Education
EMPOWERING SOUTH DAKOTA'S FUTURE GENERATIONS
Sheryl Johnson believes that quality education is the foundation for building a strong and thriving society, especially in South Dakota’s rural and underserved communities. She recognizes that a strong, well-funded public education system is critical to the future success of South Dakota's students, its workforce, and its overall economic health. She views investment in education not as an expense, but as a necessity for fostering growth, innovation, and opportunity in the state.
With her experience in the educational setting of the state's largest high school, she has a unique understanding of the challenges teachers, students, and families face across the state. She knows that addressing the educational needs of South Dakotans is about creating policies that empower students, educators, and communities to thrive, and that the challenges we face require solutions that come from a holistic, well-resourced approach. That’s why she advocates for federal investments in education as part of a broader strategy to empower future generations and boost South Dakota’s economy.
Her education platform focuses on equitable access to resources, supporting public schools, ensuring affordable higher education, and providing strong vocational training opportunities that prepare students for the modern economy. Sheryl’s policies advocate for robust support of both K-12 and higher education institutions to bridge the gap between South Dakota’s students and their potential.
Education as a Cornerstone for Economic Prosperity
Education is intrinsically linked to economic development. By fostering a highly skilled workforce, South Dakota can attract and retain businesses, stimulate local economies, and ensure long-term prosperity for its residents. Sheryl Johnson sees education as the key to achieving this.
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Early Childhood Education: Sheryl recognizes the importance of early childhood education as the foundation for long-term academic success. Her policy supports expanding access to high-quality, affordable early childhood programs, particularly in rural areas where such services are often limited.
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K-12 Education: Sheryl is committed to ensuring South Dakota’s K-12 public schools have the resources they need to provide quality education to every student. This includes addressing teacher shortages, advocating for better pay, and ensuring that schools have modern technology and infrastructure to facilitate learning.
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Vocational and Career-Technical Education (CTE): Sheryl knows that not every student will follow a traditional college pathway, and she strongly supports vocational training and apprenticeships as pathways to high-paying, fulfilling careers. South Dakota’s rural and agricultural communities benefit from these programs, which equip young people with the skills they need for industries critical to the state’s economy.
Making Higher Education More Affordable and Accessible
One of the biggest challenges for South Dakotans pursuing higher education is the rising cost of tuition, which can lead to crippling debt for students and their families. Sheryl is a strong advocate for policies that make higher education more affordable and accessible, particularly for students from low-income families and rural communities.
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Lowering Tuition Costs: Sheryl supports increased federal and state funding for higher education institutions to lower tuition rates and reduce student loan burdens. She also advocates for expanding Pell Grants and other forms of financial aid to help more students attend college without being saddled with debt.
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Community Colleges and Technical Schools: Sheryl believes community colleges and technical schools are vital to providing affordable, quality education. She supports increased funding for these institutions, ensuring that students in South Dakota can access programs that prepare them for the workforce without taking on excessive financial burdens.
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Student Loan Forgiveness: Recognizing the burden of student debt, Sheryl advocates for targeted student loan forgiveness programs, particularly for those entering public service or working in high-need areas like rural South Dakota.
Addressing Educational Disparities in Rural and Underserved Communities
One of Sheryl's core education priorities is addressing the educational inequities that exist in South Dakota’s rural and underserved communities. Rural schools often face unique challenges, from lack of funding to difficulties attracting and retaining teachers. Sheryl is committed to addressing these disparities through targeted investments in rural education.
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Teacher Shortages: South Dakota faces significant teacher shortages, particularly in rural areas. Sheryl’s plan includes offering incentives such as loan forgiveness and higher salaries to attract and retain teachers in these high-need regions.
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Technology and Infrastructure: In today’s digital world, access to technology is crucial for education. Sheryl supports expanding broadband access in rural areas and ensuring that schools have the infrastructure necessary to integrate modern technology into the classroom.
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School Funding: Many rural and underserved schools in South Dakota operate on tight budgets, limiting their ability to provide students with the resources they need. Sheryl supports increased funding for these schools, ensuring that all students, regardless of where they live, have access to a high-quality education.
