Titan Demographics
Superintendent Narrative
Superintendent Target
Strategic Plan
Standards of Excellence
Goals and Actions
Targets and Scoreboards
Superintendent
Curriculum & Instruction
Special Education
Frontier Elementary
Legacy Elementary
Venture Elementary
Middle School
High School
Activities Director
Business Office/HR
Technology Operations
Tea Area Schools
* Frontier Elementary (2014)(2019)
* Legacy Elementary (2003)(2014)(2022)
* Venture Elementary (2019)
* Middle School (2003)(2010)
* High School (2003)(2005)(2007)(2024)
* New Elementary Land Purchased (2021)
Enrollment
2528 students 2024-2025 school year
Stats:
*Average Growth: 5% annual growth
*56% of growth is due to incoming Kindergarten class
*Kindergarten, 2nd grade, & sixth grade are impact years.
*Projected growth is 400-600 students in the next 5 years
*Fall 2024- 2025- increase approx. 110 students; Fall 2025 projected increase 25
Average Years of Teaching Experience Last 10 years:
* 78 elementary classrooms
* 1015 more students
* Doubling the Size of the High School
* (80,000 square feet addition)
* Community has approved over $60 million in General Obligation Bonds
Formal Communication Plan
JROTC
Future Land Purchase
Elementary Expansion
Artificial Intelligence in Education
District Goal
Alignment
Student Achievement
Engaged Titans
Community
Growth & Development Planning
Building Level Action Plans
SPED & Gen Ed. Curriculum and
Instruction Partnership
EL Program Support System
Staff Services Survey
CTE Pathways 6-12
Improvement Capacity across all Dept.
Data Hardwire & System Development
Instructional PLC - core content
District Engagement SurveyAction Plans
Standards of Excellence
Employee/Titan Recognition
Leader Rounding
Growth and Development Report
CO 5 Year Plan
GF 5 Year Plan
CSI Coaching - Purpose Statement,
Goal Setting & PDSA Cycles
Living Strategic Plan
Tea Area HS 24 Expansion
Tea Area HS 2024
The strategic plan is operationalized by each building and department with actions and strategies identified on their strategic target.
In 2020, Titan faculty and staff joined the school board to develop our Standards of Excellence outlining and defining our values. We celebrate our people who live out our values and we utilize them as our core guidance for evaluation.
Good Apple
1st Qtr: Cory
Haupt & Rosalie
Evans
2nd Qtr: Sara
Hoellein & Whitney Weber
3rd Qtr: Paul
Kock & Heidi
Devlin
4th Qtr: Jaden
Yount & Mary
Beth Sutton
Duct Tape
1st Qtr: Gabrielle
Mahaney & Collin Knudson
2nd Qtr: Jim Duffy & Scott Binde
3rd Qtr: Abby
Gullickson & Allie Johnson
4th Qtr: Ali
Hartman & Lori Phelps
Coffee Cup
1st Qtr: Aly Collins & Tamera Adkins
2nd Qtr: Rebecca
Wipf & Alexus
Foster
3rd Qtr: Mickeala
Ruddy & Sylvia
Fowlds
4th Qtr: Courtney
Burrack & Regina Tusken
Pin the Idea
1st Qtr: Leah
Falkingham & Taylor Sickler
2nd Qtr: Carley Shockman & Hannah Fields
3rd Qtr: Mary Jo
Jouwstra & Cassie Sabers
4th Qtr: Jessica Henderson & Brittney Nelson
Teacher of the Year & Employee of the Year
Nominees for Teacher of the Year
Allyson Wegleitner, Amanda Pickett, Amy Lynch, Brenda Whitehead, Carley Shockman, Crystal Groeneweg, Elizabeth Qualseth, Elyssa Houtsma, Gabrielle Mahaney, Jessa Hansen, Katie Weihe, Lynsey Hoines, Miranda Olsen, Paige Thompson, Rachel Risse, Samantha Kinder, Stephanie Van De Walle, Stephanie Russett, Sydney Reedy, Tamera Adkins, and Whitney Downs.
