Summit Educator Vicky Gleason Named 2026 SDCTE Teacher of the Year
- Steve Jurrens
- Jun 19
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Summit, SD - The South Dakota Council of Teachers of English (SDCTE) has honored Victoria “Vicky” Gleason of the Summit School District as its 2026 Teacher of the Year.
Gleason, who currently serves as Summit’s 9-12 English teacher, began her career in education in 2014, teaching third grade. She transitioned to teaching high school English in 2020 after recognizing a critical need within her district.
Danielle Kohlmeyer, a fellow teacher who nominated Gleason for the award, praised her colleague’s willingness to step out of her comfort zone to serve her students.
“Leaving a position where she was comfortable is never easy, especially when transitioning into one of the most demanding subject areas, yet Vicky handled it with incredible skill and determination,” Kohlmeyer said. “Since making the change, her students have shown tremendous growth in all areas, and her Play, One-Act, and Oral Interpretation teams have seen a significant increase in participation.”
Beyond the traditional classroom setting, Gleason leads several extracurricular programs, including the One-Act Play, All-School Play, and Oral Interpretation. Summit Superintendent Mike Schmidt emphasized the profound impact she has had on the student body through these activities.
“With the content she teaches, Vicky creates opportunities for students to develop confidence, communication skills, creativity, and teamwork while helping them discover talents they may not have known they possessed,” Schmidt said. “Vicky consistently challenges students to strive for excellence while providing the encouragement and support they need to be successful. The positive influence Mrs. Gleason has had on countless students extends far beyond the classroom and their performances.”
In addition to her local responsibilities, Gleason actively engages in continuous professional development and serves as the secretary for the SDCTE. Interim SDCTE President Corrine Kallemeyn highlighted Gleason’s dedication to building a supportive network for educators across South Dakota.
“Her value to our group is immeasurable. She holds the executive board together and gives us important ideas to think about and perspectives [middle school] and [high school] don’t often think about,” Kallemeyn said. “Vicky exudes the heart of what SDCTE celebrates by building bridges across the islands of schools in our state. From experience, I know that if you need something, Vicky will do whatever it takes to help others out and share her teaching resources or offer her very unique small school perspective.”
About the SDCTE Established in 1941, the SDCTE is a professional organization affiliated with the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). The council provides language arts teachers with professional development opportunities—including an annual conference, summer courses, and a spring book study—and a community of support.
Educators or community members wishing to learn more can contact the organization at sdcte.echo@gmail.com or visit their website at www.sdcte.org.
