South Dakota’s school administrators have the 2023-24 school year in their sights. With change on the horizon in the state’s schools, leaders say it’s time to be difference makers.
At this years’ annual state principals conference in Deadwood, making a difference for students across the state was the target for elementary and secondary school administrators.
Samantha Walder is the president of the state Association of Elementary Principals. She said the conference is a chance to get the wheels turning in the lead up to the school year.
"The focus is always on finding some inspiration as well as bringing in education experts to share with us some of the latest information," Walder said. "We also get the opportunity to apply to present as well.
Walder, a history enthusiast, said she uses the story of Charles Plum, a Vietnam War-era pilot who spent six years as a prisoner of war after being forced to eject from his plane, to rally the group at the conference. After surviving that experience, Plum connected with a man he’d served with.
“The man who recognized him in the restaurant is the man who packed his parachute," Walder said. "We don’t often think about the person that helps you to have all of that knowledge and growth mindset to succeed in the future. I talked a lot about how important it is that we think about our careers and what we do everyday as packing the parachute for our students to one day jump into a world that they don’t know what it will look like.”
Despite major changes coming for South Dakota educators, namely a newly implemented social studies curriculum, Walder said she and others with her job need to focus on the positive.
“Elementary principals have to be the most optimistic people in the world, because we truly have to believe that the things we’re doing and the supports we’re providing to teachers will help students succeed decades later in the real world,” Walder said.
Also providing some inspirational spark to the crowd was none other than South Dakota State national champion football coach John Stiegelmeier.