Nominees for Employee of the Year
Angela Achtenberg, Beth Baker, Karen Korver, Mallory Scheidegger, Mike Golter, and Vicki TerHark. 24-25 Employee of the Year: ?
24-25 Teacher of the Year: Crystal Groeneweg
Math (continued)
Goal
Tea Area’s students have the highest percentage of proficient students in our conference or show growth.
Key Action:
Math Team book studyMathematical Mindsets
MS/HS Common Assessment
Guide Development
MS/HS Proficiency Data Dashboard transition from pilot to hardwired (Student goal is 80% or higher on unit assessments)
Students’ IEP goals are written to close skill gaps for students with mild to moderate disabilities as they pursue achieving the elementary or middle/high school general education goal. Student Learning Journals JK-12
Reading
Annual Data Review
Tea Area’s students have the highest percentage of proficient students in our conference or show growth
Implementing Strategic Targets in all buildings, focusing on Instructional PLC and student Goal Setting supported by PDSA Cycles of Improvement Foundation in SOR (Science of Reading)
A phonics continuum utilizing Vowac is developed and provided for each student from JK-5.
JK, K, and 1st grade utilize ESGI Data Dashboard Teachers learn and share best practices as identified by common assessments within the curriculum.
Results
Reading (continued)
Goal
Tea Area’s students have the highest percentage of proficient students in our conference or show growth.
Key Action:
MS/HS use curriculum
Common Assessments supported by Data Dashboard (Student goal is 80% or higher on unit assessments)
Students’ IEP goals are written to close skill gaps for students with mild to moderate disabilities as they pursue achieving the elementary or middle/high school general education goal.
Student Learning Journals JK-12
Special Education
Department utilize Reading Resource Guide
Science Data Goal Setting
Tea Area’s students have the highest percentage of proficient students in our conference or show growth.
Implementing Strategic Targets in all buildings, focusing on Instructional PLC and student Goal Setting supported by PDSA Cycles of Improvement. The Elementary Science Pacing Guide and hardwired training of PTLW.
MS/HS use curriculum Common Assessments supported by Data Dashboard (Student goal is 80% or higher on unit assessments)
Results
Employee Experience
Annual Data Review
Goal
Tea Area Employees; Engagement
Experience is in the 80th percentile or higher as measured by an annual independent survey.
Each building or department has a team who leads the roll-out of results and executes the action plan.
All Employees engage in scheduled rounds (Connect, Needs for Success, Gratitude Min: New Teacher & New Employees (30, 90, & Spring); 2nd Year Employee (Quarter 1; 2nd Semester); 3rd Year+ Employee (1 per semester)
Parent/ Caregiver
Engagement
Experience
District Scoreboard
Student Engagement
Experience
District Scoreboard
Tea Area
Parent/Caregiver Engagement
Experience is in the 80th percentile or higher as measured by an annual independent survey MS/HSadjusted goal see their scoreboard
Tea Area Student Engagement
Experience is in the 80th percentile or higher as measured by an annual independent survey.
Each building has a team that leads the roll-out of results and executes an action plan.
Each building has a team that leads the roll-out of results and executes an action plan.
Tea Area
Schools are key to workforce development Students graduating is key to the sustainability of the community
District Scoreboard
Goal
100% Graduation rate
MS and HS principals and the counseling team meet weekly, and they are identified as the student success team
MS and HS teams create pathways to graduation within career clusters.
MS Hire Student Success coach through Title 1 dollars to connect from Frontier (schoolwide) through high school entrance Elementary teams implement PBIS strategies. Elementary teams focus on data to improve proficiency, as outlined in the above goals.
Tea Area’s enrollment projection is accurate to keep pace with the community’s growth and the needs of our children/ youth.
District Scoreboard
90% or greater enrollment accuracy
Hardwired Growth and Development of Student Projections and annual reports.
Tea Area provides top-of-theline facilities and grounds for all Titans. Enhancing pride and balancing debt through financial planning
Finance
Goal
General Fund- see scoreboard scale for goal.
