Alternative education provider to add second facility in Sioux Falls

A non-profit education cooperative and alternative education provider is adding a second location in Sioux Falls. Teachwell Solutions has acquired the former Boys and Girls Club facility at 824 E. 14th St. and plans to renovate the building during the summer to welcome students in the fall.

“The population in the region continues to grow and the needs of students are getting more diverse,” said Joan Frevik, director of Teachwell Solutions. “The new space gives us 10 additional classrooms to respond to the needs of schools and students.” 

Teachwell Solutions specializes in alternative education, special education programming, education-related therapy and career-readiness services. The state-approved education service provider was formed as a cooperative in 1986 by the Brandon Valley, Lennox and West Central School districts. The organization now works alongside dozens of school districts in the region, making the expansion possible.   

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our cooperative,” Frevik said. “Our aspirations and intentions for new services are now front-and-center.”  

Expansion allows the organization to add three new programs that are in high demand, including the launch of Teachwell Elementary, an alternative school environment with integrated therapy services for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Plans also include starting Teachwell Prosper School, a day program for students who have autism, ADHD or other behavior needs that require highly individualized special education services. Space will be renovated to offer evaluation and therapy services, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, assistive technology and applied behavioral analysis. 

“This building is the perfect fit for us,” Frevik said. “The structure allows us to build a campus that makes specialized services available to all age ranges.” 

Teachwell Solutions’ current facility, the historic Beadle School located at 715 E. 14th Street, will now be devoted entirely to Teachwell Academy Middle and High School, an alternative school focused on small class sizes and individualized instruction for students who learn best outside of a traditional public school. With a modified schedule and focused goal setting, the program helps students graduate and prepare for life after high school. The organization operates a similar education program at McCrossan Boys Ranch. 

“We’ve built a model for alternative learning that is great for students and cost-effective for public schools” Frevik said. “Expanding is about making sure options remain available for students who learn differently, think differently or need a different setting.” 

As schools and businesses continue to adjust to the impact of COVID-19, Teachwell Solutions believes investing in the community is both wise and important as the area looks forward to a safe return to normal. 

“This investment is in the continued health and growth of the region,” Frevik said. “We’re balancing what needs to be done today with what this region will need in the next decade.”