Office of the Secretary

South Dakota Board of Education Members

Jan Nicolay

4041 Brant Lakehill
Chester SD 57016
jan.nicolay@k12.sd.us

Jan Nicolay, Chester, was appointed to the Board of Education in November 2004. Ms. Nicolay received her B.S. in secondary education with a major in English from Northern State University followed by her masters in education with an emphasis on administration from SDSU. During 38 years of working in education, Ms. Nicolay taught English, social studies, and reading at the junior and senior high school levels; served as a junior high assistant principal; served as the principal of Washington and Roosevelt High Schools in Sioux Falls; and developed the first alternative high school in Sioux Falls. After retiring from education, Ms. Nicolay joined the State of South Dakota and began working with programs to assist juveniles who completed Department of Corrections programs but could not return to their homes. She also served as the interim director of Southeast Technical School for one year. Ms. Nicolay served in the South Dakota House of Representatives for 14 years, during which time she served on the Health and Welfare, Education, and Appropriations Committees. She also chaired the House Appropriations Committee for 10 years. Currently, Ms. Nicolay serves on a number of state and local nonprofit boards related to outdoor activities and youth. Her term expires December 31, 2008.

Terry Sabers

Terry Sabers is a lifelong resident of South Dakota. He grew up in rural Salem and has been a resident of Mitchell for the last 34 years. He is a 1975 graduate of the Accounting Program at the Mitchell Technical Institute, and over the last 34 years, has been an important factor in growing Muth Electric from a 10-employee electrical contractor into a company of 350 employees. As the company's vice president of finance, Terry manages the operations, budgets and financial results for many departments and divisions.

Terry has been an active member of a number of local and statewide organizations, especially those involving technical education. He served two years on the Governor's Workforce Development Council and is a 20-year board member of the Independent Electrical Contractors–Dakotas, which oversees an apprenticeship program with a current enrollment of 280 apprentices. He is an active member of the MTI Foundation Board of Directors as well as the MTI Alumni Association, the 2009 president of the Mitchell Area Development Corporation, and president of the Siouxland Construction Financial Managers Association. In the past, Terry has served as president of the South Dakota Jaycees, president of the Mitchell United Way, board member of the Mitchell Airport Board, member of the Mitchell Rotary, and scout master. He is also founder of the Mitchell Foundation for Catholic Education. Terry and his wife, Deb, have two grown sons. His term expires Dec. 31, 2011.

Patricia Simmons

Patricia Simmons was appointed to the South Dakota Board of Education Oct. 6, 2006. She recently completed 14 years serving on the Brandon Valley Board of Education. On that board, she served two years as vice president and seven years as president. During that time, Ms. Simmons also served on the board of directors for the Associated School Boards of South Dakota. She served five years on ASBSD's executive committee and was president of the association from 2002 to 2003. Ms. Simmons participated on the Accountability Advisory Panel in 2002-2003 and regional 2010 Education Initiative discussions held by the Department of Education in 2004. She is an alumnus of Western Iowa Tech Community College and Dakota Wesleyan University. She is a registered nurse and has worked for 24 years in pediatric hematology/oncology. She has volunteered for many organizations: the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society, Brandon Valley Girls Softball Association, Brandon Valley Booster Club, church Sunday school teacher, and was a member of the East Dakota Coop in Sioux Falls. She was a single mother for six months when her husband was called to active duty in Iraq during Desert Storm. After 43 years of parenting, her youngest child entered college in the fall of 2006. She and her husband, Pete, have raised eight sons and one daughter and reside in rural Sioux Falls. Her term expires Dec. 31, 2011.