TEACHER OF THE YEAR INFORMATION
The Yankton School District is currently accepting nominations for the 2026 YSD Teacher of the Year. The South Dakota Department of Education Teacher of the Year program aims to recognize and honor the tremendous contributions of outstanding classroom teachers.
The South Dakota Department of Education defines a classroom teacher as someone who has a class of their own and spends at least 3 hours per day, 5 days a week, for 6 or more calendar months during a school year teaching students in a classroom. The South Dakota Department of Education has determined that school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers are NOT eligible. Any teacher retiring at the end of the 2025-2026 school term is also not eligible.
A community member, student, parent, colleague, department head, or principal can make nominations. Nominators must include a short statement indicating why the nominee is an outstanding teacher of the Yankton School District. Nominations can be made at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ysdtoy. The deadline for all nominations is Monday, February 2. Farm Credit Services of America sponsors this award.
Participating in the Teacher of the Year Program positively impacts the entire community. Recognizing outstanding teachers establishes a culture that rewards excellence in teaching and validates the work of the teacher. It gives students a sense of pride in their teachers, displays them as positive role models, and encourages them to think about teaching as a career. Being a part of the nomination process gives the community a sense of pride in its teachers and helps to get the public involved and invested in the schools. The District Teacher of the Year becomes a nominee for the district's Regional Teacher of the Year Award. For additional information or questions, go to https://www.ysd.k12.sd.us/page/teacher-of-the-year.
EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR INFORMATION
Yankton Public Schools comprises more than 450 employees whose sole purpose is to educate, feed, transport, clean facilities, and care for our staff and children. The district has established the Yankton School District Employee of the Year Award to recognize our employees' outstanding work and contributions. This award recognizes administrative assistants, office staff, elementary librarians, paraprofessionals not in the SPED department, IT staff, nurses, counselors, custodians, maintenance, child nutrition staff, and bus drivers.
A community member, student, parent, colleague, department head, or principal can make nominations. Nominators must include a short statement indicating why the nominee is an outstanding employee of the Yankton School District. Nominations can be made at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ysdeoy. The deadline for all nominations is Monday, February 2. Marlow, Woodward, and Huff, LLC sponsors this award.
SPECIAL EDUCATION SUPPORT SERVICES EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
This year, we will seek nominations for Special Education Support Services Employee of the Year. An anonymous donor would like to sponsor this award, which recognizes special education paraprofessionals, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and school psychologists.
A community member, student, parent, colleague, department head, or principal can make nominations. Nominators must include a short statement indicating why the nominee is an outstanding special education support services employee of the Yankton School District. Nominations can be made at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ysdspedsse. The deadline for all nominations is Monday, February 2.
The Teacher of the Year, Employee of the Year, and the Special Education Support Services Employee of the Year will be announced in April.
QR Codes for Nomination Forms:
Teacher of the Year
This award recognizes a classroom teacher who has a class of their own and spends at least 3 hours per day, 5 days a week, for 6 or more calendar months during a school year in a classroom teaching students.
Employee of the Year
This award recognizes administrative assistants, office staff, elementary librarians, paraprofessionals not in the SPED department, IT staff, nurses, counselors, custodians, maintenance, child nutrition staff, and bus drivers.
Special Education Support Services Employee of the Year
This award recognizes special education paraprofessionals, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and school psychologists.
