Meet the candidates for Sioux Falls School Board
Four running for two seats; voters to cast ballots Tuesday.
Sioux Falls voters will elect two school board members on May 13 as debates grow over school funding and rising property taxes.
The Sioux Falls School District, which serves more than 25,000 students, approved a $342 million budget for the 2025–26 school year. The plan includes $3.1 million in cuts due to expiring federal pandemic aid and a 1.25 percent increase in state funding, below the 3 percent state benchmark.
In 2023–24, 44 percent of South Dakota students met math proficiency standards, up slightly from the year before.
At the Capitol, some lawmakers in 2025 said local governments and school districts are spending too much, driving up property taxes. They proposed limits on budget growth and assessment hikes.
Elizabeth Duffy, Nan Kelly, Patricia Ringold and Thomas Werner are running for two open seats, one of which is being vacated by outgoing board president Carly Reiter. Kelly is the incumbent.
Early voting is underway. Thirteen vote centers will be open on election day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Election locations are available at www.sf.k12.sd.us. The top two vote-getters will win a seat on the board.
Here are the candidates and their responses to The Dakota Scout’s questionnaire, listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Elizabeth Duffy
Age: 42
Profession: In-house business attorney
Past public service: I have never held or campaigned for elected office before. However, I have served the Sioux Falls community for over 16 years with my involvement in various local nonprofit organizations supporting children and families. I am currently serving as Chair for the Governing Board of LSS.
If elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your first year on the board?
First and foremost, the school board needs to make difficult decisions about budget cuts again this year. If elected, I will support a plan to responsibly balance the budget over time. In that plan, we must maintain our average class sizes and our most vital services. I would amplify the voices of all stakeholders to ensure the budget reflects our highest priorities for students and safeguards the classroom experience.
Second, the 2025 legislative session brought far too many anti-education bills, and the school board can play a bigger role in preventing these types of bills from gaining momentum. One of my top priorities will be to develop mutually beneficial relationships with our members of the state legislature. I will focus on building collaborative relationships with the legislators well ahead of session to ensure they understand the needs of the district and the responsibility they have to fund the district adequately.
Third, I will champion policies and programs that enhance our incredible community collaborations like mentoring, tutoring, participation in clubs and intramurals and college or career readiness. As a mom of two kids in the district, I understand that behavior is a challenge in many of our classrooms. However, the problems don’t start and end in the classroom, and neither do the solutions. Continuing to enhance positive experiences for kids and families outside of school hours with our schools as hubs will make a lasting impact on students, their families, and in turn, our community. As a school board member, I would support the expansion of these programs and the study of their outcomes.
What education topics are you most interested in? How could the Sioux Falls School District improve in those areas?
Well-being in our schools – mental, physical, and emotional – for students, teachers and all school district employees, should always be top of mind for school board members. The district has developed a warning system to identify when students are at risk for poor outcomes and are in the process of implementing a diversion program to get those students back on track. In addition to the warning system, a newly-formed workgroup composed of various community stakeholders will make mental health services more accessible to students and their families. As a school board member, I will support policies and programs like this that will improve both learning environments and our community as a whole.
Throughout these short months of my campaign, I have met with more than two dozen community leaders including administrators, teachers, legislators, city officials and county representatives. I have learned so much more than I could have imagined about the thoughtful, data-driven, compassionate programs and partnerships going on throughout our school district. I am proud to say Sioux Falls is uniquely inventive and generous in our attempts to support kids and families. Not only do I support enhancing existing programming and partnerships, but I would take steps to ensure the general public cannot help but hear about all the positive things happening in our schools and communities every day. Increasing public understanding increases public support, which increases positive pressure on our state legislature to provide monetary support.
Nan Kelly
Age: 50
Profession: Business development
Past Public Service: Lifescape Foundation Board, Sioux Falls School Board member, SculptureWalk, Sioux Falls Education Foundation, Emily’s Hope Foundation, Teammates mentor, Children’s Home Society, Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, Graduate of Leadership Sioux Falls
If elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your first year on the board?
I will continue to focus on student achievement, supporting teachers and fiscal responsibility at the same time, advocating for strong local control of education.
I’m concerned about national efforts to dismantle the Department of Education without a clear plan. While I believe deeply in local control, I also believe public education needs a stable framework to ensure continued funding for low income, rural and specialized education. I’ll work with local and state leaders on what matters most for public education: student learning, teacher and staff support, and community partnerships.
What education topics are you most interested in? How could the Sioux Falls School District improve in those areas?
I continue to be interested in reading and math outcomes, investing in teacher support through competitive pay and ensuring tax dollars are tied to student impact — especially as COVID-era federal funding expires.
Public education is a foundation of economic development and quality of life in Sioux Falls. Strong schools attract families, grow talent, and strengthen our community. And I believe education is the backbone to opportunity. It gives every child – regardless of background – a chance at success. Ninety percent of the children in Sioux Falls go to public school. We need to keep prioritizing public education.
Patricia (Trisha) Ringold
Age: 47
Profession: Early childhood educator
If elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your first year on the board?
The thing that is near and dear to my heart is the bullying issue. Students need a place where they feel safe to tell a teacher someone won’t leave them alone. Parents also need that same safe place, where they can advocate for their children and know their children will not face retaliation.
What education topics are you most interested in? How could the Sioux Falls School District improve in those areas?
I would like to see the school district go back to basics. We feel we need to have home economics as an elective at the very least. We also need to see cursive being taught.
Thomas Werner
Age: 49
Profession: Sanford Health lift team technician, Sanford Health volunteer Reiki Master, part-time Master instructor Dragon Spirit Martial Arts, contractor for Door Dash
Past Public Service: Full-time EMT, disaster relief, CERT Commander, Team Rubicon volunteer, Boy Scouts of America - Eagle Scout, various FEMA certifications, former candidate for SD House District 6
If elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your first year on the board?
My first-year focus will be on student safety, mental health and strengthening support for educators. With nearly 15 years of experience teaching martial arts, I’ve seen firsthand how structure, mentorship and positive reinforcement can transform young lives. My goal is to bring that same mindset into our schools by advocating for programs that build discipline, confidence and respect.
As a former full-time EMT, I’ve responded to countless emergencies and witnessed the deep challenges many families face. That experience gives me a unique lens on school safety and wellness. I will work to improve mental health resources, emergency preparedness and crisis response protocols in collaboration with local public safety professionals.
I also believe in listening first. I want to hear from students, teachers and families to understand what’s working and what’s not. Transparency, accountability and community engagement will guide every decision I make.
Additionally, I aim to support our educators with better tools, training and recognition. Teachers are at the heart of student success, and we must ensure they are respected, supported and retained.
My background in both public service and youth development gives me a grounded, service-oriented perspective. I’m committed to doing the work, building relationships, and making decisions that reflect the needs and values of our community.
What education topics are you most interested in? How could the Sioux Falls School District improve in those areas?
The education topics I care most deeply about are student safety, mental health, life skills and character development. With nearly 15 years of experience teaching martial arts, I’ve had the privilege of helping students grow in discipline, focus and emotional resilience. I believe the Sioux Falls School District can expand efforts in these areas through programs that reinforce social-emotional learning, conflict resolution and physical wellness.
As a former full-time EMT, I understand how essential school safety and crisis preparedness are. I would advocate for stronger partnerships between schools and first responders to ensure that staff and students are trained, equipped and confident in emergency situations. I also support enhancing access to counselors and implementing trauma-informed approaches that prioritize emotional well-being.
Another area I’m passionate about is preparing students for life after graduation.
Not all students will follow a traditional academic path, and that’s okay. I’d like to see continued investment in career and technical education, trades exploration and practical life skills—such as financial literacy, communication and time management.
These tools help students become capable, independent adults.
Improvement starts with listening to our educators and students. The district should regularly assess what’s working and be willing to innovate. With the right support systems in place, every student can succeed, and I’m committed to helping make that a reality.
 | A guest post by
|
While all of these candidates have some favorable qualifications and all set forth some admirable platitudes, it would be good to know how they feel about some of the controversial issues facing public education today such as: 1) vouchers that use taxpayer money to fund church schools, and 2) the diminution of the separation of church and state by groups that wish to instill religious teachings and even practices in public schools (with some professing the ultimate goal that America should be a "Christian" government with laws requiring adherence to their principles). As I, although Christian, remain a proponent of keeping church and state separate, it would be helpful to know whether any of these candidates have an agenda on either side of those issues. Iowa is already experience the problem with their new voucher program.
https://iowastartingline.com/2024/10/16/school-vouchers-impact-public/#:~:text=Johnston%20and%20Urbandale%20students%20with,make%20if%20the%20student%20stayed.