Both the Colman-Egan and Flandreau public school districts are seeing growth in their English as a Second Language (ESL) student populations, primarily due to an increase in Hispanic students.
Colman-Egan Schools welcomed 30 new students this year, 20 of whom are native Spanish speakers. In response, the district recently established a full-time ESL position to support its changing demographics. Two teachers share the role, each teaching ESL part-time.

“We are very fortunate to have students and families who are eager to be involved in the district and to support our efforts in helping students learn English and apply those skills in other classes,” said Colman-Egan Superintendent Scott Hemmer.
Flandreau Public Schools has long had ESL resources and instructors in place, also serving a growing number of primarily Spanish-speaking students.
According to TeacherCertification.com and the U.S. Department of Education, the most in-demand teaching fields are mathematics, English as a Second Language, and special education.
Currently, 25 out of 50 states are experiencing a shortage of ESL educators.