Capital Outlay Fund- see scoreboard scale for goal. Special Education Fund- see scoreboard scale for goal
Tax Levy Report
Annual update and report to Board- 5 Year General Fund Plan- Goal within scoreboard
Annual update and report to Board- 5-Year Capital Outlay Plan- Goal within scoreboard
Annual update and report to the Board- Special Education- Goal within scoreboard
Annual update and report to the Board- Goal within scoreboard
High School
Tea Area High School
Coming summer 2025 w/JK-12 Performing Arts Center
Tea Area High School capacity 1000 Possible 2nd floor completion
Middle School
Tea Area Middle School 6th - 8th capacity 700-725
Tea Area Middle School 7th - 8th capacity 700-725
Tea Area High School capacity 1200-1500 2nd floor completed
(2) Tea Area Middle School 6th - 8th capacity 700-725 capacity 700-800
Land Purchase Needed Bond approval needed Spring 2033
Intermediate
Elementary 1.5 diameter service
Frontier Elementary Jk-5th (425-460)
Legacy Elementary Jk-5th (700-736)
Venture Elementary Jk-5th (625-670)
Tea Area Legacy Intermediate 5th - 6th capacity 700-725
Frontier Elementary Jk-4th (425-460)
N. Main Elementary Jk-4th (625-670)
District owns land. Bond approval needed Dec 2026 or 2027
Venture Elementary Jk-4th (625-670)
Frontier Elementary Jk-5th (425-460)
Legacy Elementary Jk-5th (700-736)
N. Main Elementary Jk-5th (625-670)
Venture Elementary Jk-5th (625-670)
The scoreboard measures each building and departments’ growth and achievement on the pillars of the strategic plan.
Student Achievement-
Focus on alignment of instructional practices across Tea Area using Continuous School Improvement Tools and Strategies
Elementary Action:
3-Year Summative Data Trend Review
Mathematical Mindsets Book Study
Student Learning Journals
Middle School Action:
Fidelity of Curriculum in ELA
Purposeful integration of bell ringers
Targeted Assessment Review supported by CSI Coaches.
High School Action:
Principal Assessment Goals
Review Content by Teachers
Purposeful Test- Taking Strategy Work
Looking forward to ACT Transition
CTE and CTSO Success
How to measure program success through IEP goal progress, possibly add to scoreboard Add Special Education information/page to District Website
How to consistently implement accommodationsto meet student needs in the classroom & on State Assessments
System for grading-review elementary standards based, MS consistency in grading
High quality specialized programs which provide students with specific, targeted instruction to meet their individualized needs. (Student Achievement, Growth Management, Engaged Titans, Community)
Math Resources Guide - Common assessments, similar instructional routines including progress monitoring supports MS & HS Titan Learning Room supports integrated within Resource Programs Program Profiles (develop a public product, resource and early childhood profiles)
Student Learning Journals
Life Skills & Autism Programs: Continuum of skills & curriculum/resources development
Special Education HUB
Leader Rounding (Talks w/Taylor)
SpEd Leadership Team Projects based on District Goals
Reading Resource Guide
Special Education budget management & projections (5-year-plan)
Special Education Scoreboard
TASD Specialized SpEd Programs
Early Childhood- Developmental Preschool, Autism Preschool Program
Elementary- Resource, Life Skills, Titan Learning Room, Autism Program
Middle & High School- Resource, Life Skills, Special Education Counselor
Seeing positive results on the Scoreboard based on the Strategic Target action items.
32% of TASD Students With Disabilities (SWD) scored proficient or higher in Math (State Average = 17%, Highest in Region = 34%)
28% of TASD SWD scored proficient or higher in Reading (State
Average = 17%, Highest in Region = 34%)
29% of TASD SWD scored proficient or higher in Science (State Average = 15%, Highest in Region = 31%)
Exiters from special education programming continues to be high at about 50 this school year (includes graduates, completers, and dismissals)
Engaged Titans
Special Education Staff Engagement Survey
Increasing satisfaction in special education staff
State Special Education Parent Involvement Survey Overall
94% satisfaction and continues to increase
Student Learning Journals & Purpose Statements
Kids knowing IEP goals/accommodations
Kids becoming self-advocates
Kids motivated to reach goals to exit IEP
Kids attending IEP meetings and/or giving input into their IEPs
Continuing Success and Collaboration between programs and across buildings…why?
