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.