Avon High School's Mel Fathke Selected as South Dakota's History Teacher of the Year

Adorning the wall of Mel Fathke's classroom is an American flag that once flew over Mount Vernon, Virginia, the home of former President George Washington.

This flag is just one of many historic items Fathke has collected over his 38-year teaching career. And now it's now it's his turn to go down in history.

The 59-year-old history teacher at the Avon School District has a philosophy that revolves around engaged learning. A recent addition to his classroom, which sits proudly on his desk located on the third floor of the Avon School, is a plaque naming Fathke the 2016 South Dakota History Teacher of the Year from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

About Swier School Law Counsel™

Swier School Law Counsel™ is a boutique education law department within Swier Law Firm.

We recognize the needs of South Dakota's school officials to obtain first-rate legal advice on a broad range of issues. Our attorneys provide creative, timely, and cost-efficient legal strategies that balance the needs of students, parents, employees, and citizens with the interests of keeping a school district on solid legal footing.

Swier School Law Counsel™ and its attorneys author The South Dakota School Law Deskbook™ and South Dakota School Law Notes™. The Group's attorneys also have years of experience teaching the popular "Education and the Law" class at the University of South Dakota School of Law.

Swier Law Firm has served as legal counsel for school districts throughout the state and for the School Administrators of South Dakota and its membership. SASD is an educational association comprised of over 800 school administrators (Superintendents, Business Managers, Principals, Special Education Directors, and Curriculum Directors) throughout South Dakota.