State Partners

South Dakota

South Dakota joined the Milken Educator Awards program in 2002

26 recipients since program began in South Dakota

$650,000 awarded in South Dakota since program began

Dr. Joe Graves
Secretary of Education
South Dakota Department of Education
800 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501

Ms. Allison Englund
Teacher Quality Specialist
Office of Standards, Learning, and Leadership
South Dakota Department of Education
800 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501

South Dakota Department of Education website

South Dakota Department of Education Milken Educators Awards website

(Updated 2/13/25)

South Dakota Milken Educators

• Cary Combs
  Knollwood Heights Elementary School
  Rapid City, SD
  2008
• Sherri Becker
  Mitchell Middle School
  Mitchell, SD
  2003
• Gina Benz
  Roosevelt High School
  Sioux Falls, SD
  2015
• Nichole Bowman
  T.F. Riggs High School
  Pierre, SD
  2021
• Chad Caldwell
  Brookings High School
  Brookings, SD
  2003
• Amanda Christensen
  Longfellow Elementary School
  Mitchell, SD
  2016
• Kira Christensen Dylla
  Washington High School
  Sioux Falls, SD
  2009
• Robert B. Cook
  Central High School
  Rapid City, SD
  2005
• Sherry Crofut
  North Middle School
  Rapid City, SD
  2007
• Shana Davis
  T.F. Riggs High School
  Pierre, SD
  2013
• Carla Diede
  Harrisburg South Middle School
  Harrisburg, SD
  2017
• Marletta Eich
  Washington Elementary School
  Madison, SD
  2004
• R. Jon Frey
  Aberdeen Central High School
  Aberdeen, SD
  2002
• Dan Gallagher
  Roncalli Middle and Senior High School
  Aberdeen, SD
  2024
• Wade Helleson
  Lowell Elementary School
  Sioux Falls, SD
  2010
• Albert Her Many Horses
  Todd County Middle School
  Mission, SD
  2023
• Kari L. Jungclaus
  Rapid Valley Elementary School
  Rapid City, SD
  2002
• Nicole Keegan
  Dakota Middle School
  Rapid City, SD
  2011
• Karen J. Lukens
  Hawthorne Elementary School
  Sioux Falls, SD
  2002
• Darrell Mueller
  Platte Elementary School
  Platte, SD
  2004
• LeeAnna Rabine
  Hawthorne Elementary School
  Sioux Falls, SD
  2014
• Connie Rous
  Batesland Elementary School
  Batesland, SD
  2006
• Alayna Siemonsma
  South Park Elementary School
  Rapid City, SD
  2012
• Alison Ter Horst
  Washington High School
  Sioux Falls, SD
  2019
• Abby Turbak
  McKinley Elementary School
  Watertown, SD
  2022
• Dr. Camrin Vaux
  Camelot Intermediate School
  Brookings, SD
  2021

There are Initiatives in the South Dakota Milken Educator Network. Click below to
View state initiatives