Stavem stepping down: ‘Today is a really hard day’

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – The Sioux Falls School Board will soon start the process of finding a new superintendent. Friday afternoon, current superintendent Jane Stavem announced she will be resigning her position at the end of the school year .

Stavem took over as superintendent of the Sioux Falls School District in 2020 with more than 30 years of education work on her resume.

“Our ability to educate children with a free and appropriate education is a gift this country has had for many many years and we want to make sure that stays a very very strong part of our fabric,” Stavem said in 2020.

Now, she’s stepping away from her role as superintendent.

“Today is a really hard day for me because, it’s a good decision, but it’s one that’s made with a lot of intention and a lot of sadness because it’s been such a great place to be,” Stavem said.

She says there’s no one event that led to this decision.

“At some point, you have to make that decision in your career when you get to this phase of if you’re going to move on,” Stavem said. “I’m looking forward to the next chapter. I hope to continue to do something related to education but maybe not with the same intensity that is required in this role.”

As for the next chapter for the Sioux Falls School District, school board president Carly Reiter says the board will begin the process of finding Stavem’s successor in the coming months.

“We’re very well-versed in searches, unfortunately, between the school district and also Southeast Tech having just finished one,” Reiter said. “So, I feel very confident that, as a board, we will work together and kind of see the big picture and know what does our district need.”

Reiter says the school board hasn’t had any discussions yet about the search for a new superintendent, but the district won’t rule anything out in terms of considering internal candidates or doing a nationwide search.

Stavem’s last day as superintendent will be July 1st.

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