PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) -- South Dakota State Education Secretary Melody Schopp will retire December 15.
She leaves under a cloud caused by the Gear Up Scandal. Critics accuse Schopp of not paying enough attention early-on to potential problems with the Gear Up education program.
Schopp has been at the education helm in Pierre since 2011. She has been in public education in South Dakota for 40 years. She started in the Lemmon School District, where she pioneered using the Internet in the classroom.
“It has been an honor to serve in Governor Daugaard’s administration and to work on behalf of the young people in our state,” says Secretary Schopp. “I am most proud of the work we did to increase teacher pay in South Dakota.”
Schopp was part of the effort to make teacher pay more competitive with surrounding states. The plan to increase the state sales tax by a half cent was eventually approved by the State Legislature. Average teacher pay went up over 8 percent in the first full year of the new funding plan.
She is the longest-serving Education Secretary in South Dakota history.
Governor Daugaard wishes her well.
“She has served in a difficult and high-profile job, and I’ve appreciated her leadership, from higher teacher salaries to more work-based opportunities for young people. I wish Melody the very best in the future.”