May 1, 2026
Dr. Thompson recently served on a panel of Western South Dakota superintendents in collaboration with the South Dakota Department of Education, where leaders engaged in meaningful dialogue about the challenges facing public education, including workforce shortages, student engagement, and the evolving needs of rural districts. The discussion also highlighted areas of success across Western South Dakota schools, such as innovative programming, strong community partnerships, and a continued commitment to student-centered learning, while exploring opportunities for the state to better support local districts. We sincerely thank the South Dakota Department of Education for taking the time to listen, engage in open conversation, and consider ways to come alongside and strengthen public education across our region.