Jason Gustav Kurtz is an English educator in South Dakota, and has taught at several high schools, colleges, and universities in the state. He was born in Brookings, SD in 1972. He has two children. Jason Kurtz was awarded the South Dakota English Teacher of the Year award for 2015 by the South Dakota Council of Teachers of English.
Wikipedia Work
editGoal 1: To expand and collect information about young adult literature.
Work in Progress:
- When Dogs Cry / Getting the Girl
- Fighting Ruben Wolfe
Goal 2: To fill in gaps in information about genealogical topics.
Blog
editReddish Work : A young adult literature blog for readers, writers, and educators.
Education
edit- Masters of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults, Hamline University, St. Paul, MN - 2010
- Graduate Work in English with a Concentration in Writing, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD - 2008
- Elective concentration in technology
- South Dakota Teaching Certification, Northern State University, Aberdeen, SD - 1999
- President, NSU Student Education Association 1999-2000
- Columnist, The Exponent
- Bachelors of Science in English with a Concentration in Creative Writing, Minnesota State University Mankato, Mankato, MN - 1998
- History Minor
- Elective concentration in literature and photography
- Columnist, The Reporter
Secondary Teaching Experience
editSecondary Teacher 1999-Present
Harrisburg School District, Harrisburg, SD 2013-
- Advanced Composition, Novels
- Head Oral Interp Coach
Dell Rapids School District, Dell Rapids, SD 2004-2013
- English I and III, Creative Writing (online), The Short Story, and Film Criticism
- Head Oral Interp Coach 2004-2012
- President, Dell Rapids Education Association 2004-09 & head negotiator
Hoven School District, Hoven, SD 2001-2004
- English III and IV
- Advisor for student newspaper and yearbook
- Technology Administrator and Computer Teacher
- President, Hoven Education Association 2003-2004 & negotiator
Sully Buttes School District, Onida, SD 1999-2001
- English II, III, IV, Speech, and a variety of English electives
- President, Sully Buttes Education Association 2001 & head negotiator
University Teaching Experience
editAdjunct Professor 2006-Present
University of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, SD 2006-Present
- ENG 200 Introduction to Literature
- ENG 400 Technical Writing
- ENG 480 Applied Research Project
- EDU 541B Teaching in the 21st Century
- EDU 541J Teachers as Writers
- EDU 541N/GEN 199I Genealogy: Exploring Family History
Colorado Technical University, Sioux Falls, SD 2011-present
- ENGL 101 Critical Thinking and Composition
- ENGL 103 Research and Composition
- ENGL 212 Principles of Professional Writing
- LITR 220 World Values in Literature
- ENG 103 - Composition I: The Essay
Recent Activities
edit- Advisor
- Co-operating teacher for Dakota State University practicum program Dell Rapids, SD 2008
- Co-operating teacher for University of Sioux Falls practicum program Dell Rapids, SD 2005
- Presenter
- "“Evolving Student Reading Strategies: E-Reading and Social Networking” Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) National Young Adult Literature Symposium, St. Louis, MO - 2012
- "New Reading Strategies in (and out of) the Classroom” South Dakota Council of Teachers of English, Chamberlain, SD - 2012
- “Teaching with Teen Tech in the English Classroom” South Dakota Council of Teachers of English, Chamberlain, SD - 2011
- "Beyond Titillation: Understanding Sexuality in YA Fiction" Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), Albuquerque, NM - 2010
- "Beyond Titillation: Sexuality in Realistic YA Fiction" Thesis presentation Hamline University, St. Paul, MN 2010
- "Utilizing Teen Culture in the English Classroom" Current Trends South Dakota Education Association, Sioux Falls, SD 2009
- "Pop Rocks!: Pop Music & Culture in the English Classroom" National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), New York, NY 2007
- "Collaborative Online Learning Secondary & Post Secondary" MERLOT International Technology Conference 2006, Ottawa, Canada 2006
- "Improving Student Writing with Technology and Online Communities" Current Trends South Dakota Education Association, Sioux Falls, SD 2006
- "Improving Student Writing with Technology and Online Communities" University of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, SD 2006
- "Improving Student Writing with Technology and Online Communities" South Dakota Council of Teachers of English, Chamberlain, SD 2006
- "Pop Music in the Classroom" South Dakota Council of Teachers of English, Chamberlain, SD 2005
- Attendee
- National Council of Teachers of English-Convention, New York, NY - 2008
- MERLOT International Technology Conference, Ottawa, Canada - 2006
- National Council of Teachers of English-Convention, Pittsburgh, PA - 2005
- Participant
- Hamline University Winter Writing Residency, St. Paul, MN - 2010
- Hamline University Summer Writing Residency, St. Paul, MN - 2009
- Hamline University Winter Writing Residency, St. Paul, MN - 2009
- Hamline University Summer Writing Residency, St. Paul, MN - 2008
- Every Teacher Grant: Program MERLOT triad with USF, Pierre, SD - 2005-06