District Dialogue

As she prepares to conclude her tenure at the end of June, Dr. Stavem reflects on the journey of leadership, partnership, and purpose that has shaped her time in the Sioux Falls School District. "There has never been more clarity about the importance of providing children with schools, places where they come to learn every day, surrounded by people who care deeply about them and believe in who they are."

Watch her full farewell message above, filled with gratitude, milestones, and a call to keep showing up for kids!

On Sunday, we celebrated the Class of 2025 as they walked across the stage and into the next chapter of their lives. While graduation may be a high school milestone, it is built on a foundation that began in preschool and elementary classrooms, was shaped in middle school hallways, and supported by countless hands across the District. Whether you are a teacher, custodian, bus driver, EA, afterschool professional, interpreter, admin, school nurse, food service team member, or any kind of employee of the Sioux Falls School District, you were part of their journey! Thank you for being a difference-maker!

Here are just a few Class of 2025 highlights:

• 547 students are recognized as Regents Scholars by the South Dakota Department of Education
• 345 students are members of the National Honor Society
• 233 students are recognized as Advanced Placement (AP) Scholars by the College Board
• 19 students are National Merit Finalists
• 598 students are Presidential Education Award Winners
• 103 students have earned the Seal of Biliteracy
• 325 students have earned the Advanced Placement Achievement Award

Watch a recording of the ceremonies by clicking the photos!

We did it! For the third year in a row, the Sioux Falls School District has been named one of the Best Communities for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation!

This national recognition celebrates our continued commitment to ensuring all students have access to high-quality music instruction, from the first notes in elementary school to award-winning performances in high school.

THANK YOU to our talented students, passionate educators, and supportive community for making music a vital part of education in the SFSD!

The results of last Tuesday's School Board Election are in! Elizabeth Duffy and Nan Kelly have been elected to serve on the Sioux Falls School Board. Nan Kelly, the incumbent, was re-elected, while Elizabeth Duffy will be serving her first term.

Duffy received 2,582 votes, and Kelly received 2,353 votes. Voter turnout for the election was 2.33%.

Both individuals will be sworn in at the first School Board meeting of the new fiscal year, scheduled for Monday, July 14th.

We extend our thanks to all four candidates for their willingness to serve and their dedication to public education in Sioux Falls!

Beginning Fall 2025, the Community Learning Centers will offer afterschool programs at George McGovern, Ben Reifel, and Whittier Middle Schools, complete with clubs, homework help, snacks, and more! Programs are open to students who attend these schools (or whose home attendance center is one of the three, even if they attend a specialized school).

• $30/week or FREE for qualifying families
• FREE at George McGovern thanks to grant funding

Perfect for incoming 6th grade families!
Learn more or share with someone who might be interested!

The District’s FREE Summer Meal Program launches Thursday, May 29th, and runs Monday through Friday at seven locations across Sioux Falls through Friday, July 8th. Children 1-18 eat free, no paperwork, no sign-up.

• Breakfast is served from 8 to 8:30 am
• Lunch is served from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm

Meals will not be served on Friday, July 4th.

We are excited to announce that TeamMates has been selected as one of 10 nonprofit organizations to participate in this year's Health Connect Human Race, a community fundraising event supporting causes across the Sioux Empire!

The Human Race includes a 5K run and a 1 mile fun walk at Sertoma Park on Saturday, June 7th at 9 am. When you register, you get to choose a non-profit to support and 75% of your registration fee will go directly to TeamMates when you select them.

This is a fun, family-friendly way to get active and make a difference for the mentoring matches that benefits students across all grade levels!

We hope to see you there!

Starting July 1, 2025, SFSD will no longer be using the paid version of the two-way communication tool known as Remind. The cost for this service had been paid for through pandemic funding, which no longer exists. Further, the cost is increasing from $60,000 to well over $100,000 and is not in line with current budget realities.

Many similar two-way communication products exist, including a FREE version of Remind. The SFSD Technology Department must review any services teachers, coaches, etc. use to ensure compliance with school board policies and state and federal laws (COOPA).

When using a Two Communication tool, a coach/director must include at least one additional adult on the communication with students. This can be a parent, volunteer coach/director, asst coach/director, head coach/director, school administrator, another teacher, department or team chair or similar adult. Communication shall never be 1:1 staff member to student or small group of students.

The following free services have been vetted and approved for use. ALL others require submission of an Apps, Websites and Extensions (AWE) Request Form.

• Remind
• Whatsapp Business
• Class DoJo
• Talking Points
• Google Voice
• SeeSaw

Other District communication tools supported and approved:

• State K12 Email
• Canvas
• Infinite Campus
• Thrillshare

Check your license - is it time to renew? If so, be sure to start your renewal process as soon as possible to avoid having your certification lapse!

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!

Wednesday, May 21st, 2025 | 4:15 pm to 5:15 pm

Build on your budgeting and savings skills and increase your awareness of the many challenges we encounter during our careers and into retirement. Be empowered to take charge of your finances and be more prepared for retirement.

Register Online: https://www.sd.gov/sdrs?id=event_details&event_id=34885454478c2210854b61d2e16d4332

AllOne Health (previously 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, AllOne Health offers FREE monthly webinars that cover a variety of topics. Below are a couple upcoming ones!

