Wright settles in as new superintendent

Kathryn Wright officially assumed her superintendent duties at Ekalaka Public Schools on July 9. The Rapid, City South Dakota native first visited the area eleven years ago and “fell in love” with Ekalaka’s skies.

Wright completed undergraduate studies in elementary education at Black Hills State University. She then attended the University of South Dakota and obtained a graduate degree in educational leadership to be a K-12 principal.

After three years teaching sixth grade on the Pine Ridge Reservation, Wright spent four years at Southwest Middle School in Rapid City. There, she taught English and reading in addition to working as a literacy coach for fourth and sixth grades.

Most recently, Wright spent three years teaching in Rozet, a small community in Campbell County, Wyoming.

The new superintendent has been quite busy since arriving in Ekalaka. Over the last month, several rooms at the high school have been changed to accommodate new scheduling.

The high school library has been downsized and outdated library books, many of which haven’t been checked out since the 70s, will be outsourced. There will now be additional space in the room for drama class. A room previously used for storage now houses some of the not-so-outdated books.

After discussions with school board members, teachers and parents, sixth grade students will now take classes at the high school. The students will have all of their classes in one room, with multiple teachers. They will still have a recess and will continue to eat lunch with the rest of the elementary students.

The room previously used for sixth grade at the elementary school will now serve as the K-3 music room. An orientation for sixth grade students and their parents will be taking place on Monday.

The superintendent’s office has also been relocated to the high school.

Wright told the Eagle on Tuesday that the district is still actively seeking a guidance counselor. For now, guidance counselor duties are being split between her and some of the teachers. She is planning on using a guidance program that she has previous experience with. Materials for the program were located in the guidance counselor’s office at CCHS. The program, she said, helps to pro-actively teach social and emotional skills to students. Students in grades 7-12 are signing up for classes with Wright on August 8 and August 9 at the high school.

Wright is also planning a back-to-school barbecue for the community that will coincide with CCHS homecoming and the first home football game on September 6.

Other new faces at Ekalaka Public Schools this year are music teacher Nate Louisignau and social studies teacher Brett Nielsen.

This weekend, Wright is excited to get out in the community and have fun at events during the Days of ‘85 Fair and Rodeo. Her son Tanner is excited too. He has a few fair entries and will be out making new friends before beginning second grade when school resumes in Ekalaka on Wednesday.