School Libraries at the Crossroads: Policies, Challenges, and the Path Forward

Presenter: S.D. State Library School Library Coordinator & Meade School Board Member Scottie Bruch

Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. in Rooms 13-14

School libraries play a vital role in student success, yet their full impact is not always well understood. This session will equip school board members and administrators with insights into the role of school librarians, the policies that shape their work, and strategies to support strong library programs. Participants will explore best practices for collection development, book reconsideration policies, legislative trends, and actionable steps to ensure libraries remain essential, well-supported resources for students and educators

Talkin’ About My Generation: The Teachers You’ll Meet

Presenter: Watertown Middle School Principal Todd Brist, Ed.D.

Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. in Rooms 6-7

From Boomers and Gen Z to teacher induction and career wind-down, you’ll meet a wide variety of educators. With a better understanding of how generations in the workplace and the career cycle of teachers impact the perspective, attitude, and motivation of staff, school leaders can better differentiate coaching, mentoring, and professional development to improve the culture and climate of their school. Come learn about the teachers you’ll meet so you can better lead them!

Do Trauma-Informed Training teaching strategies increase staff well-being?

Presenter: Elk Point-Jefferson Superintendent Dr. Philip Schonebaum

Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. in Rooms 6-7

Over the course of 4-weeks the staff of the EPJ school district trained in Strong Resilient Youth a training founded on Trauma-informed practices. Follow up interviews were conducted to see the impacts the training had on staff.

Maximizing Opportunities and Simplifying Management – Grants, Scholarships and School Foundations

Presenters: S.D. Community Foundation Development Director Jeff Veltkamp & Community Development Coordinator Patrick Gallagher

Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. in Room 2

Managing school foundations and scholarship funds can be overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. The South Dakota Community Foundation supports schools, organizations, and donors with investment management and administrative services and can connect them with valuable grant opportunities. Learn how SDCF can help your school access funding while reducing the burden of managing scholarships, donor contributions, and IRS reporting. Hear from SDCF experts and fund holders about how this partnership can benefit your school.

Rethinking Classroom Evaluations

Presenter: Harrisburg High School Principal Ryan Rollinger

Thursday, 3:00 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. in Rooms 8-9-10

Whether you are a new administrator just starting to evaluate, or a veteran who has been evaluating for decades, it is always prudent to rethink how we help shape instruction through the evaluation process.  We will discuss different ways schools evaluate, and then new “walk-in” philosophy used at HHS.  This will include strength and weaknesses.

Resources to Support the Well-Being of School Aged Youth

Presenters: S.D. DOE School Counseling & Student Support Administrator Andrea Effling, S.D. DPS School Safety Specialist Angela Waldner, S.D. DOH School Health Coordinator & Public Health Nurse Lacey Wieczorek, S.D. Center for Disabilities BEAM-SD Program Coordinator Nikki Eining & S.D. DSS-DBH Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service Program Manager Jordan Mounga

Thursday, 3:00 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. in Rooms 8-9

The growing need for school-based mental and behavioral health services requires schools to engage in systematic prevention and responses. This session provides an overview of a multi-tiered framework designed to help schools effectively implement programming. These resources can provide tools for staff and students to identify and refer youth in need; training opportunities for students, educators, and families; school safety tools; and treatment services.

Empowering After-School Programs: A Data-Driven Evaluation Approach to Success

Presenter: BHSSC Community and Family Services Project Manager & S.D. AfterSchool Network Executive Director Billy Mawhiney

Thursday, 4:00 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. in Room 3

Transform after-school programs with BHSSC’s multi-year evaluation process. In this interactive session, explore real-world data through observations, interviews, focus groups, and surveys to uncover actionable insights. Engage in a simulated data retreat to identify issues, root causes, and improvement steps. Experience a proven approach that drives program success.

Preventing Violence in Schools by Recognizing Behaviors on the Pathway to Violence

Presenter: S.D. School Safety Center Director Brett Garland

Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. in Rooms 6-7

Targeted Violence in schools can be prevented. Learn how to recognize behaviors on the pathway to violence, beginning with lower-level concerns (e.g., self-harm, depressed mood, bullying) to imminent or direct threats of violence. The South Dakota School Safety Center provides the number one tool to prevent violence in schools-behavioral threat assessment, with a focus on robust interventions to those posing a threat to themselves or others.

Leading Educator Wellness: Six Critical Actions to Support All Staff

Presenter: Erin Lehmann of the University of South Dakota

Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. in Room 2

Leaders and teachers are navigating more stress than ever — but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In this interactive session, I’ll share Six Critical Actions to Support All Staff and show how a shared vision for wellness can strengthen educator performance, boost student success, and drive districtwide improvement. You’ll learn how regulated leaders empower educators to thrive and build sustainable school culture. Join me as we prioritize the wellness of those who care for our students!

Building Trauma-Informed Schools: Strategies for Administrators

Presenter: Aurora Plains Academy – Intensive Psychiatric Residential Treatment Director of Education Josh Rolling, MAE

Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. in Rooms 13-14

This session will equip school administrators with the knowledge and tools to build trauma-informed schools that support students’ academic and emotional well-being. Participants will explore the effects of trauma on learning, understand key principles of trauma-informed care, and learn practical strategies to create a safe and supportive school environment. Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, attendees will leave with actionable steps to implement trauma-sensitive policies and foster resilience in both students and staff.

Update on the South Dakota Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway

Presenter: DSU Dean of the College of Education & Human Performance Dr. David De Jong

Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. in Room 3

The South Dakota Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway (SD TAP) launched in Fall 2023 and is designed for paraprofessionals to earn their bachelor’s degree while working full-time in a classroom in South Dakota. This pathway is designed to follow a grow-your-own-teacher program model while paraprofessionals earn while they learn. When enrolled in the pathway program, paraprofessionals become teacher apprentices while completing coursework until their degree is completed. Come ready to dive into the SD TAP data!

From Crisis to Care: Navigating Mental Health Resources and Programs in South Dakota

Presenter: Aurora Plains Academy – Intensive Psychiatric Residential Treatment Director of Education Josh Rolling, MAE

Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. in Rooms 13-14

This session will explore statewide resources, programs, and funding to support students facing behavioral and mental health challenges in South Dakota. Participants will learn about behavioral intervention programs, school-based mental health initiatives, community partnerships, and funding sources, including grants and state services. Experts will share strategies for navigating referral processes and collaborating with local mental health agencies and crisis response teams.

Communities Win with Farm to School

Presenter: S.D. DOE Child and Adult Nutrition Services Farm to School Program Specialist Janelle Peterson

Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. in Rooms 6-7

Locally sourced food benefits entire communities. Local producers see economic benefits, and kids eat food that is fresh, healthful, and better tasting. Learn about the Culinary Kit for the Classroom, developed by South Dakota’s Farm to School Program. These kits, aligned to SD content standards, offer an engaging way to teach elementary students about local foods, from seed to plate. Each 30-minute lesson includes instruction along with a kid-friendly cooking activity and taste-testing.

Teens As Teachers, Leadership and Scholarship

Presenter: S.D. Youth Foundation, Inc. Program Leader Carol Birgen

Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. in Room 2

This session will showcase Teens As Teachers, a program in which high school students are trained as teachers and mentors to elementary students in their community. Two complete curriculums are provided:  CHARACTER COUNTS! and Healthy YOUth. After teaching, teens submit an electronic portfolio and then receive scholarship for any post-secondary training they choose. Funded by the South Dakota Youth Foundation Inc and its donors, it provides real word teaching experience and leadership skills.