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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

South Dakota Schools Celebrate American Education Week

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Thursday, November 21, 2019   

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota educators and school support staff are celebrating the 98th annual observance of American Education Week by applauding parents, and also recognizing the importance of outstanding professionals.

This week's activities featured a surprise visit to a fourth grade classroom at Harrisburg's Endeavor Elementary School by the Mary McCorkle, the South Dakota Education Association president.

McCorkle invited the students to help present the 2020 Teacher of Excellence award to their teacher, Amanda Harris.

McCorkle says when choosing educators for the award, the association not only looks for teachers who demonstrate outstanding strengths in the classroom, but who also go the extra mile.

"Their leadership outside of the classroom, their support for other educators, their ability to share their knowledge with, not only their colleagues in their school but colleagues across the state," McCorkle states.

The U.S. began public education in 1634. In addition to fourth grade classroom duties, Harris has served on curriculum committees in her district and regularly presents at educator conferences.

She also started an after school club that focuses on science, technology, engineering, arts and math, and initiated the school's theater company.

Teachers are the backbone of public education, but they can't do their job without support professionals.

To that end, McCorkle says a second recognition went to Jolene Sutton, an office paraprofessional at Lincoln Elementary School in Watertown.

McCorkle says Sutton's 2020 Educational Support Professional of the Year award acknowledges that teachers and students can only thrive with the help of those who work in food service and as bus drivers and paraprofessionals.

"They are superheroes,” she states. “They are working, many of them, in challenging situations.

“They're not necessarily even making a living wage, but they show up every day and they give their heart and soul to make sure students have every opportunity."

American Education Week, which occurs each year during the week before Thanksgiving, was originally started in 1921 as an effort to improve literacy and students' physical fitness

Disclosure: South Dakota Education Association contributes to our fund for reporting on Education. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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