Shawnta’ Jones, was born and raised in Rapid City, South Dakota. She is an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Shawnta’ graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder in Sociology with double minors in Ethnic Studies and Education. She has recently completed the Master’s of Science in Education Program at Johns Hopkins University, and has returned home back to Thunder Valley after teaching 9th grade Social Studies on the Leeward coast of Oahu, Hawai’i. Shawnta’ is excited to be working alongside the Thunder Valley CDC team and has a deep commitment to creating systemic change for our community by supporting our youth in retracing their ancestry, relearning their history, and reclaiming their Lakȟóta language and lifeways.