Today, 130 students from Sioux Falls Public Schools who are part of the Teacher Pathway Program visited IPC to learn more about the teaching profession. Students from each high school take courses at their home high school and then support teachers in elementary or middle school classrooms to get a peek into what it takes to be a great teacher.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jamie Nold started the program and the District has hired some of the very first students in the program as certified teachers after they’ve successfully completed college. This is a “grow your own program” in the purest form!

Next Week (February 17-21) is National School Board Appreciation Week, but since there's no meeting next week, we are saying THANK YOU tonight!

Our school board members dedicate countless hours to ensuring Sioux Falls students, staff, and schools have the resources and support they need to thrive. From making critical decisions about finances and facilities to advocating for quality education, their work goes far beyond board meetings. They attend conferences, training sessions, and community events, all while staying informed on the ever-evolving landscape of education.

Serving on the school board is a true commitment to public service. We are so grateful for the time, expertise, and passion our board members bring to SFSD. THANK YOU to all current (and past) school board members! Your leadership helps shape the future of our community!

SFSD serves over 4,200 students with disabilities through dedicated staff and specialized programs. This year, a new behavioral support team is helping reduce special education placements. The District also continues to prioritize in-district services, lowering out-of-district placements.

Community Campus provides hands-on work experiences for students aged 18-21, preparing them for independence. As the number of students with special needs grows, SFSD remains committed to meeting their needs.

Click below to read the full report!

We are 18 days into the 38 day legislative session. Business Manager Todd Vik updated the school board on where a number of bills related to education stand right now.

Stay informed by viewing the real-time status of these bills and SFSD's positions through the document linked below or by visiting: https://www.sf.k12.sd.us/page/legislative-positions

With over a decade of experience at Hayward, Tana's passion for education shines through her commitment to student success. As an EL teacher, she works with small groups, co-teachest in first-grade classrooms, and provides individualized support to ensure every student reaches their full potential. Whether she is leading a lesson, mentoring new teachers, or stepping up to meet an unexpected need, Tana is a true team player who leads with heart.

Her colleagues describe her as a trusted mentor, a problem-solver, and an unwavering advocate for students. She fosters high expectation academically, socially, and behaviorally, always willing to lend a hand and create a positive impact.

Thank you Tana for your outstanding contributions to Hayward and the Sioux Falls School District!

Join us next Tuesday, February 18th, at Air Madness for a full day of jumping, laser tag, and gaming. Your $25 entry fee goes to 12 of our elementary schools who do not benefit from a PTA/PTO. Plus, you'll receive a $20 gaming gift card for Union Social next door!

Thanks to our friends at KELOLAND, Levo Credit Union, Air Madness, and Union Social, you can support this great cause while having fun!

If you end up jumping too hard on February 18th and are exhausted on February 19th, we have just the solution for you! In addition to the Air Madness day, we are also excited to partner with LEVO by selling Perky coffee!

A bag of this bold coffee is priced at just $10 a bag, and 100% of the proceeds go directly to our schools!

You can order and pay through this link or scan the QR code and pick up at IPC (see Vicky Vetter in the CLC) or request the coffee be sent to your school office.

The Graduate Credit & Degree Advancement (GCDA) process in the Sioux Falls School District allows certified employees to pursue salary advancements by completing approved graduate-level courses or programs. A GCDA Pre-Approval Committee meets monthly to review all coursework and degree programs to ensure rigor and relevancy related to salary advancement.

The process involves two steps:

1. Staff Development oversees the GCDA Committee’s review of courses and master’s programs, and
2. Human Resources handles salary advancement applications.

Courses must be from an accredited institution and meet rigorous standards. They may be reviewed before, during, or after enrollment; however, prior review is preferred to ensure relevance and rigor. Programs must align with the employee's job assignment or contribute to additional certification. Employees are responsible for meeting all deadlines and submitting the required documentation.

For more details, visit GCDA Guidelines or contact Velina.Onate-Nelson@k12.sd.us in Staff Development and Amira.Lawrence@k12/sd/us in HR.

To apply for your renewal, visit https://www.sd.gov/educator and log-in to the account you previously used for your certification. Once logged in, click “Apply” in the red bar at the top of the screen and locate the application titled “Educator Renewal Application.” Complete the application and include all requested documents.

