RAPID CITY - A woman who grew up on the Lower Brule Indian Reservation and began her teaching career in Rapid City was named the new director of Indian Education and Grants for the Rapid City School District at the school board meeting Thursday night.

Delores Riley starts work Friday.

"It's good to be home," said Riley, who worked for the Rapid City School District as a teacher and project director of Indian Education from 1977-1978. Riley was a sixth-grade teacher at Robbinsdale Elementary School before transferring to the Indian Education program. She served as director of the district's bilingual education program from 1981 to 1982.

Riley surfaced from a pool of well-qualified candidates, according to superintendent of schools Peter Wharton.

"What's most impressive is her extensive background, her experiences, her education and training and the successes she's had in her previous districts," Wharton said.

Riley retired as a teacher and administrator for the Salt Lake City School District in 2003 after working for the school district for 19 years.

For the past three years, Riley worked has a consultant specializing in human resources, education and conflict resolution.

Riley and her husband, Mike Riley, bought a home here more than a year ago and just moved back to Rapid City this summer after living in Salt Lake City for the past 25 years.

Riley is eager to meet and work with Rapid City's American Indian community. The community will have to be patient and trusting as she gets to know them, she said.

"I will be out to meet as many people as possible," Riley said.

"I want the best education for American Indian children in this district as any other child," Riley said. "And, I want to promote advocacy for parents and students and set high expectations for student learning."

Riley was one of seven people interviewed for the position as director of Indian Education and Grants.

Two teams of eight people participated in the hiring process by reviewing resumes and interviewing candidates. The American Indian community was represented on the committees by parents, staff members and school-board member Daphne Richards Cook.

Donna Blote, a retired teacher, taught at Robbinsdale with Riley. She remembers Riley as a "very effective educator who was an excellent communicator, with administration, principals and other teachers.

"She was easy to talk to and seemingly a good listener," Blote said.

Riley had a good rapport and relationships with students of all backgrounds, Blote said. "She had a good knowledge of Native American issues."

Riley is the daughter of Richard LaRoche, a former Lower Brule tribal chairman, and Violet Langdeau LaRoche. Lower Brule Tribal Chairman Michael Jandreau is a cousin.

Mike Riley is an advance scout for the NBA's Golden State Warriors. He is a former basketball coach at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology.

In other action, the school board approved the third and final readings of district policy revisions governing complaint procedures for library resources and indoor air quality.

The board also approved an agreement between Western Dakota Technical Institute and Black Hills State University that will provide BHSU with office and classroom space at WDTI.

Contracts were also approved between the school district and South Dakota Parent Resource Network/Black Hills Special Services Cooperative and Technology and Innovation in Education for services.

Contact Andrea Cook at 394-8423 or andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com