Kristi Desaulniers, Tea, SD

South Dakota Teacher of the Year: Region 2

Kristi Desaulniers — TEA (Tea Area Education Association)
Currently Grade 4 at Legacy Elementary in Tea, SD
30 years as an SDEA member (Watertown, Lennox, Tea Area)

As a South Dakota educator for more than 30 years — as well as three additional years of teaching internationally in England, Switzerland, and Canada — I joined SDEA with my first teaching position which was in Watertown, SD. Joining SDEA allowed insights and opportunities to pursue continued learning on both personal and professional levels. Being part of a larger organization to work towards having one's voice for students be more visible has been a beneficial aspect of belonging to SDEA.

Recently, I had the honor of being selected as the Region 2 South Dakota Teacher of the Year. But most importantly, I celebrate all of my colleagues, students, and parents who have been impacting components of my teaching career.