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An Oglala Lakota -Wahpeton Dakota Running for RCAS Board




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Rapid City, SD – One of the ten candidates running for the four seats on the Rapid City Area Schools (RCAS) Board of Education (Area 2) is Tatewin Means, a mother of two RCAS students and graduate of RCAS. Area 2 in the RCAS includes Central and Rapid City High Schools; Wilson, South Park, and Robbinsdale Elementary Schools as well as South Middle School.

Means indicated that as a mother who is invested in her and all children’s education, she understands the importance of quality programming and academics that work for every child.

She is from the Oglala Lakota, Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota, and Ihanktonwan Nations in South Dakota

In running for the RCAS Board of Education she said, “The world is coming at our kids fast. We need to support, prepare and show that we believe in them. They are South Dakota’s future. Our community, and most importantly our youth are restless and desire a district that leads the state and nation in education, and they deserve more than lower-level tiered education.”

RCAS currently serves approximately 14,000 students, of which 2,800 or 21% are American Indian/ Native American. RCAS is the state’s second largest district and according to their website (www.rcas.org) has 15 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 2 high schools and 1 alternative high school. The district owns 700 acres of land in and around Rapid City and maintains 30 buildings (about 2 million square feet).

Area 2 in the RCAS includes Central and Rapid City High Schools; Wilson, South Park, and Robbinsdale Elementary Schools as well as South Middle School.

Means feels that she is knowledgably aware of the happenings within the Rapid City Area Schools as a concerned parent and would be a good candidate as well as serving on the Board of Education.

Recently RCAS launched its Strategic Plan 2022, an aggressive 5 year plan focused on 5 key areas: reading proficiently by 3rd grade; 21st Century Learning; College, Career & Life Readiness; Teaching & Leading; and School and Community Partnerships.

Almost one-half of RCAS teachers have advanced degrees, according to their website, and the average teacher has 14.2 years of experience.

Means is a graduate of Stanford University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering. She completed a JD with a concentration in Human Rights Law from the University of Minnesota Law School.

She returned home and completed her Masters of Arts degree in Lakota Leadership and Management from Oglala Lakota College (OLC). Means is currently the Executive Director of Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation, an Indigenous non-profit organization on the Pine Ridge Reservation, seeking to lead change through the development of a regenerative community.

She served as the Attorney General for the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota from 2012-2017.

She also served as a German Marshall Fund Marshall Memorial Fellow in 2015 where she strengthened her leadership skills and bolstered a strong network of cross-sectional leaders. She is an advocate for education, human rights, survivors, children, families.

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