February 20th - 24th is School Board Recognition Week in South Dakota. The Harrisburg School District celebrates the collaboration among the board, school leadership, teachers, and parents on behalf of students. “Recognizing the efforts of our volunteer school board is so important because of all the hard work they put into making our District a success,” Superintendent Tim Graf said.
“During School Board Recognition Week, we encourage public school districts to celebrate their elected leaders for their service to the students, staff and community,” ASBSD Executive Director Wade Pogany said.
The school board was presented with certificates recognizing their dedication and commitment to the students of the Harrisburg School District at the February 13th school board meeting. Over the years, the board has earned multiple awards recognizing their collective efforts to enhance their knowledge of school board work.
South Dakota school boards are critical to the success of students and the future of our State. Boards lead their districts in the right direction, providing oversight, setting goals, overseeing the budget, and selecting and evaluating the superintendent. Our school board volunteers serve for the betterment of their local schools and communities. This week, we'll get to know each a little better.
Lisa Groon
Lisa Groon is a Senior Health Systems Director at Alzheimer’s Association. She and her husband, HHS band director Jason Groon, are raising three boys - one at SMS, another at Freedom, and one “Tiger-in-training.” When Jason accepted the high school band director position in 2008, the family decided to call Harrisburg home. Having both grew up in South Dakota, Lissa says, “it’s important to me that my children see me serve my community and do challenging work. As our district grows, I’m encouraged by the way our board, administrators, and staff work together to find meaningful solutions.”
Mrs. Groon finds the most rewarding part of her four years on the school board is to watch our district “growing and leading the way in all kinds of innovative directions,” and she’s grateful to be part of that collaboration. She wants community members to know “the Harrisburg district is always looking ahead to find creative solutions that impact the greater good. Our staff and students represent the district with professionalism and determination, and I’m so honored to witness it every day.” Lisa says she’s humbled to share her role with so many servant leaders and says, “our board, administrators, and staff serve this district with their whole hearts, setting aside personal agendas so that we can collaboratively achieve success. What an honor.”