Listen to the interview: https://homesliceaudio.com/school
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Former educator and South Dakota State Representative Nicole Uhre-Balk joined the Public School Podcast to share how her background as a teacher continues to shape her work in state government and her advocacy for public education.
Uhre-Balk, who represents District 32 in Rapid City, spoke about her path from Rapid City Area Schools student to classroom teacher and eventually to the South Dakota Legislature. She described public education as foundational to both her career and her values. “Public schools are the foundation of democracy,” she said. “Without education, we don’t have a strong democracy.”
A Rapid City native, Uhre-Balk attended Pinedale Elementary, West Middle School and Stevens High School before continuing her education and teaching career across multiple states. She said those experiences helped her better understand the diverse needs of students and families, a perspective she now brings to her legislative work. “Being a teacher has helped prepare me to work in the legislature,” she said. “Knowing your audience, explaining complex things in understandable ways and advocating for everyone are skills I use every day.”
Uhre-Balk said her inspiration to become a teacher came from an unexpected source. After seeing the movie The Matrix, she realized she wanted to be like the character Morpheus, who teaches others how to understand the world around them. “I wanted to help students see the code of how the world works,” she said. “Once you see that, you can do amazing things.”
During the episode, Uhre-Balk discussed challenges facing public education, including funding concerns, teacher burnout and public perception. She emphasized the importance of supporting educators so they can best support students. “When teachers are supported, they can be the best they can be for students,” she said.
She encouraged community members to take an active role in supporting schools, whether through volunteering, attending school events, advocating for education policies or contacting legislators. “Let your legislator know what you love about your public school,” Uhre-Balk said. “Those emails matter, even if you don’t always get a response.”
Uhre-Balk also spoke about preparing students for future careers, emphasizing critical thinking, civic engagement and adaptability. She highlighted career readiness programs as important tools for helping students develop practical skills beyond the classroom.
Despite ongoing challenges, Uhre-Balk said she remains hopeful about the future of public education. “Students give me the most hope,” she said. “They’re excited about the future and what they want to build, and that’s inspiring.”
She credited teachers across the state for their dedication, calling them “superhuman” for balancing academic demands, student needs and societal challenges. “The fact that they show up day in and day out is incredible,” she said.
The episode concluded with Uhre-Balk reiterating her support for public education and its role in building strong communities. “Education is the one thing no one can take away from you,” she said. “It builds community and a lifelong love of learning.”
