My first year as your SDEA President has been incredibly meaningful. It has included important conversations, strong advocacy, and continuous learning. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve in this role. Our progress in elevating the profession, earning respect for public education, and protecting educator autonomy would not have been possible without you—your voice, commitment, and dedication to students, colleagues, and public education.

The 101st Legislative Session is in full swing, and I could not be more proud to stand with you—as a member of SDEA, as an advocate for public education, and as part of a community committed to ensuring every student in South Dakota has access to the strong public schools they deserve.

As we begin a new year and legislative session, I reaffirm my commitment to supporting you. Every day, you demonstrate passion and resilience for your students and communities. As your president, I will ensure your voices are heard, your expertise valued, and your autonomy protected. You deserve respect as professionals, and we must expect nothing less. Achieving this requires us to stand up for our profession and, ultimately, for our students.

Statement from SDEA President Stephanie Hageman

As we celebrate American Education Week, I encourage everyone in South Dakota to take a moment to recognize the amazing work happening in our public schools. This tradition reminds us that education is about more than just classrooms and textbooks. It’s about people: the teachers who inspire, the support staff who keep things running, the parents who support learning, and the community members who cheer on our students. By working together, we build strong schools and strong communities.

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of spending time in Washington, D.C. for training, advocacy, networking, and so much more. One presenter shared a powerful reminder of Helen Keller’s words: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” As I reflect on the week, I am deeply grateful for the collaborative relationships I have built with colleagues and members who share my passion for this important work.

As I write this column, we have about three weeks left of the Legislature. First and foremost, I extend my heartfelt thanks to all our educators for your unwavering advocacy during this year’s legislative session. Your voices have been instrumental in contacting local lawmakers about the critical issues facing public education. You are being heard, and your efforts are making a significant impact.

The attacks on public education are real and growing. Governor Noem’s $4 million proposal may seem small, but over time, it will siphon money away from our public schools, devastating small rural schools. This is not just a fight for SDEA; we are united with the school boards, school administrators, and parents. This is an all-hands-on-deck situation.

Welcome back to the new school year. I hope you had a restful summer, and I know you are ready to have a great year filled with much success with your students.

As the President of the South Dakota Education Association (SDEA), I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for the work you do.