PIERRE, S.D. – Teacher Appreciation Week is underway. In South Dakota, there’s a mixed outlook from educators on whether they feel supported.
Coinciding with this week’s events is an annual ranking from the National Education Association, which looks at factors such as educator salaries. South Dakota moved up from last in the nation to 49th.
Union leaders credit an overall 13% bump in state aid funding over a two-year period.
Loren Paul – president of the South Dakota Education Association – said while it’s been encouraging to see that extra support, there’s still a lot of catching up to do in staying competitive in this part of the country.
“We’re gaining regionally, but we haven’t overtaken anybody regionally,” said Paul. “That presents an extra challenge, when there’s a nationwide teacher shortage.”
Paul said lawmakers need to focus more on listening to educators and what they’re experiencing.
He added that they’re embedded in the communities served by school districts, and like other constituents, they deserve to have their voices heard.
According to the NEA rankings, the average educator salary in South Dakota is just over $50,000.
Paul said another wrinkle has been certain parent groups wanting to have a say in curriculum, while pushing for actions such as book bans in schools and public libraries.
“That’s becoming more and more challenging in the current political climate,” said Paul. “And I think that plays into retaining teachers.”
He also pointed to the recent adoption of controversial social-studies standards in South Dakota, noting that teachers and plenty of members of the public spoke out against the plan.
Paul said that’s an example of educators not being listened to.
Opponents accused Gov. Kristi Noem’s administration of politicizing the process. Those leading the effort defended the criteria, saying students will be equipped with “solid grounding in history and civics.”
