Sioux Falls School Board Invites Community Involvement in Search for Next Leader
The Sioux Falls School Board is taking the first steps of selecting the next Superintendent to succeed Dr. Jane Stavem by securing support from the well-respected educational leadership search firm of Hazard, Young, Attea, and Associates (HYA). The district has a long relationship with HYA, having used them to conduct three superintendent searches in the past 21 years.
The Board is committed to a transparent and inclusive process. Stakeholders including students, parents, staff, and the community are encouraged to complete an online survey to help shape the comprehensive leadership profile that guides the search. The survey will remain open until Monday, November 25, 2024 and can be accessed here: https://hyasurvey.com/SiouxFalls. Feedback gathered from this survey will play a vital role in identifying the qualities and qualifications a new superintendent should embody to best serve, lead, and provide vision for the future.
Dr. Jane Stavem announced her resignation, effective June 30, 2025, in late October 2024 to give the school board ample time to organize, search, and secure a qualified superintendent to lead South Dakota’s largest school district of 24,000 students. Her legacy includes opening two new schools - Jefferson High School and Ben Reifel Middle School, construction of Marcella LeBeau Elementary, as well as expansions at the Career & Technical Education Academy to include agriculture programs. She leveraged new and existing partnerships to expand out-of-school-time care under the Community Learning Center Model and focused on engagement and attendance to lead the district through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are grateful for the strong foundation Dr. Stavem has helped build within our schools and community,” said Board President Carly Reiter. “Dr. Stavem dreamed for us to be the best school district in the nation, and under her leadership we have made great gains. As we look to the future, we are excited to engage with the community in defining the leadership qualities that will propel our district even farther forward.”
The Board expects to finalize the selection of the new superintendent in the spring. For ongoing updates about the superintendent search process, please visit sf.k12.sd.us.
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