To register for a AllOne Health account, visit https://allonehealthmemberportal.mylifeexpert.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.

Effective communication within teams is crucial for achieving personal and professional goals. In this session, participants will dive into team dynamics through discussions, hands-on exercises, and insightful debriefs. We’ll explore proven strategies for fostering collaboration and resolving conflicts, while learning how to apply these concepts in real-world scenarios. By the end of the seminar, participants will walk away with practical tools and resources to inspire their teammates, enhance teamwork, and ensure seamless collaboration to achieve shared objectives.

Wednesday, June 11th, 2025 | 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Register Online!

The wellness portal has re-opened! Get started today on completing the requirements - deadline for completion is March 1st, 2026!

Completion Requirements:

• Complete the Wellbeing Survey
• Annual Physician Visit with PCP Form
• Once your form is complete, you will upload it to your wellness portal. It will not be sent in by your doctor’s office. Be sure to check that all REQUIRED fields are completed before submitting!

• Earn 60 Points from Completing Activities in the Incentive Table

Logging In:

If previously logged in to www.sfsdwellness.com program, your log-in information will remain the same.

If you have not previously registered at www.sfsdwellness.com, click “Sign-Up” on the homepage to get started.

Unique ID

Employees: Use your employee ID number as your unique ID

Spouses: Use your spouse’s employee ID number + S (ex: 12345s)

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

Wondr has helped millions of people just like you achieve their weight-loss goals. Through short weekly videos, you'll learn it's not what you eat but when, why, and how that can help you improve your health. 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 wondrhealth.com/SFSD

Wondr Health is available to employees and spouses on the District’s medical plan. There is no cost to participate.

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 Soccer Coach at Roosevelt High School: https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5164375
• Assistant Boys Wrestling Coach at Roosevelt High School: https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5164381
• Assistant Girls Wrestling Coach at Roosevelt High School: https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5164397
• Head Boys Golf Coach at Roosevelt High School: https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5164403

• Director of College & Career Access - 1.0 FTE at Jefferson High School: https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5153778
• College & Career Access Advisor - 1.0 FTE at Jefferson High School: https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5154783
• English Learner Education Assistant - 0.875 FTE at Lincoln High School: https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5164539
• High School Building Safety Monitor at Washington High School: https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5164598
• Education Assistant - 0.8125 FTE at Harvey Dunn Elementary: https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5167930
• Early Childhood Education Assistant - 0.75 FTE at Harvey Dunn Elementary: https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5167963

• School Psychologist - 1.0 FTE: https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5165182
• Speech Language Pathologist - Birth to Three - 1.0 FTE at The Learning Lab: https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5086165

• Elementary Teacher - 1.0 FTE at Garfield Elementary: https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5165316
• 3rd Grade Teacher - 1.0 FTE at Robert Frost Elementary: https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5165929
• 4th Grade Teacher - 1.0 FTE at Eugene Field A+ Elementary: https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5167838
• Kindergarten Teacher - 1.0 FTE at Discovery Elementary: https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5167866
• 5th Grade Teacher (Departmentalized) - 1.0 FTE at John F. Kennedy Elementary: https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5167891

• 6th Grade English Language Arts Teacher - 1.0 FTE at George McGovern Middle School: https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5159720
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher - 1.0 FTE at Whittier Middle School: https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5168578

• High School Math Teacher with or without Department Chair - 1.0 FTE at Jefferson High School: https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5167985

• Early Childhood Special Education Teacher - 1.0 FTE at The Learning Lab: https://sf.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5090631

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

A healthy body. Good physical health habits. Nutrition, exercise, and appropriate health care. These make up the physical dimension of wellness. A few ways we can get there might be choosing things that make our body feel good and trimming back the things that bring us down. We can also feel better by creating a routine that balances activity with inactivity, and that is manageable within our obligations and needs. Our body is intelligent, and learning to listen to it more deeply may be very important and empowering.

NUTRITION

Think About: Do you have access to fresh, healthy food? Are you in a position to eat at home so you can better track what you are putting into your body? Are you improving your diet by setting small goals for small changes each day, week, or month?

Resources:

• Check out local food co-ops for good, affordable food.
• Visit USDA’s Choose My Plate (https://www.myplate.gov/) or Food Pyramid (http://www.foodpyramid.com/)
• Meet with dietitians and nutritionists, if you need help.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Think About: Are you getting regular physical activity whenever you can, and making it fun? Have you been taking “shortcuts” to exercise, like parking further away from the store and taking the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator?

Resources:

• Join and visit local gyms, YMCAs, and fitness clubs.
• Check out free resources, such as YouTube, to learn how to do exercises or find things to try at home.

SLEEP

Think About: Are you getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night whenever possible? Are you avoiding exercise within a few hours of bedtime as well as “screen time”? Are you avoiding large meals before you go to bed?

Resources:

• Try managing your routine to carve out time to rest and sleep, and cut back on caffeine.
• Explore tips found on: Healthy People, Mayo Clinic, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• 
  

Learn more about Improving Our Physical Wellness by reading the full article at: https://allonehealthmemberportal.mylifeexpert.com/article?i=2017

Adapted from the CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.