Certification Renewal Links:

• Educator Portal (application website): https://www.sd.gov/educator
• Educator 411 (check your certification’s expiration date): https://www.sd.gov/411
• Renewal Requirements for Teachers: https://doe.sd.gov/certification/documents/RenewalRequ-teacher.pdf.
• Renewal Requirements for Administrators: https://doe.sd.gov/certification/documents/RenewalReq-Admin.pdf

Questions on Certification Renewal? Contact Kate Rovang at kate.rovang@k12.sd.us!

Are you interested in representing your fellow teachers on the SDRS Board of Trustees? Here are some important things to know about the SDRS Board of Trustees and their responsibilities:

• The SDRS Board of Trustees is the governing body of SDRS.
• Elected representatives serve a four-year term beginning July 1 of the year elected.
• Our 17-member board typically meets four times per year. Meetings are usually held at the SDRS Campus in Pierre.

If you are interested, please click below to download a Memo, Notice, and Petition for the position.

2025 Election for a Teacher Representative to the SDRS Board of Trustees Notice, Memo, and Petition

To be considered, your completed Nomination Petition must be in the SDRS Executive Director’s office by 5:00pm (CT) on February 24th, 2025.

Information regarding this year’s election is also available on the SDRS website at: Election Information

Questions? Please contact Dawn Smith of SDRS at (605) 773-4596

Just a reminder the wellness program will need to be completed by March 1st, 2025, to qualify for the wellness discount. Below is the link to the wellness program and the physician form to bring to your wellness visit.

https://sfsdwellness.com

Preventative Care Form

Once your Preventative Care Form is complete, you must upload it into your portal at www.sfsdwellness.com. Navigate is unable to accept completed forms via fax.

Questions? Contact the Benefits Office at (605) 367-7662 or at benefits.sfsd@k12.sd.us

SandCreek, our Employee Assistance Program, is free, confidential, and available to ALL Sioux Falls School District employees and their family members. As a part of their extensive list of offerings, SandCreek offers FREE monthly webinars that cover a variety of topics. Below are a couple upcoming ones!

To register for a SandCreek account, visit www.SandCreekEAP.com and click the “Sign Up” link just below the Log In button. Enter siouxfalls as your company code and complete the signup process! A confirmation email will be sent to complete the registration.

In this seminar, participants will reflect on the challenges of the past few years and explore how adversity can fuel personal growth. We’ll dive into what it means to be mentally tough, how to find the positive in negative situations, manage ambiguity, and react with agility to change. Finally, we’ll explore the concept of “grit,” as defined by Dr. Angela Duckworth—passion and sustained persistence toward long-term goals. This essential skill is crucial for personal and professional success in today’s fast-paced world. Join us to strengthen your resilience and cultivate the grit needed to thrive!

Wednesday, February 12th, 2025 | 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Register Online!

Below are new opportunities posted within the last week. Be sure to check them out and apply online (at the link provided) if you’re interested! Please note, most job postings are open until filled. If you click on a link and receive an error message (“No matching records found”), it may mean the position has been filled. To view all Sioux Falls School District openings, please visit https://sf.schoolspring.com/.

• Assistant Girls Golf Coach at Roosevelt High School - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4912624
• Head Volleyball Coach at Roosevelt High School - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4912633
• Assistant Boys Tennis Coach at Roosevelt High School - https://sf.schoolspring.com?jobid=4853832

• Elementary Clerical - Class II - 10 Month - 1.0 FTE at Anne Sullivan Elementary - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4977187

• Lead Lunch Education Assistant - 0.8125 FTE at Terry Redlin Elementary - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4970798
• Lead Lunch Education Assistant - 0.8125 FTE at Hawthorne Elementary - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4976497
• Lead Lunch Education Assistant - 0.8125 FTE at Marcella LeBeau Elementary - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4976500
• Lead Lunch Education Assistant - Float - 0.75 FTE - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4976507

