Spotlight: Conversations From the Sioux Falls School District

One of the things that makes the Sioux Falls School District so special is the ever present focus on success. Success is something that means many different things to many different people. We all have our own ways of defining it, measuring it, and striving for it. What's often not talked about is how we sustain it.

Andrea Grady has been the executive assistant to three different superintendents in the SF School District (soon to be four!). In this special farewell episode of Spotlight, Dr. Stavem sits down with Andrea to reflect on the vital role she plays behind the scenes - from managing schedules to keeping things running smoothly everyday. As we keep our focus on the success of our students and staff every day, it's important to acknowledge that there are entire ecosystems of support staff District-wide who make these efforts possible. In this final podcast recording for Dr. Stavem, we talk about the importance of support, office dynamics, and what it takes to lead well. We wish Dr. Stavem all the best as she signs off of Spotlight and looks ahead to her next chapter!

Opening a brand new school is no small task—but it’s something the Sioux Falls School District knows a thing or two about. Just four years ago, we opened the doors to both Ben Reifel Middle School and Jefferson High School. There’s something uniquely exciting about students and staff walking into a brand new building together, ready to shape its future from day one.

Of course, every new school needs a strong leader at the helm—someone who’s ready to wear all the hats and guide the journey from the ground up. Enter Patrick Purdy, who was named the first principal of Marcella LeBeau Elementary in February.

In this episode, Superintendent Jane Stavem sits down with Patrick to talk about his background, his vision, and what it takes to launch a new elementary school from scratch. We’re counting down the days until the fall of 2025, when students and staff will walk through the doors of Marcella LeBeau for the very first time.

"It takes a village." You've probably heard this phrase used in many different ways and for many different scenarios. It's a popular saying because it's what can be considered a universal truth - nobody can do everything on their own. This holds true for the Sioux Falls School District. While our dedicated staff work day in and day out to provide the best education for all children, our community partners are consistently stepping in to provide a boost to those efforts.

Rebecca Wimmer is the Coordinator of Community Partnerships and After School Programming for SFSD. In this role, she has brought countless outside organizations into the halls of schools throughout the District to help bring new and exciting opportunities to students. Her passion for student enrichment and engagement is evident from the moment you meet her, and her commitment to making SFSD the best place possible for every student in Sioux Falls is unwavering.

For the past four years, Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) has been offered to high school students in the Sioux Falls School District, making a meaningful impact on their lives. Through JAG, students are exposed to career paths they may have never considered. They connect with business leaders, politicians, and industry experts who provide valuable insights into future opportunities and the steps needed to achieve their goals.

Nicole Fette has taught JAG at Roosevelt High School for all four of these years, and she has seen first hand how the program benefits students. Mrs. Fette has seen complete transformations of students over the course of their time in JAG, and her passion and enthusiasm for helping students is clear from the moment you meet her. It's no wonder she was recently nominated for the 2025 Teacher of the Year Award!

Did you eat something today? Did you put clothes on before you left the house? If you did either of these things, you should thank a farmer! It's no secret that agriculture is one of the top job sectors in South Dakota, and the Sioux Falls School District is proud to be preparing students for a future in the industry!

Agriculture classes at the Career and Technical Education Academy (CTE) have been offered for a few years now, and every year the program continues to grow and expand. Recently, plans were announced to greatly expand ag course offerings and even expand the building at CTE with the addition of a barn! This is big news for all students who are looking to enter the world of ag after they graduate.

Future Farmers of America (FFA) has also been expanding over the last few years. Kimmie Martin, who teaches agriculture at CTE, started the program and has been helping students get involved with agriculture at all kinds of different levels. Her passion for agriculture inspires students, and that inspiration is sure to help cultivate the next generation of leaders in one of South Dakota's number one industries.

As students navigate their way through high school it's important for them to find groups that make them feel at home. That looks different for every student, and the Sioux Falls School District goes to great lengths to ensure there are plenty of options to get kids engaged. Theater is just one of the performing arts that students find their community in, and it provides a space of growth, friendship, and exploration that will stick with them for a lifetime.

Julia Blashack teaches theater at Roosevelt High School, and she has been working hard to make sure that the stage is set for students hoping to engage in the performing arts. She has crafted a space where every student is invited to participate, and she challenges students to go out of their comfort zones to experience new things. Ask any of her students, and they'll tell you that they've found their people through theater.

How do you get 215 students, bus loads of equipment, and countless parents/volunteers from Sioux Falls, South Dakota to New York City and back? Careful planning, lots of patience, and deep breaths.

The Lincoln High School Marching Band has been preparing for many months to perform at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and as they make their final preparations, we hear from the band directors who helped make the whole thing possible.

The Sioux Falls School District is now in its second year of running the out-of-school-time care model known as the Community Learning Center. With this model, more children and families are able to be served and care is more accessible to a wider range of people. Partnerships have strengthened relationships, and the organization is growing and expanding rapidly. All these developments shine a light on just how important out-of-school-time care is to communities.

Lights On Afterschool is a nation-wide initiative that also highlights the importance of care outside of school hours. The CLCs spent last week celebrating this initiative with parties at sites across the District, welcoming in families and communities to see what the CLCs are all about.

In this episode, we hear about what makes the CLCs special, what they've been working on, and plans for the future.

National Arts in Education week is being celebrated September 9-13, 2024. Arts education is a crucial part of a well-rounded education and there is data to prove that students who are active in the arts excel in other areas of academia as well.

Kathy Dang is an artist, an art educator, and a creative problem solver. She currently teaches elementary art at Hawthorne Elementary, but has been active in other art classrooms across SFSD as well. Additionally, Kathy acts as an instructional coach to other art teachers, helping to guide them through their first years as an instructor.

Allison Struck is the director of the Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation. She talks about a generous gift the Foundation received recently to promote the arts throughout SFSD.

It's back to school time! In this edition of Spotlight, Dr. Stavem sits down with an incoming kindergarten student to preview everything she has to look forward to in her upcoming year at Eugene Field A+ Elementary.