Rapid City, SD – May 6, 2025 – In a heartwarming kickoff to Teacher Appreciation Week, the Rapid City Public School Foundation spread joy and recognition across the district today. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of All Metal Manufacturing, the Foundation visited 40 deserving staff members from 26 different Rapid City Area Schools locations, showering them with surprise and gratitude through their “Above and Beyond” program.
The “Above and Beyond” initiative provides a platform for staff, students, and parents to nominate district employees who consistently exceed expectations in their roles. Twice a year, the Foundation board randomly selects names from the hundreds of heartfelt submissions, with each winner receiving a $50 cash prize.
Today’s visits were particularly special, as the Foundation team fanned out across the district to personally deliver the good news and the cash awards. The honorees represented a diverse range of roles vital to the smooth functioning and nurturing environment of the schools. Celebrated individuals included teachers, counselors, building and grounds staff, literacy teachers, special education teachers, social workers, secretaries, interventionists, culinary specialists, paraprofessionals, librarians, youth engagement coordinators, and nurses.
The Foundation distributed over $2,000 in prize money today, a testament to the overwhelming number of nominations highlighting the exceptional efforts of Rapid City Area Schools employees.
The Rapid City Public School Foundation will further celebrate these deserving recipients tonight at the School Board Meeting. They will be presenting the “Above and Beyond” program and its winners during their “Sharing the Success” segment, which begins at 5:30 pm. This will be another opportunity to acknowledge the extraordinary contributions of the individuals who go the extra mile for the students and the district every day.
The next Above and Beyond drawing will be held in the fall around mid- November. The Rapid City Public School Foundation is grateful to have hundreds and hundreds of Above and Beyond cards submitted and today’s recipients of the Above and Beyond prizes were the following:
- Sean Binder, RC Alternative Academy
- Wayne Bertsch, Building and Grounds
- Tamara Kline, Lincoln
- Kari Tucker- Southwest Middle
- Katie Bishop- Corral Drive
- Amber Anker- Corral Drive
- Kristin Kiner- RCEC
- Mercedes Borgen- Jefferson
- Michelle Larson- Stevens
- Alicia English- Stevens
- Kiley Blank- Meadowbrook
- Jill Mustard- Meadowbrook
- Stacie Tschetter- Pinedale
- Erin Simonton- Pinedale
- Shelley Rath- West Middle School
- Leah Wytosick- West Middle
- Carrie Baker- South Canyon
- Haylee Smith- Wilson
- Brittany Henry-James- Wilson
- Kristina Bergeron- Grandview
- Kristi Harris- Robbinsdale
- Carol Christensen- Robbinsdale
- Jada Addison- South Park
- Amelia Orth- South Park
- Jordan Hart- South Middle School
- Liam McDougall- South Middle
- Mike Hagen- Central High School
- Ariel Pozorski- Central High School
- Kallie Gebhard- Horace Mann
- Tiffany Dansby- Horace Mann
- Shelby Vissia- General Beadle
- Brittany Daly- Valley View
- Genera Minick- Knollwood
- Clair Nordine- Knollwood
- Daniella Wieseler- General Beadle
- Kate Develder- Rapid Valley
- Tiffany Wolla- East Middle School
- Gabrielle Seeley- East Middle
- Kristi Hammell- Black Hawk
- Andrea Thedorff- Black Hawk
For more information regarding the Rapid City Public School Foundation and/or the Above and Beyond program, please contact, Sara Hornick, Executive Director of the Rapid City Public School Foundation
