VERMILLION — A generous donation to the Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation, the philanthropic partner of the Sioux Falls School District, is supporting students in the University of South Dakota’s Teacher Pathway program on their path to becoming educators.

The funds will cover the cost of Teacher Pathway courses for 148 juniors and seniors in the SFSD this semester.

“This donation is a smart and generous investment in our future teachers,” said Jacqueline Wilber, Ed.D., director of the Center for Student and Professional Services in the School of Education. “While Teacher Pathway courses are only $40 per credit — a significantly reduced rate from full tuition — this cost can still be a financial barrier for some students. This donation provides an equal opportunity for all Teacher Pathway students to receive college credit.”

The donation was announced last month during the Teacher Pathway group’s visit to the USD-Sioux Falls campus. During the visit, students met with several people from USD — including Jordan Decker, associate director of admissions for USD-Sioux Falls; Branden Hoefert, Ed.D., lecturer and faculty adviser for the Division of Teacher Residency and Education; and Jay Perry, vice president for USD-Sioux Falls — to learn more about the university’s education programs, particularly those offered in Sioux Falls.

Teacher Pathway students also heard from current elementary education students during a student panel and toured the USD-Sioux Falls campus.