Pierre, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Education commends three teachers and one school counselor on earning their National Board Certifications. In 2025, four South Dakota school professionals demonstrated advanced knowledge and skill in their teaching profession, earning them a nationally recognized certification.

National Board Certification (NBC) is the most respected professional certification available in education and provides numerous benefits to teachers, students, and schools. The certification process takes one-to-three years to complete.

Teachers achieve NBC through completion of a rigorous, performance-based, peer-reviewed assessment of a teacher's skills and content knowledge. While licensing standards set the basic requirements to teach in a state, National Board-Certified teachers demonstrate advanced teaching knowledge, skills, and practices similar to the certifications earned by experts in law and medicine.

The 2025 South Dakota National Board-Certified teachers are:

• Regan Miles, First Grade/Early Childhood, Baltic School District;
• Stacy Smith, Kindergarten/Early Childhood, Rapid City Area School District; and
• Dawn Thuringer, First Grade/Early Childhood, Enemy Swim Day School.

The National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) certification recognizes counselors who demonstrate specialized knowledge and skills in school counseling. This certification shows that one has met national standards of practice, including additional education, experience, and a specialty examination.

The 2025 South Dakota National Certified School Counselor is Cameron Miller, Spearfish School District.

To learn more about National Board Certification, visit www.doe.sd.gov/nationalboard/.

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