Tracy L. Vik

Sonia Sotomayor Elementary School
Sioux Falls School District
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
tracy.vik@k12.sd.us

Dr. Tracy Vik has been principal of Sonia Sotomayor Elementary School for the past six years. Sotomayor Elementary is the only Spanish immersion school in the Sioux Falls School District, and it serves over 700 students from preschool to fifth grade. Spanish-speaking instructors are from 14 different countries, encouraging the community to celebrate differences and seek understanding in diversity. Vik and her staff worked tirelessly to ensure that lessons are consistent with district standards and collaborated with national consultants to make sure that the Spanish language instruction is of the highest caliber. Ninety percent of instruction at Sonia Sotomayor Elementary is in Spanish, while 100 percent of the students are native English speakers. By the time students graduate from the school, their average Spanish language proficiency is an intermediate level on the ACTFL scale, and their achievement scores are the highest in the state. In addition to spearheading the academic accomplishments of Sotomayor Elementary, Vik works exceptionally hard to make the school a place where each and every visitor feels welcomed and valued. At the crux of Vik’s educational values is a belief in community wellness, and she strives to bring awareness to global issues. Vik holds an Ed.D. in Education from the University of South Dakota, an M.A. of Technology in Education from Lesley University, and a B.A. in Elementary and Special Education from Black Hills State University.