Around 1,000 educators gathered at the new Mitchell High School for this year’s South Dakota Department of Education Literacy Summit. Secretary of Education Joe Graves says the summit’s objective is to build additional enthusiasm about literacy and the science of reading. “Because it is the research-based program of how you teach reading best to get the most possible percentage of your students who are proficient in reading and who are beyond proficient in reading,” said Graves.
From keynote speakers to break out sessions, there’s plenty of learning opportunities. “It’s people talking about, ‘how do I infuse writing into this, and how do I make this a reality in the kindergarten classroom’?” Graves pointed out. “Just dozens of things like that. So there’s something for everybody here.”
This is a homecoming of sorts for Graves who served as Mitchell School District Superintendent before becoming Secretary of Education, and spearheaded planning the new high school building where the summit is located. “It’s been phenomenal,” Graves smiled. “It’s just wonderful to see the design that was in my head, and that we got a proof of the contracts back when, to now see it in 3D and in reality, it’s very exciting.”
The Literacy Summit runs through Wednesday.