NEXT STOP: THEIR OWN CLASSROOMS

    For Ann Stiegelmeier of Britton and Kelly Knebel of Langford, walking across the stage at Dakota State University commencement this spring represented much more than earning a college degree. It marked the fulfillment of longtime dreams, years of perseverance and the beginning of new chapters as classroom teachers in their home communities.
    The two area women graduated May 9 through the South Dakota Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway (SD TAP) program, which allows paraprofessionals already working in schools to continue their education while remaining employed in their local districts. Both women completed their bachelor’s degrees while balancing work, family and the demands of college coursework.
    Stiegelmeier earned a bachelor of science degree in elementary education and will teach middle school at Britton-Hecla this fall. Knebel completed degrees in elementary education and special education and will serve as Langford Area’s third-grade teacher.
    “I can’t believe that I’m finally done,” Stiegelmeier said. “It has been a phenomenal experience.”
    She said the program strengthened her time management, organization and patience while helping her better understand why educators teach children the way they do.
    “The things I’ve learned in the amount of time I’ve learned them are absolutely amazing,” she said. “I’ve got so much to take with me this fall and implement into my own classroom.”
    Stiegelmeier said one of the most rewarding parts of teaching is watching students grasp new concepts.
    “I love seeing the look on a child’s face when something clicks in their head and they put two and two together,” she said. “Their eyes just light up, and it’s a feeling you never forget.”
    Knebel described graduating through the TAP program as “a dream come true.” She said she initially began college after high school but had to step away because of health issues.
    “I’ve always felt like something was missing,” Knebel said. “Walking across the stage was as much for me to prove that I have accomplished great things as it was to show my four children never to give up on a dream.”
    Knebel said she is excited to begin the next phase of her career and establish her own classroom this fall. Adding even more meaning to the experience, her youngest daughter, Elizabeth, will be part of her first third-grade class.
    Both women consistently earned honors recognition while attending DSU.
    The SD TAP program was launched in 2023 through a collaboration between the South Dakota Board of Regents, Department of Education, Department of Labor and Regulation, Dakota State University, Northern State University and local school districts. The initiative helps paraprofessionals complete bachelor’s degrees and earn teacher certification while remaining in their home communities and schools.
    Nearly 50 participants graduated from DSU and NSU through the program this spring, bringing the total number of graduates since the program began to 118. Participants complete coursework over a two-year period while continuing to work in classrooms before finishing with a student-teaching experience.
    Gov. Larry Rhoden praised the graduates and their dedication to education. State officials have also highlighted the program’s ability to help address teacher shortages while keeping educators rooted in rural communities.
    For both Stiegelmeier and Knebel, the journey required determination and persistence, but each said the reward has made the effort worthwhile as they prepare to welcome students into their own classrooms this fall.