Dear South Dakota teachers and school personnel,
It’s hard to believe it’s only been two weeks that we have
been dealing with school closures in South Dakota. I’m sure it feels much
longer.
Your response has been remarkable. The vital in-person
classroom connection that approximately 10,000 educators across South Dakota
share with some 135,000 students was suddenly cut. But the need remains the
same. And now we see you establishing new kinds of connections with your
students with creativity, innovation, and courage.
From what I’ve observed over these past seven days, I’m
confident that if this virus could be beaten by your unwavering devotion to
your students and your tremendous flexibility in the face of these sudden and
unprecedented challenges, you all would have conquered it by Tuesday.
However long this crisis endures, please know that your
dedication serves as an example to all of us.
Thank you for everything you’re doing for South Dakota
students.
Benjamin F. Jones, PhD
Secretary of Education
