Outstanding Administrators 2008-2009
DARCI LOVE
Outstanding Curriculum Director, Huron School District
Darci, curriculum director for
Huron
School District
, has devoted 13 years to
education, spending 3 years as an administrator.
Darci is most proud of attaining her Bachelors and Masters degrees
with help from her supportive, encouraging, and loving parents and her
devoted and understanding husband and daughters.
Their sacrifices for her pursuit of continuing education, are
something she will always be grateful for.
SHERRY
HANSEN
Outstanding Business Official, Tripp-Delmont School District
Sherry,
business manager for
Tripp-Delmont
School District
, has devoted 38 years to
education, spending 33 years as an administrator.
Sherry is most proud that the
Tripp
School District
was chosen to be a pilot school
when the Dept. of Legislative Audits adopted a double entry accounting
system. The superintendent asked
if she would set up the new system. Sherry
was the first and only business manager at the
Tripp-Delmont
School
.
JOHN
FATHKE
Outstanding Special Education Director, South Central Educational Coop
John,
special education director for South Central Educational Cooperative, has
devoted 42 years to education, spending 41 years as an administrator.
John is most proud of being on the leading edge of the introduction
of technology into school systems in the 1980’s, thus providing the latest
tools for students and staff.
DON
LYON
Outstanding Asst. Secondary School Principal, Meade School District
Don,
assistant high school principal for
Meade
School District
, has devoted 11 years to
education, spending 6 years as an administrator.
Don is most proud of being named 2009 Assistant Principal of the Year
for
South Dakota
.
He has a great staff and student body that supports our educational
system and works well together in the best interest of all students.
DEB JOHNSON
Outstanding Middle School Principal, Chamberlain School District
Debra,
middle school principal for
the Chamberlain
School District
, has
devoted 29 years to education, spending 17 years as an administrator.
Debra is most proud of combining separate 5-8 and 9-12 buildings into
a MS/HS, Grades 7-12, where staff work together to address issues, implement
effective teaching strategies, and design plans so that all students can
achieve at their highest level.
JACKIE
MCNAMARA
Outstanding Elementary Principal, Sioux Falls School District
Jackie,
elementary school principal for
the Sioux Falls
School District
, has devoted 21 years to
education, spending 16 years as an administrator.
Jackie is most proud of leading an elementary school with 55.4% of
its students in poverty and with many different languages spoken to making
Adequate Yearly Progress for the first time in the school’s history.
DON
KIRKEGAARD
Outstanding Superintendent, Britton-Hecla School District
Don, superintendent for the Britton-Hecla School
District, has devoted 28 years to education, spending 25 years as an
administrator. Don is most proud of having a very successful
reorganization with Hecla. He feels he has helped to push teacher
salaries forward in South Dakota through creative negotiations and, most
important of all, has been able to maintain a quality staff despite
statewide teacher shortages.
JERRY
RASMUSSEN
Outstanding High School Principal, Dakota Valley School
District
Jerry,
high school principal for
Dakota
Valley
School District
, has
devoted 21 years to education, spending 10 years as an administrator.
Jerry is most proud of helping to create a caring, student centered
culture which permeates throughout the community.
Jerry and his staff truly care about all their students.
New students are embraced by other students and not isolated.
