About the Department

This division is responsible for education leadership at the state level. The Division of the Secretary directs the department's strategic planning, communications efforts and legislative action. The Professional Practices Commissions fall under this area as well.

- Dr. Melody Schopp - Secretary of Education
- Mary Stadick Smith - Operations and Information Director
- Brett Arenz- Legal Office
- Mato Standing High - Director of Indian Education
- Ferne Haddock - Legal Assistant
- Holly Farris - Legal Office
- Betty Leidholt - Executive Assistant
- Marta Neuman - Senior Secretary
- Kodi Odean-Carlin - Information Officer
- Ruth Raveling - Information Specialist

This division oversees assessment, accountability, accreditation and certification. Several programs related to teacher and principal evaluation, teacher quality and teacher recognition are also handled by this division.

For any questions relating to certification, e-mail: certification@state.sd.us
For questions relating to accreditation, email: doeaccred@state.sd.us
For questions relating to personnel record form, email: prf@state.sd.us

- Abby Javurek - Division Director
- Pam Hoepfer - Senior Secretary

ASSESSMENT
- Jan Martin - Administrator
- Christina Booth - Program Specialist
- Joe Moran - Program Specialist
- Kelly Royer - Program Specialist


ACCREDITATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY
- Steve Fiechtner - Administrator
- Dorothy Aguilera Black-Bear - Program Specialist
- Charlie Dalldorf - Program Specialist
- Deedra Gesinger - Program Specialist
- Carol Uecker - Program Specialist


CERTIFICATION AND TEACHER QUALITY
- Carla Leingang - Administrator
- Jane Cronin - Program Specialist
- Deedra Gesinger - Program Specialist
- Jantina Nelson-Stastny - Management Analyst
- Roxie Thielen - Program Specialist

DATA MANAGEMENT
- Judy Merriman - Data Management, Administrator
- Clive Bremser - Management Analyst
- Angie Bren - Management Analyst
- Randy Hanson - Management Analyst
- Teri Jung - Management Analyst
- Jennifer Rattling Leaf - Policy/Data Analyst

This division is charged with providing supports for students’ preparations for postsecondary education and the workforce. Services are connected to approved Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs, work-based learning, school counseling, SDMyLife, the four SD Technical Institutes and the federal Perkins grant.

- Laura Scheibe - Director
- Kim Van Den Hemel - Senior Secretary
- Nora Kohlenberg - CTE Grants and Data Specialist
- Megan Tatum – Student Services Specialist

SECONDARY CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION
- Erin Larsen – Secondary Career & Technical Education
- Jane Gubrud – Career Development Specialist
- Andrea Diehm – Career Development Specialist
- Michelle Nelson – Career Development Specialist
- Amber Rost – Career Development Specialist
- Kim Roth – Career Development Specialist
- Kara Schweitzer – Career Development Specialist
- Brad Scott - Career Development Specialist

The division includes most of the federal programs, including Title programs, Child and Adult Nutrition programs, school health and after-school programs. It also encompasses Special Education Programs and the state's Birth to Three program. The state Head Start liaison is housed within this division.

Division Contact - (605) 773-6400
Title Programs - (605) 773-6400
Child and Adult Nutrition Services – (605) 773-3413
School Health/21st Century Community Learning Centers – (605) 773-3261
Special Education/Early Intervention – (605) 773-3678

TITLE
Ann Larsen - Division Director

- Shannon Malone - Title Programs Administrator
Vacant - School Improvement (SIG) Title I Program Specialist
- Betsy Chapman - Title I Program, Schoolwide Programs School Improvement, Data Verification
- Jordan Dueis - Title I Program, School Improvement (SD LEAP)
- Julie Elrod - Title I Secretary
- Laura Johnson-Frame - McKinney-Vento, Neglected & Delinquent Coordinator, Title I Program Specialist
- Jenifer Palmer - Title I Part C (Migrant Program) Coordinator Title I Program Specialist
- Yutzil Becker - ELL Program/Title III WIDA Assessment Coordinator
- Dawn Smith - Family Engagement, Title I Program Specialist


