1. Dr. Anthony Fairbanks
Dr. Fairbanks has been serving as Superintendent for the Oglala Lakota County School District
65-1, in South Dakota since July 2015. An advocate of education for over 30 years, he previously
served as superintendent for the Little Wound School District in Kyle, South Dakota for three
years and the Laguna Department of Education in Laguna, New Mexico for five years. He has
also served as an Assistant Professor for New Mexico State University, Native American
Development Specialist for the University of Wisconsin, elementary school Principal, Pre K-12
Dean of Students, middle and high school football coach, consultant to the Blandin Foundation
and Executive Director of the American Heart Association for the states of Montana and Alaska.
Much of his educational administration career has focused on education reform, academic
excellence and safe learning environments for all students. As the superintendent of Oglala
Lakota County, Dr. Fairbanks oversees four PreK—8th
grade schools and a Virtual High School,
with an average enrollment of 1,800 students within a county of 2,000 square miles. The district’s
Wolf Creek School is one of the largest elementary schools in the state. Additionally, the Oglala
Lakota County School District’s teacher salaries are among the highest in South Dakota.
As the superintendent of Little Wound School, the number of K-12 students scoring proficient or
advanced increased 7.5% in math and 4% in reading from 2012 to 2014. Attendance increased by
5%, behavior related incidents declined by 40% and facilities had improved; including the
construction of a new football and track athletic complex.
As superintendent in Laguna, New Mexico, the number of students scoring proficient or
advanced had increased by 28% in math and 34% in reading from 2007 to 2012. The 2011 Head
Start program was recognized with the “Award of Excellence” as an early childhood program to
be ranked among the top providers in the United States. Funding was also secured for the
planning stages of constructing a new early childhood facility and a new elementary school.
In 2010, Dr. Fairbanks advocated for safe schools to the United States Senate Committee on
Indian Affairs Oversight Hearing by testifying as an expert witness. He also testified on current
issues and recommendations for strengthening Indian education within the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act Reauthorization (ESEA) at the 2013 United States Congressional
Briefing. Additionally, Dr. Fairbanks advocated for increased Internet connectivity to public
schools residing in rural areas throughout the United States by presenting to the United States
Federal Communications Committee Commissioners in 2015.
Dr. Fairbanks’ research agenda is instructional leadership, academic achievement, cultural
responsive instruction and studying the attributes that contribute to students transitioning between
varying cultures, communities and educational systems. He has a Master's Degree in Education,
and a Doctorate in Educational Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota.