PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Secretary of Education Don Kirkegaard announced today he will leave his position as secretary of the South Dakota Department of Education in July.
Kirkegaard, who has served as secretary since December 2017, has accepted a position as superintendent of schools for the West Bend School District in West Bend, Wisconsin.
"I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve as secretary and to work with the dedicated team at the Department of Education," said Kirkegaard. "I have had the privilege to spend my entire career in South Dakota public education and I thank all the educators, students and parents I have worked with. I am also excited by the opportunity to work in the West Bend School District."
Gov. Dennis Daugaard praised Kirkegaard’s service as secretary.
“Don accepted this job knowing it would be for a short time, but his service has been crucial,” said the Governor. “Under Don’s leadership, the Department has moved past the Common Core standards, pushed forward pilot programs to promote CTE and apprenticeships, and advanced new graduation requirements that will enhance work-based learning opportunities. I thank Don for his service.
Kirkegaard is a native of Trent. Prior to serving as secretary, he was superintendent of the Meade County School District from 2011 to 2017, and had previously held leadership roles in the Bristol and Britton school districts. Kirkegaard also served on the State Board of Education Standards from 2006 to 2017.
Mary Stadick Smith, the department’s deputy secretary, will serve as interim secretary for the remainder of the Daugaard Administration, which will end in early January 2019. She previously served as interim secretary in December 2017.
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