could build ... Read More »
Every other issue of Dakotafire magazine features a section called “Perspective.” The goal of this section is to highlight a scene or work of art that shows some insight into Dakota life. The section also includes space for the artist or photographer to share a little bit about his or her perspective on the world, and more specifically how he ... Read More »
The Blue Ribbon Task Force on Teachers and Students has identified distance education as one solution to South Dakota's teacher shortage, but experts say it's not a fail-proof solution. Read More »
by Anna Jauhola and Wendy Royston, Dakotafire Media Some entrepreneurs in the Dakotafire region are banding together to bring more of the thrill of the holiday shopping experience—and those who seek it—into their shops. “The experience … determines how long a customer stays around and how much shopping they’ll try to do while they’re in the store,” said Becky McCray, ... Read More »
by Anna Jauhola and Wendy Royston, Dakotafire Media Perhaps the answer to South Dakota’s teacher shortage doesn’t lie in recruiting this year’s high school seniors to the profession or retaining next year’s education grads within our borders. Maybe the answer is sitting in homes and in offices throughout our state, already engaging with youth. “Being a teacher was not an ... Read More »
By Tasi Livermont, for Dakotafire with additional reporting by Doug Card, The Britton Journal; Jody Moritz, Faulk County Record; and Wendy Royston, Dakotafire Media With a hope and a prayer, school districts across South Dakota attempted to fill vacant teaching positions this year. “I must have prayed really hard,” said Monte Nipp, Langford (S.D.) Area School superintendent. “I was really ... Read More »
By Kristin Vandersnick, for Dakotafire with additional reporting by Sheila Ring, Onida Watchman Veterans Day is about honoring those who have volunteered to serve their country, committed to giving even their lives, if asked. Many Dakota communities also take the day to honor Old Glory, the nation’s outward symbol of the freedoms veterans yearn to protect. “I look at it ... Read More »
Editor’s Note: See related story here. by Wendy Royston, Dakotafire Media with additional reporting by Sheila Ring, Onida Watchman, and Ken Schmierer, for The Dickey County Leader The word “homecoming” suggests the original intent of the fall celebrations was to bring graduates—and the focus of the community—back to the school. In many towns today, that call to come home is ... Read More »
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