As this school year starts to wind down, know that you have much to be proud of and that the team here at the department is celebrating your commitment to students. You devote your professional life to instructing, encouraging, and inspiring our young people to be their best.

Over the past school year, I’ve had the joy of visiting many schools and seeing educators’ work in action. This week, I’m meeting several of our new Regional Teachers of the Year. These stops fill me up and ground me for the work the department is charged with. South Dakota schools are second to none and are a critical part of the livelihood of our communities. I commend you for your work and celebrate your dedication!

I love when I can be even a small part of the activity. In the fall, I got the opportunity to read to little ones in Blunt, Onida, and Pierre as part of Read for the Record Day. Their curiosity and energy are a delight (and a vibrant reminder of why I so admire the care and patience of elementary teachers!).

That same day in Gettysburg, I got to join in a community assembly to congratulate students and teachers on their Blue Ribbon award-winning work. When I spoke, I pulled a high school student, Seth, from the crowd and challenged him to jump as far as he could across part of the basketball court. Then as we talked about stretching ourselves and rising to the challenge of being our best, I asked if he thought he could jump even further. He did. I wish I’d had my tape measure with me because it was impressive.

These are just a couple examples, and because they happened in the fall, I’m curious how much those students have grown, just a few months later. No doubt they’ve matured, learned, and could now jump even further, literally and figuratively.

In closing, I’d like to share a personal story that illustrates how great teachers are impactful in the moment and across our lives. In January, I got to attend the ribbon cutting at Lemmon’s new junior high and high school (where I graduated).

During my visit, I was able to reconnect with Mrs. O’Donnell, my sixth grade teacher. She was truly amazing - bright, demanding, and fun. She fostered our personal responsibility for learning, was so patient with my curiosity, and carved out space for us to serve others.

In science one day, we were talking about the esophagus muscles and how they function in digestion - peristalsis! I raised my hand right away: “But how can our bodies vomit if there are muscles intended to keep food down?” I could see in her face that I’d asked one too many questions that day. Instead of losing her cool, she told me to grab the medical encyclopedia from the shelf. Bless her.

It was also in her class that pairs of us were released from time to time to walk the few blocks north to the nursing home to read the weekly newspaper to residents. What a wonderful woman. She now leads my hometown school board.

Thank you to Mrs. O, and all the other dedicated education professionals like her in our state, for your influence and service.

Have a great summer!