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Office of the Governor
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501
(605) 773-3212
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, April 9, 2008
CONTACT: Mitch Krebs or Roxy Everson at (605) 773-3212
Gov. Rounds appoints Phelps to state Board of Education
PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Mike Rounds today announced the appointment of Stacy Phelps of Rapid City to the South Dakota Board of Education.
“I am pleased to appoint Stacy Phelps to the South Dakota Board of Education,” said Gov. Rounds. “Stacy brings the experience of developing and operating successful middle and high school academic programs focused on increasing student interest and awareness in science, technology, engineering, and math career areas. He also serves as Department Chair at Oglala Lakota College (OLC) on the Pine Ridge Reservation and has developed extensive STEM-based (Science Technology Engineering and Math) programs at the college level.”
Stacy Phelps is a graduate of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology with a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters in Educational Technology from Dakota State University. He is near completion of a second Masters in Educational Leadership from Oglala Lakota College and an Educational Doctorate in Adult and Higher Education from The University of South Dakota.
In 1992, as an undergraduate student, he initiated a pre-college enrichment program to focus on increasing the number of Native American students who enter college. Today, SD GEAR UP, an expanded program, targets 1100 students per year in grades 6-12 for college awareness and preparation.
In 1996, he began working at OLC and has expanded the infrastructure, capacity, and focus on STEM for students in rural, higher education settings. Through his work, OLC serves as a national leader in STEM for tribal colleges and universities. Stacy has been involved in several efforts focused on creating articulated pathways and partnerships that move students from K-12 educational systems through tribal colleges and on to state regental institutions.
The appointment will begin immediately. The position was previously held by Clint Waara.
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