Staff living our Standards Of Excellence daily
Building trust through our DISC work
Flexibility and willingness to jump in whenever/wherever
Consistency in staff year to year
School districts come and observe our special education programs
Parents reach out to inquire about our special education programs and some move here because of our programs, parents and other organizations recommending TASD
Students working in the community through Project Skills Internships and celebrated Week of Work
Students feel a positive impact and sense of belonging
Best Buddies Program
Autism Acceptance Walk-students, staff, and community members joined World Down Syndrome Day Rock Your Socks!
Community- Finance & Growth Management & Overall Score
Frontier focuses on student engagement & purposeful recognition: Celebrated student achievement with creative classroom incentives, including a first-grade shoe signing and pancake parties. Positive attendance was recognized through Titan and Hero beads used to build backpack chains.
Quarterly Titan Token Bashes celebrated positive behavior with themed events such as a winter beach party, movie, dance party, and activities with TASD high school athletes.
Family Engagement
Monthly events brought families into the school community, including:
Playground picnic, cookie decorating, movie night, board games, BINGO, and a potluck.
Support for Learning
Every student received a fun and educational summer learning kit to extend learning beyond the school year.
Students participated in enrichment experiences, including a visit from the Great Plains ZooMobile to learn about animal science.
Legacy Team Building
Fact Fluency
Enrichment and Critical
Thinking Opportunities
Parent/Guardian Academic
Engagement Opportunities
USD Health/Science Connection
ELA Data Dashboard
ELA Curriculum Review
Preparation to Implement SDSSS
Balanced Counseling
Check In-Check Out
GOLD Social Skills
District Goal Alignment
Academic Leaders
GOLD Titans
Connected Learning Community
Mathematical Mindsets book study
Civic and Community Engagement
Student Academic Recognition
Student Council
Teacher Leadership Teams
Systematic Lit Instruction/SOR
Power Words (K-1)
Whole Group Phonics (4/5)
EL Program Support System
Legacy School-wide calendar
Communication Hub
Employee Recognition Leader Rounding
Teacher-led Instructional PLCs
Systematic Reading
Instruction/SOR
Whole Group Phonics (K-3)
Reading Intervention
Reading Interventions
PLTW/STEM
CSI Strategies and PDSA
Student Goal Setting
PDSA Math Dashboard
Engaged Titans-
Student Leadership:
Legacy’s Student Council enhanced the playground with soccer and volleyball options and initiated a welcoming program for substitute teachers with drinks, snacks, and handwritten notes.
Student Voice & Citizenship:
Fifth-grade students gave input leading to a revised GOLD coin incentive system and took initiative to improve school cleanliness, including requesting a trash can for the upper playground.
Family Engagement:
Staff prioritized communication with families through regular positive messages and photos, strengthening home-school connections and increasing parent engagement.
Community Connections-
Legacy deepened community partnerships through field trips, guest speakers, and hands-on experiences that connected classroom learning to the real world.
