Elementary School Teachers: 5th Grade, Librarian Teacher, Physical Education

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Start: Jul 18, 2023 / End: May 31, 2024 / Location: Pine Ridge, SD

We are looking for volunteers to teach at Red Cloud Elementary School: 5th Grade Teacher, Librarian Teacher, Physical Education

Red Cloud Volunteers work for and stand with the Oglala Lakȟóta people on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Pine Ridge is located in Oglala Lakota County, one of the three poorest counties in the country (based on per capita income), but it is also one of the richest and most beautiful communities in terms of culture, spirituality, hospitality, and landscape.

Volunteers serve nearly 600 Lakȟóta students in a K-12 Catholic School System, which is jointly administered by the Jesuits and the Lakȟóta people. Volunteers are typically recent college graduates or young adults with a background in education or who desire to engage more deeply in the field of education.

During the ten-month term of service, which can be renewed for up to two school years, Volunteers work as classroom teachers or support staff. Volunteers also assist with bus driving, coaching, and after-school activities.

Most of our volunteers are also half-time AmeriCorps members through the Oyate Tȟeča Wauŋspekiya AmeriCorps Program, which supports their bus driving, academic interventions, and after-school service, as well as provides professional development support.

If you have a desire to work within a challenging cross-cultural and inter-religious environment, commit to living simply in intentional communities with fellow volunteers, grow spiritually, work for justice in education, and become more socially conscious, then this program may be a good fit for you. We’d love to hear from you!