The South Dakota Education Association’s new president wants people to understand how the state fits into the country’s conversations about public schools. This is American Education Week. The purpose is to celebrate all people who make quality education possible. The new SDEA leader says good schools require input from everyone.
The 93rd annual American Education Week theme is "Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility."
Mary McCorkle is president of the South Dakota Education Association. She says schools in the state offer students climates that encourage exploration and learning.
"Our students deserve the best public school possible. That is their right," McCorkle says "It’s our responsibility as citizens of South Dakota to ensure that they have the very best that they can."
McCorkle says discussions about creating quality public school environments can’t happen between only education leaders and lawmakers.
"And education is not just the school, the teacher, the students. Education is the parents. Education is the community, and it takes all of us to educate our students. You know, it takes a village. That’s not a cliché; that’s the reality, and that’s what we need for good public schools," McCorkle says.
McCorkle says one of the most pressing challenges South Dakota faces is a shortage of highly-qualified teachers. She says resolving that is part of a larger call to continuously improve public education in the state.
Thursday’s Dakota Midday features an extended conversation with SDEA President Mary McCorkle. Tune in for that at 12 p.m. central/11 a.m. mountain time on SDPB Radio.