RAPID CITY - The board of directors of National Indian Education Association recently elected Robert Cook of Rapid City president-elect.

Cook, a cultural specialist at Crazy Horse Memorial, is an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

A graduate of Brigham Young University and Black Hills State University, Cook has 18 years of education and administrative experience. He holds a master's degree in education administration from Oglala Lakota College.

While teaching at Central High School, Cook was South Dakota's 2005 Milken Educator Award recipient.

Cook assumes leadership of of the association in 2009.