The annual SDCTE spring conference was held on the campus of Dakota State
University in Madison April 4-5. A variety of sessions were offered each day, and
those who were in attendance were very enthusiastic about the conference.
The Friday night banquet featured Andrew Travers, one of the two Young
Writer winners, who read his award-winning composition, and Sharon Olbertson, who was named
the South Dakota English Teacher of the Year. Diana Koch, Career Counselor from
Madison, gave a presentation on their Classroom to Careers program, which Governor Janklow had named as
one of eight model sites in the state. Other award winners unable to attend included Young Writer
Aaron Hiatt and South Dakota Author of the Year Linda Hasselstrom.
The Council began making plans for next year's conference, which will
be held March 27-28, 1998, at the Cedar Shores Resort in Chamberlain. Karen Harrington has
applied for a humanities grant to help secure the services of Linda Hasselstrom, which will hopefully be a
drawing card for attendance.
Please start thinking about possible presenters for the conference (and don't overlook your own
expertise)! Give your ideas to any Executive Council member (Karen Harrington, Sue
Morrell, Roger Ochse, Sharon Olbertson, Kandy Punt, Jim Swanson, or Dodie Bemis)
or bring them to the SDEA/NEA Convention in Sioux Falls.
Remember to mark March 27-28, 1998, at Cedar Shores in Chamberlain on your calendars today!