21 CCLC
- Sue Burgard - 21st Century Community Learning Centers
- Jill Cotton - 21st Century Community Learning Centers

Child & Adult Nutrition Services
DOE.schoollunch@state.sd.us
DOE.icanhelp@state.sd.us

- Sandra Kangas - Director
- Cheriee Watterson - Assistant Director
- Darcy Beougher - Child and Adult Nutrition Senior Secretary
- Melissa Halling - Child & Adult Care Food Program Specialist
- Mikayla Hardy - School Nutrition Programs Specialist
- Geriann Headrick - School Nutrition Programs Specialist
- Beth Henrichsen - School Nutrition Programs Specialist
- Andrea Hollin - School Nutrition Program Specialist
- Rob Ingalls - FFVP/School Nutrition Programs Specialist
- Courtney Martin - Child and Adult Nutrition Secretary
- Julie McCord - Summer Food Program Specialist
- Pam McCown - iCAN Manager Program Specialist
- Mark Moen - CSFP & School Food Distribution Program Specialist
- Karen Webber Boyer - The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and Procurement
- Carrie Weller - School Nutrition Programs Specialist


SPECIAL EDUCATION
- Linda Turner - Director
- Wendy Trujillo - Assistant Director
- Rebecca Cain - Special Education Program Specialist
- Angel Corrales - Part B Data Manager
- Rebecca Deighton - Secretary
- Melisa Flor - Special Education Program Specialist
- Elizabeth Jehangiri - Special Education Program Specialist
- Jamie Morris - Special Education Program Specialist
- Beth Schiltz - Special Education Program Specialist


EARLY LEARNING
- Sarah Carter - Birth to 3 Director
- Crystal Goeden - Birth to 3 Specialist
- April Hodges - Birth to 3 Specialist
- Steve Livermont - Birth to 3 Specialist
- Kristi Swier - Head Start State Collaboration Director




SCHOOL HEALTH
- Karen Keyser, Health and Physical Education Program Specialist
- Mary Giddings, Secretary

This division oversees funding provided to schools and other recipients, including state aid, federal grants and contracts. The division is responsible for a host of data collection activities ranging from student and teacher data to school financial data.

- Tamara Darnall - Director
- Lisa Rae - Deputy Director
- Rochelle Kenzy - Contract Manager
- Michelle Kronberg - Accountant
- Sophie Johnson - Federal Program Liaison
- Olivia Waggoner - Senior Secretary
- Debra Collins - Secretary


ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL REPORTING
- Vacant - Administrator
- Corey Bowman - Accountant
- Kim Burrer – Accounting Assistant
- Bethany Langenbau - Accountant
- Michelle Rose - Accountant
- Bill Squires - Accounting Assistant
- Amanda VanderPlaats - Accountant




GRANTS MANAGEMENT
- Rob Huffman - Grants Management - Administrator
- Mark Gageby - Management Analyst
- Tacy Kennison - Program Specialist
- Jackie Mattheis – Program Specialist
- Janet Penticoff - Policy/Data Analyst
- Cody Stoeser - Program Specialist
- Danna Sanders - Program Specialist


STATE AID AND SCHOOL FINANCE
- Susan Woodmansey - Administrator
- Bobbi Leiferman - Management Analyst
- Kathryn Blumhardt - Management Analyst

This division oversees academic content standards and instruction, and provides services and supports to districts and schools to support learning and achievement for all students.

- Becky Nelson - Director
- Teresa Berndt - Program Specialist
- Kim Carlson - LDS Program Specialist II
- Sherry Dickerson - Secretary
- Matt Gill - Program Specialist
- Sara Kock - LDS Program Specialist II
- Brad Steckelberg - LDS Management Analyst
- Nicol Reiner - Program Specialist
- Kathy Riedy - Program Specialist
- Sam Shaw - Program Specialist
- Deb Wolf – Education Innovation Specialist

The State Library is responsible for developing public and school library services, providing collections to expand local resources, serving special needs populations (including textbooks for visually impaired students), and providing library services to state government.

View State Library staff directory.