New Secretary of Education lays out priorities for department

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota Information Now) – South Dakota’s latest Secretary of Training has been on the job for a number of weeks, beginning because the 2023 legislative session kicked off in Pierre. There’s loads that he expects the division to get to within the coming months.

Earlier than his appointment to the secretary’s job by Gov. Kristi Noem, Joseph Graves was most lately the superintendent of the Mitchell Faculty District. Graves mentioned there’s loads that he’s nonetheless studying about his new function, however he mentioned he’s prepared for the problem to study one thing new.

“It’s very a lot totally different from the superintendency, loads of shifting components. However once more, it’s very excited with a lot of alternatives to attempt to make issues higher for college kids. I’m positive that within the coming weeks issues will settle in for me, and I’ll perceive them higher,” Graves mentioned. “The benefit has been that so most of the points, I’m very conversant in. If we wish to discuss college lunches and debt limits, and all these sorts of issues like curriculum. I’ve been steeped in that stuff for many years. I’ve acquired a particular benefit there.”

The change in surroundings doesn’t imply that his objectives have modified, he mentioned, specializing in the schooling of South Dakota’s youngsters and getting ready them for the longer term. A few of these priorities he mentioned had been rising charges of absentees from college students up to now couple of years, in addition to ensuring college students with deprived backgrounds sustain with their friends.

“That’s what we’re about. We’re about producing proficiency in children in literacy, in numeracy, in civics, science and the remainder. In order that’s at all times acquired to be the precedence.” Graves mentioned.

Graves mentioned although that he acknowledges the Division of Training is at odds with totally different educator teams within the state. The present dialogue over the most recent proposed social research requirements being a kind of points.

MORE: Educators nonetheless query proposed social research requirements after revisions

These schooling teams, together with the Faculty Directors of South Dakota and the Related Faculty Boards of South Dakota, hope that with Graves’ background in schooling that they’ll discover widespread floor when attempting to resolve these points, and have constructive discussions between themselves and the state. However they are saying they’re excited for Graves’ appointment.

“Can we air these out? Can we’ve entry to the Secretary, can we discuss options? I don’t see these altering with Dr. Graves in any respect.” ASBSD Govt Director Wade Pogany mentioned.

“We each work for the people we work for. We’re passionate for our facet of the fence. You simply do the very best to return collectively, and attempt to transfer schooling coverage and constructive issues.” SASD Govt Director Rob Monson mentioned.

For Graves’ half, he hopes that the identical shall be true.

“Hopefully the truth that we each have comparable backgrounds, and that we’ve had experiences and that we’ve labored collectively up to now. Hopefully that may switch into persevering with to work collectively as we go ahead” Graves mentioned.

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