RAPID CITY, SD – Meadowbrook Elementary fifth grade teacher Katey Swank has been named Rapid City Area Schools Teacher of the Year, recognized for her innovative classroom practices, mentorship leadership, and commitment to student growth.

Swank, who teaches fifth grade at Meadowbrook, said the honor reflects the collaborative nature of education.

“Teacher of the Year is just a title,” Swank said. “Teaching is a team effort. It’s the colleagues, the students, and the support system around you that make it possible.”

In her classroom, Swank blends academic rigor with social emotional learning. One of her signature units, called “Bring Your Receipts,” challenges students to write argumentative essays backed by research and then debate their positions respectfully.

“It’s not just your opinion,” she said. “You have to bring your facts, your data, your evidence. You have to bring your receipts.”

The project emphasizes respectful disagreement, research skills, and evaluating reliable sources, including lessons on how artificial intelligence gathers information.

“I want students to learn how to support their ideas with valid evidence,” Swank said. “That’s a life skill.”

Swank also incorporates daily routines focused on regulation and reflection, including three deep breaths each morning and weekly “Feedback Fridays,” where students reflect on successes, challenges, and classroom improvements.

“Feedback makes us better,” she said. “It’s not meant to hurt. It’s meant to help you grow.”

Beyond her classroom, Swank has helped strengthen mentorship connections within the district. After serving in the Teaching, Learning, and Innovation office, she returned to the classroom during a teacher shortage and said the experience reaffirmed her purpose.

“That year reminded me I’m exactly where I need to be,” she said.

She also helped launch a buddy program pairing fifth graders with kindergarten students, building confidence and empathy across grade levels.

“You see friendships form and confidence grow on both sides,” Swank said.

Swank said she hopes the recognition shines a light on the importance of supporting veteran teachers and retaining educators long term.

“We want teachers to last beyond five years,” she said. “With the right support, this is a career you can grow in.”