FROM TEEN TEACHER TO LANGFORD EDUCATOR

Langford Area alum Bryce Peterson credits his realization that teaching is his true calling to his experience with the Teens As Teachers program of the South Dakota Youth Foundation. Today, Peterson is living his calling by teaching for Langford Area School District. He currently teaches all Elementary PE (K-5), 6th grade Math and Science, and 7th grade Math. Next year, he will also be teaching freshman Health and serving as an Assistant Basketball and Track and Field coach.

As a participant in Teens As Teachers, Peterson was a trained mentor and teacher. Using the CHARACTER COUNTS! curriculum, he helped prepare lesson plans and taught them to Langford Area elementary students.

Since Langford Area piloted the program, 49 Teens have served as Teen Teachers, earning approximately $12,000 in scholarships.

As a Teen Teacher, Langford Area students attend training and teach local elementary students positive character traits through the CHARACTER COUNTS! curriculum. Teen Teachers earn a scholarship after completing the teaching experience and a digital portfolio. Training and scholarships are funded by donations to South Dakota Youth Foundation, Inc.

Research shows that older youth can effectively teach elementary students. Young learners are more attentive and likely to adopt behaviors when taught by a teen. Administrators, teachers, and the Teen Teachers themselves report changes in student behavior and school climate. Teen Teachers also identify improvement in personal skills and a greater awareness of their actions.

For more information or questions about Teens As Teachers and the South Dakota Youth Foundation, email: info@sdyouthfoundation.org or call 605.830.5831.

–Courtesy of the Marshall County Journal

---

TEACHING AND LEARNING FOR LA TEEN TEACHERS

To date, 49 Teen Teachers from Langford Area have earned $11,800 in scholarships as part of Teens As Teachers, a program of the South Dakota Youth Foundation, Inc., The program has come full circle within the Langford Area School District. This year’s Teen Teachers include Rennan Bruns, Eliana Darling, Jordis Jenner, Caleb Mertz, Cassidy Nelson, Morgan Ostlie, Jake Samson, and Ryder Smith, all of whom were part of the inaugural class taught by Teens As Teachers.

Since 2017, Langford high school students have taken on the role of mentoring elementary students in their community. The district has collaborated with the South Dakota Youth Foundation through its Teens As Teachers initiative. The teaching and  mentoring journey began with Langford Area teens Emilie Crosby, Dylan Frey, Brandy Peterson, and Ryan Punt. Once trained with the South Dakota Youth Foundation, these students became mentors and instructors for the CHARACTER COUNTS! lessons.

Then Superintendent Monte Nipp observed: “Having Teen Teachers present lessons and become role models for our elementary students makes programs more successful than if it’s just adults teaching the material.”

LA senior and Teens As Teacher participant Jordis Jenner added, “With this program we get to fully plan lessons and teach them to children in grades 2-7. It has been super fun planning out what activities we want to do, and to help make an impact on these young children’s education.”

Teens who complete the requirements of Teens As Teachers, receive a scholarship for post-secondary education. Training and scholarships are funded by the South Dakota Youth Foundation Inc. and its donors. 

–Courtesy of the Marshall County Journal

---

Teen teachers for the YOUth Choose Character program at Langford Area School are seniors Brandy Peterson, Emilie Crosby, Dylan Frey, and Ryan Punt. Their training was held on January 19th with Phil Olson and Nancy Swanson from the SD Youth Foundation, Inc. The four teen teachers have presented their first of six lessons to the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grade classes.

Dated January 22, 2018

---

---