The Sioux Falls School Board has announced Dr. Jamie Nold as the next superintendent of the Sioux Falls School District, beginning July 1, 2025. Dr. Nold’s nearly 30 years of service to the district, including roles as a teacher, coach, principal, and assistant superintendent, make him uniquely qualified to lead us into the future.

During today’s press conference, Dr. Nold expressed his gratitude and excitement for the opportunity to continue working alongside our exceptional staff, students, and families. “Our public schools are truly remarkable, and I look forward to building on the strong foundations laid by past leaders,” he shared.

We also extend our deepest thanks to Dr. Jane Stavem for her outstanding leadership and dedication to the district over the past five years.

Watch the full press conference and hear more from Dr. Nold here:

We are pleased to announce that the Sioux Falls School District’s Community Learning Centers (CLC) Summer 2025 and 2025/26 School Year program enrollment begins on Thursday, Jan 16th for SFSD staff!

Since you are a current SFSD staff member, you are able to enroll during our priority enrollment period.

NEW offerings for the 2025/26 school year:

• After-school care will be provided at the soon-to-be opened elementary school, Marcella LeBeau, making this the 23rd elementary school that the CLC offers care at.
• Before school care will be offered at (3) additional locations: Anne Sullivan, Robert Frost and Terry Redlin, in addition to our current before school program held at RF Pettigrew.
• Only need care on SFSD No School Days, but not after or before school? We can help you with that! Click on the link below to learn more!

SFSD Staff Priority Enrollment Period: Thurs, Jan 16th through Wed, Jan 29th.

How to enroll: To find out more about HOW TO ENROLL, rates, summer locations, payment calendar, hours of operation, no school day care, etc., click on the following link: https://secure.smore.com/n/n1y2t0

Let us know if you have any questions – we are here to help!

SFSD and the Community Learning Centers invite you and your family to join us for the second Community Health & Wellness Fair happening on Thursday, January 16th, at JFK Elementary from 4:30-7 pm!

This FREE, family-friendly event brings together over 50 community vendors offering health resources, free vision, hearing, and health screenings, interactive activities for kids, and 30+ door prizes and giveaways. Berke’s BBQ Food Truck will be there too!

It’s a great opportunity to explore resources, connect with our community, and have some fun. We hope to see you there!

📍 JFK Elementary
🗓️ Wednesday, January 16th | 4:30–7 PM

Caitlyn Baker, the Tier II Teacher at Laura B. Anderson Elementary, is redefining what it means to go above and beyond for her students and colleagues. Her commitment to fostering positive relationships, teaching respect, and ensuring success is evident in her innovative approach.

Rather than waiting for challenges to arise, Caitlyn takes a proactive role by visiting every classroom weekly. Her lessons on interactions, behaviors, and community building reach every student, creating a culture of support and respect schoolwide.

Her tireless efforts to uplift students and staff inspire everyone around her. Caitlyn’s impact goes far beyond her job title, she embodies what it means to make a difference, every single day.

Join us in celebrating Caitlyn’s exceptional dedication and the meaningful work she does to honor others and build a thriving school community!

Do you know an exceptional teacher who inspires students, goes above and beyond, and exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding educator? Or are you that teacher? Now’s your chance to recognize a deserving teacher’s impact by nominating them for the 37th Annual Teacher of the Year Award!

Nominations are open until Monday, January 13th, at 5 PM—but don’t wait until the last minute! Celebrate the dedication and passion that make a difference in our schools every day.

RETIREMENT NOTIFICATION DEADLINE:

Teachers wishing to retire at the end of the 2024-25 school year must submit their letters of retirement by Monday, February 3rd.

The retirement letter (with signature) can be sent as an email attachment to Rachel Marshall, HR Benefits Specialist, at benefits.sfsd@k12.sd.us.

GRADUATE CREDIT/DEGREE ADVANCEMENT INTENT FORMS:

Teachers planning to advance to steps requiring the BA+24, Master’s Degree, or Master’s + 24 must submit INTENT FORMS by February 1st. This process is online through HR Records. The INTENT FORM is found in the Available Forms section.

Contact Amira Lawrence in Human Resources at (605) 367-4692 or amira.lawrence@k12.sd.us with Graduate Credit/Degree Advancement questions.

SHORTAGE AREA - EARLY RESIGNATION STIPENDS $500:

The District will provide a $500 bonus to any Teacher from an identified shortage area who is not eligible to receive or has not already received the District Retirement Benefit and/or Health Benefit, if the Teacher submits a resignation to the Human Resources Department by February 3rd.

Link to Resign: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfR0HFhrh4fHYC-S6flJL_lhn8yinerT6irPfSDZPKNU_hYKQ/viewform

Ticket purchasing details coming soon!

All school personnel certified through the Department of Education, including teachers and administrators, are required to complete youth suicide awareness and prevention training as outlined in South Dakota Codified Law (SDCL) 13-42-71. This initiative supports the state’s commitment to addressing student mental health. According to the law, educators must complete an approved training program before beginning employment and at least once every five years thereafter.

Effective July 1, 2024, the South Dakota Department of Education transitioned the responsibility for tracking youth suicide awareness and prevention training from the Certification Office to the Office of Accreditation. Consequently, training records are no longer maintained by the state; it is now the responsibility of individual districts to track their certified educators.

To comply with this requirement, please complete the following steps:

1. Submit your training certificate by uploading it through this brief Google form.
2. Complete the required training (if not already done). A list of approved online training options is available at South Dakota Suicide Prevention Resources. The training takes approximately two hours.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Human Resources at (605) 367-7661.

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.

New for 2025! As of January 2025, SandCreek will be using the WebEx Platform for their webinars. Multi Language closed captioning will be available at that time!

For many individuals and families, managing finances can be a challenge. If you reach the end of the month and feel like money controls every aspect of your life, this session is for you. Participants will learn essential skills to take control of their finances, communicate effectively about money, and develop a personalized plan to achieve their financial goals. Join us to gain confidence in your financial decisions and start building a path toward financial success.

Wednesday, January 8th, 2025 | 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Register Online!

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!

benefits.sfsd@k12.sd.us

The Human Resources Department will be offering informational meetings on the District Retirement Incentive outlined in the SFEA Collective Bargaining Agreement via Zoom. This meeting is for Teachers (SFEA) only. Guests are welcome.

For those unable to attend, the meetings will be recorded and sent out via District Dialogue.

Join Zoom Meeting:

Friday, January 17th, 2025 | 4:15 pm to 5:00 pm

https://sdk12.zoom.us/j/2539207779

Thursday, January 23rd, 2025 | 4:15 pm to 5:00 pm

https://sdk12.zoom.us/j/2539207779

Start your year off right with Wondr - a digital weight-loss program offered by Sioux Falls School District at no cost to you.*

You’ll master science-backed strategies to feel energized, stress less, and sleep better. No fads, no drastic diets - just practical skills that let you enjoy every season’s flavors and festivities all year round.

Get started today at wonderhealth.com/SFSD!

* Restrictions and eligibility info can be found at wondrhealth.com/SFSD