Career Exploration & Real-World Learning: Frontier French fur trade reenactment, STEM challenges, PLTW modules, and Lego Robotics
Junior Achievement volunteers
5th-grade students toured DeGeest Corporation, linking industry to classroom learning
Community Engagement Experiences:
Visits from the ZooMobile, petting zoos, and SD Department of Transportation
Girls on the Run empowered 3rd–5th grade girls with support from parent and teacher-coaches
Character & Inclusion Focus:
Kindness Challenges encouraged acts of kindness, celebrated at a schoolwide Kindness Assembly
Students led ongoing efforts to include all peers and promote a culture of kindness, highlighted by the celebration of World Down Syndrome Day
ELA curriculum review
ELA Data Dashboard
Preparation to implement
SD SS standards
District Goal Alignment
Culture of Relationships
Instructional Excellence
Watch D O G S Program
Discipline Referral Process
Systematic Literacy Instruction/SoR
Teacher Led Instructional PLCs
Mathematical Mindsets book study
EL Program Support System
Systems for Reading Intervention
Systems for Math Intervention
Math-Data Dashboard in classrooms
CSI Strategies (PDSA Cycles/Student
Goal Setting) in Classrooms
Leader Rounding
Instructional PLCs
Systematic Literacy Program/SoR
Math, ELA, SS elementary committees
Character trait
development/recognition
Titans Bucks/Store
Increase Feedback to staff outside of formal feedback provided through Frontline - a hard copy form was created and used that contains observable strengths, growth opportunities, and potential collaboration opportunities. Classroom teachers increased classroom communication to families with newsletters and positive notes home.
Venture Walk of Fame (Our version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame) - students recognized on Fridays with their own star by their teacher for anything they may have done great that week. They got a star to add to the Walk of Fame throughout Venture.
Pictured: Watch D.O.G.S. - volunteer program every Wednesday
Junior Achievement - led by parent volunteers instructing the lessons
Girls on the Run - 3rd-5th grade girls participate and is led by parent volunteers
DeGeest Corporation - 5th grade tours and connects it with our PLTW modules
Maka’s Taekwondo - 3rd grade visited to learn about physical and mental benefits of exercise
Chicks in the Classroom - 1st Grade
Autism Walk - community members were invited to join in with students for a 30 minute walk during Autism Awareness month in April
Pictured: Kindness Assembly/World Down Syndrome Day - Staff and Students all wore mismatched socks
Activity Involvement
Student Connection
Financial Literacy
Artificial Intelligence
Student-led Conferences
Instructional PLCs
District Goal Alignment
Student Achievement
Engaged Titans
Community
Growth & Development
Planning
Data Dashboard & Common
Assessments
MS Success Coach
EL Program
Leadership & Teacher Development
PDSA Cycles
Learning Walks
Hope Squad
Building Culture
Student & Teacher Recognition
Character Development
I
Strong Instructional Strategies
Student Portfolios
Goal Setting
Leader Rounding
High School Academic Alignment
Community- Finance & Growth Management- Overall Score
Titans-
Our Middle School focused purposefully on engaging our Titans in our state, city, and school community
Quarterly Incentive Days
Celebrating students who demonstrated our standards of excellence
Titan P.R.I.D.E
Monthly student recognition for students who showcase Performance, Respect, Integrity, Determination, and Excellence in the areas of Fine Arts, Athletics, Character, and Academics
Hope Squad
Students supporting each other Student Portfolio and Student-led Conferences
Students set and tracked academic goals throughout the year, including NWEA and SD Assessment. Students shared their portfolios at spring conferences with parents/guardians.
Monday Morning Check-in with staff
“Mondays in the Middle” connect staff with admin FFA
Middle School students have the opportunity to participate in FFA events
Titan Hour
Direct and scheduled student support and assistance to complete assignments.
Exploring
Welding Expansion
Alternative Education Planning
JROTC Air Force
Arts AV
Activity Expansion: Tennis, Baseball, Performing Arts, best Buddies
Developing
School Store
STEAM Lab
District Goal Alignment
Student Achievement
Growth & Development Planning
Engaged Titans
Community
Performing Arts Enhancement: Drama and Debate Coursework, PAC planning/coordinating
Health Careers on Campus
Core Instructional PLCs
Common Assessment Development and
Classroom Data Dashboard
Implementing
College Career Readiness Career Days
Dual Credit
Pre-ACT/9
HS 10 Year Plan
Hope Squad
HS 2024 Plan
The High School’s Strategic Target is measured on the High School’s scoreboard.
