Sioux Falls Superintendent Felt Welcomed during First Year

Helping an outsider get accustomed to the inside goes a long way toward a smooth transition for the Sioux Falls Public Schools.

Thirteen months into the job and Superintendent Dr. Brian Maher has been able to connect with the community of Sioux Falls and in broad terms with South Dakota. Maher gave a lot of credit to the outreach efforts of Mike Huether and Dennis Daugaard.

“Last year immediately I got contacted by the Governor’s office and the Mayor’s office here in town asking if we could meet.” Along with the regular introductions Maher became the student as the others taught. “It was, ‘This is how things work in the city and in State government.’ That wasn’t lip service. I just appreciate both of them so much (for sharing).”

Maher says the “can-do” spirit also flows through more than governmental figures, which speaks to the strong foundation for education in Sioux Falls.

“I’ve seen it time and time again. Whether from that’s from our non-profit sector helping out the school district or from our business and industry (people) who are there to help our K-12 (program). I couldn’t have been more pleased with the ecosystem that surrounds our school system.”

Not only did Maher have to learn quickly about his own district, he was also appointed to the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on education and the South Dakota High School Activities Association during his first year in Sioux Falls.

First day of classes for Sioux Falls Public Schools is September 6.

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