Meet Our Newest Red Cloud Volunteers

posted October 30, 2014

Last year, the Red Cloud Volunteer Program's motto was the "Year of Enthusiasm." The mantra's energy was embodied daily by the hard work and innovation of each of the 23 volunteers, and the program and the schools were lucky to have 18 of those volunteers return for another school year! With only five volunteer positions to fill, Anne Grass, Red Cloud's volunteer coordinator—and a former volunteer herself—focused her energy searching for the perfect volunteers to fit with Red Cloud's high standards. After many months of interviewing and searching for creative, adventurous and brilliant people, Anne selected a talented and diverse group of new volunteers: Dominique Fenton, Matt King, Kate Amante, Maureen O'Brien and Vanessa Grisco.

Red Cloud's volunteers plays a crucial role everyday working to educate and inspire the 600 Lakota students that rely on the school for a quality education of the mind, body and spirit each year. Meet each of these dedicated individuals below, then learn how you too can support Red Cloud's mission.


 

Vanessa Grisco

Vanessa Grisco is the 1st grade teacher’s aide at Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary. This is her first year here at Red Cloud Indian School and she was sure to note that she is excited for the years to come. She is a recent undergraduate from Loyola Marymount University and has lived in Los Angeles, California all her life.

She found Red Cloud unexpectedly through her university’s service center and immediately felt drawn to their volunteer program. She hopes to bring the joy and excitement of learning to her new 1st graders so that they can benefit as much as possible from their education. 


 

Kate Amante

Kate Amante teaches K-4 Religion at Red Cloud Elementary School. She started at Red Cloud Indian School in 2014 as a volunteer. She is from Townsend, Massachusetts and attended Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts for her undergraduate education in Psychology and Human Services and Rehabilitation. She attended Boston College for her Master’s degree in School Counseling.

Kate first came to the Pine Ridge Reservation in 2011 on an Alternative Spring Break trip. After volunteering she fell in love with the natural and spiritual beauty of the area and came back to work at Re-Member as a Program Supervisor for the past two summers. She looks forward to bringing her enthusiasm to the classroom and being able to work more closely with children. She hopes to not only teach Religion, but also provide a place for her students to learn more about themselves and their own faith and spirituality. 


 

Matt King

Matt King is a recent graduate of The College of the Holy Cross where he majored in Religious Studies and concentrated in Peace and Conflict Studies. Matt will be teaching Ethics and Morality for the Junior Class at Red Cloud Indian High School in the fall of 2014.  

Matt's biggest hope for this school year is to cultivate a classroom where his students critically examine the world around them through different lens and come to their own informed conclusions.


 

Dominique Fenton

Dominique Fenton teaches English and creative writing to juniors at Red Cloud High School. He co-sponsors the Slam Poetry Club, works with seniors on their college and scholarship applications and DJs at the local radio station. Prior to joining the faculty at Red Cloud, Dominique worked for nearly three years as an criminal defense investigator at The Bronx Defenders. He received his bachelor’s degree from Yale University in 2010.


 

Maureen O'Brien

Maureen O'Brien is the Kindergarten Aide at Red Cloud Elementary School. August 2014 marked the beginning of her first year as a volunteer at Red Cloud Indian School. Maureen wanted to be apart of Red Cloud because of the emphasis they place on both education and culture. She hopes to encourage and expand the creative and curious sides of students at a young age so that they will embrace their roles as life long learners. 

Maureen graduated from Creighton University in May with a Bachelors in Elementary Education. She was born and raised in Omaha, NE. She enjoys anything hands on, creative and outside. That's why she says South Dakota is a great place to live.