Spotlight: Conversations From the Sioux Falls School District

Dr. Teresa Boysen has been with the Sioux Falls School District for 31 years, and she has made the tough decision to call this year her last and begin the transition into retirement. Throughout her time with SFSD, Dr. Boysen has served as an elementary teacher, assistant principal, principal, and for the past seven years as assistant superintendent in charge of curriculum. Her steady hand has guided SFSD through many transitions including new curriculum adoption, building changes, COVID protocols, and myriad other changes too countless to name.

In this episode, superintendent Dr. Jane Stavem sits down for a one-on-one with Dr. Boysen to hear about what her career in education has looked like. A lot can change in 31 years, but some things remain steadfast in their endurance, like Dr. Boysen's passion and commitment to the students, staff, and families of the Sioux Falls School District.

Going off the theme of last week's episode, we're continuing this week with a conversation featuring a mother/daughter duo at Jefferson High School.

Michele Jensen has been a science teacher at JHS for 29 years, and her daughter Hannah is about to wrap up her first year as an english teacher.

In this episode, we learn all about the pros and cons, the ups and downs, the good and the bad of working at a school with a family member.

Sioux Falls School District students recently made history by being the first to take home the State championship in eSports. This is the first year SFSD has had an eSports team, and next year the sport will be officially sanctioned as a school sport.

eSports offers another opportunity for out-of-class interaction and engagement for students, and it opens up doors for students who may not have found their friends in more traditional activities. This sport is rapidly gaining attention and interest world-wide, and SFSD is excited to have a team in the game who represent the District so well! Listen in to learn more on how we got here, and where we go from here!

In this very special edition of "Spotlight: Conversations From the Sioux Falls School District" Dr. Stavem sits down with two pairs of mother/daughter duos in the SFSD.

Sidney Kennedy is a first-year teacher at Harvey Dunn Elementary and her mom is Diane Kennedy, who serves as principal at Lowell Elementary. Emilia Skogstad is a first-year teacher at Laura Wilder and her mom is Kristin Skogstad who serves as principal at Garfield Elementary.

The generational divide between our veteran educators and those just getting into the field provides some very interesting insight into how the teaching profession evolves over time. It's clear when listening to this conversation that everybody involved has a passion for education and cares deeply about the students they serve everyday. Happy Mother's Day!

Over the course of the last 20 years high school sports have undergone many changes. One of these major changes has been the introduction of girls wrestling.

What was once seen as impossible is now being implemented at schools across the country, including right here in the Sioux Falls School District.

This is a sport that can instill lifelong character traits in young women including confidence, grit, resilience, strength, and discipline. Listen along as we meet Lydia, who will be starting high school wrestling next year, and who is looking forward to reaping all the benefits this sport has to offer.

On today's episode of Teacher Talk, presented by South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Gina Benz and Jackie Wilber discuss some of the ways schools throughout South Dakota are recruiting teachers. Some new initiatives are referred to as "grow your own" programs, where prospective future teachers are exposed to the ins and outs of the profession well before they even begin the pursuit of a formal college degree.

Schools throughout SD are home to the Education Rising program, which acts as an extracurricular club that students interested in the profession can participate in to learn more about future opportunities. The Teacher Pathway program in the Sioux Falls School District lets students earn credit, both in high school and at the college level, for learning about the teaching profession.

Tune in to learn more about these exciting programs designed to usher in the next generation of amazing teachers!

It's more than just arguing. High school debate is a great way for students to use their voice and join a community.

Washington High School head debate coach Angelica Mercado-Ford credits debate with helping her find her voice in high school, and she is now leading the next generation of speakers to follow their passions.

In contrast to what we see in popular culture as "debate", the actual skill of debate is an art and a science that requires intellect and creativity. Listen in as these students share what debate means to them, and why it helps them find direction and meaning.

The South Dakota Department of Education plans to replace the current state exam with the ACT beginning in the 2025-26 school year. This is (mostly) seen as positive news, and in this episode of Teacher Talk, presented by South Dakota Public Broadcasting, our guests go over why this is a step in the right direction.

Learning how to read is one of the most fundamental things a person can do to start their journey of becoming a successful member of society. But did you know that according to a USA Today report, 79% of adults in the USA are literate, and 54% read at or below a 6th-grade level?

The "science of reading" has become a hot-button issue among educators and legislators over the past few years, and while the debate over how to teach students how to read continues, there is universal agreement on its importance.

In this episode of Teacher Talk, presented by South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Dr. Jackie Wilber (University of South Dakota) and Gina Benz (Sioux Falls School District) discuss the science of the "science of reading" with host Lori Walsh.

Whether you are a parent, a student, or an advocate for community engagement, there is no denying that when we work together amazing things happen. The Sioux Falls School District is proud to partner with many gracious organizations throughout the area, and the Sioux Empire United Way (SEUW) has been one of those organizations giving back for many years.

Our guests on this episode are Christina Riss, Chief Operations Officer for the SEUW and Patti Lake-Torbert, Senior Support Coordinator of Student Services for SFSD.

One of the most powerful aspects of this partnership is it's direct impact on students and families throughout the District. School counselors are in constant communication with District administration as to what the need is, and with help from the United Way, those needs can be addressed directly.

Tune in to hear real-life stories about the direct impact this partnership has had throughout SFSD, and how you can engage and become part of the process.