VERMILLION (KELO AM) - Philanthropist T. Denny Sanford will speak briefly today to Sioux Falls teachers who are part of a national effort he’s funding through the University of South Dakota and other colleges to advance research-based programs aimed at student learning and social/emotional development.
The $30 million national initiative called the Sanford Education Collaborative is based on Sanford’s vision to help children ages pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. USD and South Dakota State University will be involved in disseminating the Sanford Harmony program, which strengthens social and emotional development.
The research-based Harmony program has been found to improve academic performance, increase positive attitudes about school and reduce classroom aggression. It will be introduced to some pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade students in South Dakota during the 2015-16 school year. Participating programs receive free classroom materials, professional development opportunities and teacher guides.USD’s Nicholas Shudak, chair of the division of curriculum and instruction, and Gera Jacobs, professor of early childhood and elementary education, will be working with the Sioux Falls School District to implement the program in its PreK classrooms. They will work with PreK and kindergarten at both Austin Elementary in Vermillion and Beresford Elementary. St. Agnes Schools in Vermillion will implement the program schoolwide in PreK through fifth grade.Sanford will address the Sioux Falls teachers Tuesday during a training session.