South Dakota is often called the Land of Infinite Variety, and indeed the state offers incredibly varied landscapes - the wide, open prairies of the northern plains, the great canyons and the precipices of the Badlands, and the beautiful pine-covered Black Hills. Within the Black Hills themselves, the rich terrain is home to wandering herds of buffalo, antelope, and mountain goats. Altogether, the South Dakota region offers corps members a wealth of outdoor opportunities. From Mount Rushmore to the Wounded Knee Memorial (on the Pine Ridge Reservation), these national landmarks and monuments have documented a delicate coexistence between the United States and the Great Sioux Nation.
| Quick Stats |
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| Site Since: 2004 |
| Corps Size: 45 |
| Average yearly temperature: 45.5° |
| Car: Access to a car is essential |
Salary: See cost of living  |
The single stone monument at Wounded Knee is a stark reminder of December 29, 1890, when the Seventh U.S. Cavalry killed hundreds of unarmed Lakota men, women, and children. Although tension and tragedy have played central roles in the history of the South Dakota region the dominant spirit today remains centered on sustaining Lakota tradition, language, and culture.
Life
South Dakota corps members teach on both the Rosebud and Pine Ridge Reservations. The Pine Ridge Reservation is located in southwestern South Dakota, and the Rosebud Reservation is in south central South Dakota along the Nebraska border. Most South Dakota corps members live in teacher housing located next to or near their schools. Some teachers choose to live in larger communities that are located 30-85 miles off the reservations. Because of the reservations' geographic seclusion, they lack many of the conveniences readily available in small towns elsewhere. Small stores in towns on the reservation offer a limited range of products, and community members often must travel 30 miles or more to reach the nearest large grocery store. In order to avoid the sense of isolation experienced by some newcomers to the reservations, incoming corps members must be ready to embrace the very rural nature of this part of South Dakota.
Corps Culture
As part of the support network, South Dakota corps members can expect regular opportunities for collaboration and socializing, including cultural events and gatherings with colleagues and friends. Although South Dakota is an extremely rural state, and great distances exist between placement sites, the South Dakota corps is a tight-knit group. Corps members gather on a regular basis in Professional Learning Communities to share teaching strategies, and engage in collaborative planning. Weekends in South Dakota allow corps members the opportunity to travel to neighboring towns for dinner, or to venture to the larger communities of Rapid City, Pierre, and Sioux Falls for a movie, concert, or play. South Dakota corps members are also active members of their school and local communities, and spend many nights and weekends at school and community events such as pow-wows, basketball tournaments, and community concerts. The South Dakota corps takes full advantage of the close relationships the small corps fosters, and the beautiful geographic region in which corps members live. Because of its small size, Teach For America • South Dakota provides its 2008 corps members numerous opportunities to assume leadership positions within the corps in the coming year.
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