The Dakota Dreams Teacher Leadership Academy offers teachers who have taught for five+ years an experience-based learning opportunity to further develop their educational leadership skills. Courses will be taught by Professor of Practice faculty (qualified retired superintendents of schools) and guest speakers. Among other things, participants will:

• Discover the areas of educational leadership that best fit them.
• Gain insight into what educational leadership entails.
• Learn about requirements for certification.
• Better understand themselves and how to lead all personality types.
• Develop strategies for building and maintaining effective teams.

The Teacher Leadership Academy will accept 90 students in 2023-24. These students will meet in three cohorts of 30, over three instructional days during the school year and over a three-day period in the summer (dates and locations below). Students are required to establish a mentor relationship with an administrator in their district during the academy.

This academy is provided at no cost to teachers, thanks to funding provided from the South Dakota Department of Education. Teachers who successfully complete the course will earn three graduate credits that may be seamlessly applied to an advanced degree in education at a South Dakota public university. School districts will be reimbursed for substitute teacher expenses, teacher mileage, and per diem as well as mentor stipends.

Complete the Supervisor and Mentor Approval Form here to attach with your application. 

Class dates and locations are below.

Applications open on August 1, 2023, and close on September 30, 2023. Applicants will be notified of their status by the end of October.

If you need additional assistance, please e-mail K12leadershipacademy@sdbor.edu.