WAGNER, S.D. — Wagner educator Michelle Slava has a simple motivation every day.
Slava, director of special education at Wagner Community Schools, loves watching students grow as individuals and strives to meet the individual needs of every student. She said she believes educators have an obligation to be lifelong learners, and she tries to convey that to her students.
Slava was recently recognized as the recipient of the state's 2023 Outstanding Special Education Administrator Award. Slaba works with approximately 115 students with disabilities in the district.
Slava, who has served as Wagner's director of special education since 2008, received the honor at the 2023 South Dakota Association of School Boards Conference in Sioux Falls. She was also recognized at the South Dakota School Administrators Banquet in January.
Winners are typically announced at the end of the school year, and the winner retains the title for the following academic year. Slava was announced as her 2023 recipient at the South Dakota Special Educators Conference last March. However, Mr Slava did not attend the event.
“I was surprised when I heard about the award. The conference where the winners were announced was full and I had not yet purchased a ticket to attend,” Slava said. “They had me Zoom all day and didn't announce the winner until 5 p.m. I had a sick son and it was my birthday that day. It's a funny story and will be with me for years to come. It will make you laugh.”
The award was established in 1994 to recognize the efforts of those in special education administrative or supervisory positions within South Dakota's public schools. Slava was nominated for this award in collaboration with South Central Cooperative and Wagner Community School District administrators and staff. From there, her nomination was selected by a committee of the South Dakota Council of Special Education Administrators (SDCASE).
“These jobs are very challenging, but they're also very rewarding. These jobs are such an important part of the district, so it's great to recognize professionals in this field.” said Wendy Oseimu, past president of SDCASE.
SDCASE is a group of experts who work with leaders and politicians to raise awareness of special education and education-related issues. The group's goal is to provide quality professional development and resources to grow our members and develop strong advocates.
Before moving to special education administration at Wagner College, Slava taught special education for several years in Fargo, North Dakota, first in kindergarten through sixth grade from 2002 to 2006 and then in middle school from 2006 to 2008. Ta.
Although Slava misses the direct daily interaction with students, it is her goal to stand out and support teachers and students.
“I try to be out in the hallways and the cafeteria as much as possible, and if I feel isolated or stressed, I do observations in the classroom,” Slava said.
A native of Moorhead, Minn., Slava earned a bachelor's degree in elementary and special education and a master's degree in emotional and behavioral disorders from Minnesota State University-Moorhead. She earned a professional degree in management from the University of South Dakota.
Slava began her career in education with a simple but profound mission: to be a positive role model for others. Slava always knew from her childhood that she loved to teach. She worked as a paraprofessional at the West Central Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Minnesota during the summer, and it was her goal to return to the facility and teach full time.
“I love children, and although I currently work in an office, I support children from a different perspective,” Slava said.
She said the most challenging part of her role as special education director is keeping up with all the ongoing changes in special education. According to Slava, it is more difficult than ever to determine whether a student truly has a disability.
The referral process can be difficult and time-consuming to determine whether the problem lies elsewhere, such as poor attendance or simply a teacher struggling to learn how to teach.
“Due to COVID-19, students missed classes for various reasons,” Slava said. “We want to give our students the support they need, whether they have a disability or not. We need to make education meaningful for all students.”
Mr. Slava believes that all students with disabilities should be in regular classrooms with students of the same age. Finding the right balance between professional instruction and classroom schedules can be difficult, Slava said.
Supporting students at the instructional level and celebrating milestones and successes makes her job so rewarding at the end of the day.
“The best thing about teaching is that it matters,” Slava says. “Children will soon forget what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel.”
Jennifer Reiter joined Mitchell Republic in April 2024. She grew up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and attended Lincoln High School. She continued her education at South Dakota State University, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism in December 2000. During her college years, Reiter worked as a reporter for the campus newspaper, The Collegian. In the summer of 2000, she also interned at Anderson Publishing in Canistota, South Carolina. After her graduation, Sue continued to live in the Falls area, where she worked for many years as a freelance writer for the Argus She Reader.
/Jennifer Leather