• Personal/Resource Education Assistant - 0.8125 FTE at Cleveland Elementary - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4968355
• High School Education Assistant - 1.0 FTE at Axtell Park - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4968488
• Personal/Resource Education Assistant - 0.875 FTE at Garfield Elementary - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4969643
• Resource Education Assistant – 0.875 FTE at Patrick Henry Middle School - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4970648
• Early Childhood Specialized Education Assistant - 0.7 FTE at Hawthorne Elementary - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4969878
• Personal/Resource Education Assistant - 0.875 FTE at Hawthorne Elementary - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4970834
• Behavior Facilitator - 0.875 FTE at Harvey Dunn Elementary - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4977538
• Bridges Education Assistant - Structured Teach - 0.9 FTE at Horace Mann Elementary - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4977552

• 2025-26 Special Education Teacher - 1.0 FTE at Jefferson High School - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4967087
• 2025-26 Special Education Teacher - 1.0 FTE at Ben Reifel Middle School - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4968959
• Elementary Special Education Instructional Coach (Resource) - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4970761

• 2025-26 Assistant Choir Director – 1.0 FTE at Lincoln High School - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=497076

• Extended School Year Special Education Teacher at Harvey Dunn Elementary – https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4974766
• Extended School Year Special Education Teacher at John F. Kennedy Elementary - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4974766
• Extended School Year Clerical at Harvey Dunn Elementary - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4974758
• Extended School Year Clerical at John F. Kennedy Elementary - https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4974755

Questions? Contact Kate Rovang at kate.rovang@k12.sd.us.

You know February as the month of Valentine’s Day, but are you aware that it’s also National Heart Month? As a physician, I recommend you celebrate both occasions by giving your heart a little extra love and attention.

Your heart is so important: it quite literally keeps you alive by pumping the blood that provides the oxygen and nutrients you need to function. And yet, cardiovascular disease claims more lives in the U.S. each year than all forms of cancer combined.

Fortunately, as I like to tell my patients, you have a lot of power over your heart disease risk factors.

What are those risk factors? The top 3 are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. Diabetes and excess weight also increase your risk of heart disease. Everyday lifestyle choices around eating, physical activity, stress, and sleep make a difference, too.

As a lifestyle physician, I consider all these elements––and the whole body––when making recommendations. So, let’s look at four whole-body strategies that can help you feel better and reduce your risk of heart disease.

• Opt for whole, natural foods: Enjoy real foods like fruit, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and protein sources like lean poultry and fish. They’re packed with nutrients, fiber, vitamins, and minerals without the added calories, sugar, and salt found in highly processed, packaged foods. Highly processed foods contribute to weight gain and negatively affect blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure. Eating foods closer to their natural state reduces inflammatory load on the body, helping to keep your heart healthy and strong.

• Move more: All kinds of physical activity help reduce cardiovascular disease risk. Whether it’s walking, swimming, biking, resistance training, dancing, or anything else––do what you enjoy, and reap the benefits of lowering your blood pressure, diabetes, and even cancer risk. Remember, moving a little bit is better than not moving at all! Start where you are and build up activity minutes slowly over time.

• Manage stress and rest: Use your Wondr program tools like deep breathing, the body scan, and mindfulness practices to reduce stress. Aim to get 7-8 hours of restorative sleep and set a bedtime alarm to help make that happen. If you smoke, try to stop. And if you drink alcohol, limit your consumption to no more than a serving a day. Need some extra support? Consult your healthcare provider to identify resources to help you meet your goal.

• Know your numbers: Meeting with your healthcare provider on a routine basis to check your “numbers” (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and waist circumference) is an essential part of a good heart disease prevention plan. And as you continue to make small changes around food, physical activity, sleep, and stress management, you’ll see the positive impact they can have on your metrics.

Why do we recommend tracking waist circumference? Because it’s not just extra weight but where you carry it that can be harmful. Visceral fat––the kind stored around your midsection and abdominal organs––increases inflammation in the body. Inflammation in turn increases your risk for insulin resistance, which can lead to Type 2 diabetes––a heart disease risk factor.

Here’s the great news: What you’re learning and putting into practice in the Wondr program helps lower your risks and raise your quality of life. Losing as little as 5-10% of your weight can greatly reduce your cardiovascular risk. Your daily habits are not just the foundation for a healthy weight but for a healthy heart.

The best valentine you could give to your heart would be to focus on incorporating these whole-body strategies in your life. What’s one small step you could take today that could make a big difference for your long-term health?