Liberty Center is a nonprofit organization providing out-of-school care for students with special needs and their families. Liberty Center is unique in the Sioux Empire, both in the age range of the students they work with and in the safe, nurturing environment they provide.


Bonnie Burkett is the Executive Director of Liberty Center.  Bonnie attended the University of South Dakota and graduated in 1994 with a degree in Social Work.  After graduation, she spent several years working in a variety of group home and day program settings, providing services to youth and adults with special needs.  Bonnie went back to school in 2002 and in 2005 graduated with her Master's degree in Counseling.  Bonnie has been with Liberty Center since January of 2006. "I have gained an enormous amount of respect for our Board of Directors, staff and most importantly the families and students that we provide services for each day.  This is a wonderful and much needed program that I am proud to be a part of."

Liberty Center offers care for students with special needs and their siblings at an increased staff-to-student ratio depending on the level of support each individual requires. An essential component of the Liberty Center is providing care in a setting where students can successfully participate in community activities and after-school programs with other students.

Liberty Center operates the only full-day summer program in the Sioux Empire for students with special needs and their siblings. In the summer, students enjoy lots of fun, structured outings to museums, restaurants, swimming pools, zoos, local parks and much more!


Any one age 3 - 21 years of age is able to attend Liberty Center programs.


To receive more information on Liberty Center, call (605) 271-6327 or send us an e-mail at Christine.schelske@achievesd.org .