Supporting Teachers and Educators
Sheryl understands that teachers are the backbone of the education system. Unfortunately, many South Dakota teachers face low pay, high workloads, and lack of support. Sheryl’s plan includes policies that ensure teachers are compensated fairly, provided with the resources they need, and given professional development opportunities to help them grow in their careers.
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Fair Compensation for Teachers: Sheryl supports increasing teacher salaries to ensure that South Dakota can attract and retain talented educators. Higher pay will help address the teacher shortage, particularly in rural areas where attracting qualified teachers has been a persistent challenge.
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Professional Development: Sheryl believes in continuous professional development for teachers. By offering more opportunities for educators to enhance their skills and knowledge, South Dakota’s schools will be better equipped to meet the needs of their students.
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Teacher Support and Retention: In addition to better pay, Sheryl supports creating mentorship programs for new teachers, reducing administrative burdens, and ensuring that teachers have access to the mental health resources they need to manage the demands of the profession.
The Incumbent's Record: Opposition and Narrow Focus
Dusty Johnson’s voting history shows a consistent pattern of opposing federal investments in public education. Instead of advocating for increased funding for teacher pay, school infrastructure, and student resources, Dusty has diverted attention toward niche interests that do not address the core challenges faced by South Dakota’s public schools.
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Opposition to Critical Education Funding: Dusty’s votes opposing comprehensive legislation like the Build Back Better Act is a prime example of his reluctance to support federal funding for public education. The act would have expanded early childhood education and provided substantial investments in public school infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas like rural South Dakota.
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Failure to Support Teacher Pay: South Dakota consistently ranks near the bottom in teacher pay. Despite the critical need to address this issue, Dusty has not championed federal initiatives aimed at increasing teacher salaries or supporting educators in rural communities. His failure to support policies that would offer competitive wages for teachers reflects a broader pattern of failing to address the needs of South Dakota’s education system.
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Neglect of Rural Schools: Rural schools face unique challenges, including difficulty attracting qualified teachers and limited access to modern technology. Dusty's vote against the American Rescue Plan Act, which provided pandemic-related funding to improve technological infrastructure in schools, further demonstrates his lack of commitment to supporting rural education.
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Diverting Funds Away from Core Education: Our state's rich outdoors and hunting traditions are interwoven with our culture and the set-piece of our tourism industry. But Dusty's politically-motivated grandstanding that would divert critical federal education to hunting, firearms, and archery instruction comes at the expense of core academic programs like reading, math, and science. The misallocation of federal funds to niche programs ignores the urgent need for better academic resources in South Dakota’s public schools.
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Restricting Medicaid Access: While a stance on healthcare may seem separate from education, Dusty's efforts to impose work requirements for Medicaid recipients disproportionately affect low-income families, including children. Medicaid plays a critical role in ensuring that children from low-income households can access healthcare, which directly impacts their ability to succeed in school. Students who struggle with untreated health conditions are more likely to miss school, have difficulty focusing, and fall behind academically.
Federal Spending on Education: An Investment, Not an Expense
Sheryl Johnson’s education platform stands on two pillars:
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Her conviction that all South Dakotans deserve access to quality education, regardless of where they live or their economic background.
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The knowledge that, by preparing students for the workforce, improving academic performance, and closing the achievement gap in underserved communities, strong federal investment in education can drive long-term growth and prosperity.
Sheryl is committed to advocating for policies that enhance educational opportunities for all South Dakotans. Her comprehensive approach to education goes beyond just fixing immediate problems to ensure that the state’s children are well-prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. She recognizes the value in supporting teachers, improving rural schools, and investing in public education as a means of empowering future generations.
Sheryl's Vision for Education Benefits All South Dakotans
From expanding early childhood education and vocational training to making higher education more affordable and supporting teachers, Sheryl's focus on equitable access and robust funding for public schools and higher education institutions will help create a brighter, more prosperous future for South Dakota’s students and communities.
Education is the foundation upon which South Dakota’s future is built. Federal investments in schools, teachers, and students are essential to creating opportunities for growth and innovation. Sheryl is ready to fight for a stronger, more equitable education system — one that prepares students for the future and ensures that South Dakota remains competitive in a global economy.