Beginning in July 2020, the Rapid City Area Schools’ combined their Department of Diversity, Equity & Outreach with the Department of Federal Programs, to create the new Department of Diversity, Equity, and Federal Programs. Whitnee Pearce is the director of the department that houses the Office of Title VI Indian Education, Whole CHILD Initiative, Federal Programs, and the district’s social workers. Our team works to take down barriers that may restrict students from achieving and being engaged learners.

We provide services to meet the unique educational and culturally related academic needs to our Native American Students. We provide culturally responsible teaching, trauma informed care, language revitalization, cultural activities, and professional development for staff. Our team consists of a Title VI Indian Education Manager, two Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings Teachers, one Cultural Mentor paraprofessional, two Lakota language teachers, and three Title VI Indian Education social workers.

Whole CHILD, is a district initiative in the strategic plan that addresses the importance of relationship building and providing tools of success in educational settings. Through a focus that all students need to be receiving four areas of care through Whole CHILD we strive to provide students and families opportunities to break down systemic barriers in the way of their student’s success in education. We provide services for students throughout the district to receive: Culturally Responsive Learning, Trauma Informed Care, Restorative Practices, and Suicide Prevention.

We coordinate and manage resources which supplement quality instructional practices that positively impact student achievement. We provide services throughout the district in the areas of: Title I Schools, School Improvement, Mckinney-Vento Homeless/Migrant program, alternative education (Juvenile Services Center, Arise, Wellfully, Children’s Home), GED program, Homebound, and many federal and local grant monies.

We provide social and emotional learning opportunities and help to students and families. We connect families to resources within our community to break down barriers to their student's education. We have social workers at General Beadle Elementary, Knollwood Elementary, South Middle School, North Middle School, Central High School, Stevens High School, and Rapid City High School. We are looking to provide a district-wide social worker as well.

We recognize that diversity within our community and schools has changed throughout the years and the Rapid City area has even greater diversity projected to come. We strive to continue to provide services so that all our students can succeed without barriers to their education.