Engaged Titans
Leader Rounding
Just Do It Actions
Common theme: staff work well together & help each other out
Positive Recognition BOLT (Behold and Observe a Loyal Titans)
Weekly newsletter shoutouts
Positive contact home Connection
Weekly support team meetings with action items identified to support at-risk students
Student Engagement: 2023-2024: 3.57
2024-2025: 3.87
Parent Engagement: 2023-2024: 3.81
2024-2025: 3.86
Employee Engagement: 2023-2024: 4.02
2024-2025: 4.06
Community
Hope Squad: Tea Area Hope Squad wrapped up it’s second year with 21 members. The group spent the year learning the curriculum. The culminating event, Hope Week, was April 28-May 2 - TAHS Hope Week. Best Buddies: The TAHS Best Buddies chapter finished the year with 40 members. The group did many activities including elementary tours, a graduation party, and plans to wrap up the year with a Friendship Walk. All staff, students, and board members are welcome to attend!
Week of Work: On March 27th, 35 business leaders from around the area presented their careers to the high school students. Topics presented included education required, skills needed, a typical day on the job, and pay. Students were able to sign up in advance for the career they wanted to learn about.
Projected Graduation Rate:
2023-2024: 97.99%
2024-2025: 96.55%
Attendance Rate:
2023-2024: 91.2%
2024-2025: 94.4%
Student Involvement Rate:
2023-2024: 76.1%
2024-2025: 83.7%
Activity Expansion: Tennis,
Baseball, Performing Arts,
Best Buddies
JROTC Air Force
District Goal Alignment
Engaged Titans
High School Expansion - Activity Focus
Interactive Video Board for activity records in HS Commons
PAC planning/coordinating
Upgrading gym audio systems
Legacy Wall
New video board at Titan Stadium
Activity Participation Numbers
Cashless ticketing
Bound: Scheduling, tickets, rosters, etc
Activity Sections in Athletic Hallway “The Titan ‘Coaching’ Way”
Esports Program
ESD Conference in Class AA
Addition of TAHS Aux Gym
Updating partnership contracts
Add additional MS track coach
The High School’s Strategic Target is measured on the High School’s scoreboard.
2nd year of Esports Program
State Runner-up (Super Smash Brothers)
State 3rd place (League of Legends)
State 4th place team overall
Auxiliary Gym/Wrestling Room up and running
First full year in AA giving students the best opportunities for competition
Updated Sanford Agreement and added 2nd trainer at no cost to the district
Credit Card Option - Ticketing, Concessions, and Fees
Implementation of Bound (scheduling, ticketing, & roste s)
New video board at Titan Stadium (Paid through ads)
Gym Audio System Upgrades
Addition of MS Track Coach
PAC Coordinator position is filled for next year.
Legacy Wall Collaboration
PAC Policy and Procedures
Telling
Fees and camps paid online
Annual Report to
Community
E-Ticketing for Athletic
Events
Business Office/HR
Procedure Instructions
Student Teacher
Recruitment/Stipend
Next Bond Issuance
AA Transition
Alignment
Student Achievement
Finance Growth & Development
Planning
Engaged Titans Community
Building/Construction Plan
Equipment/Vehicle Replacement Plan
Carpet/Furniture Replacement Plan
Business Office Paperless
TASK/Sprouts fees paid online
Credit Card payments Gate/Concession
Short Term Disab Staff
HR Onboarding Software change
Building Level Budget Process
Online Purchase
Requisitions/Weblink
K-12 Docs
ACH Payments to Vendors
HS Expansion Project
5-Year General Fund Plan
5-Year Capital Outlay Plan
New timeclock kiosks and updated software
Screen mirroring for teachers
District Goal Alignment
Hardware and Software
Standardization and Sustainability
Internal Technology Processes
Bitlocker
MFA, Multi Factor Authentication practices
District Website and App
Titan Technology ‘hub‘ Staff
Student Registration
Yearly Staff
Cybersecurity/Safety training
Windows 11
Help Desk Software
Titan Admin Assistant Protocol ‘hub‘
Phone System
LAPS
New ticketing system
Technology team dle school to support chromebo
Multifactor Authentication
374 staff accounts
321 MFA enabled
100% Goal Completion October 15, 2025
New Phone System
Transitioned to ‘room’ accounts
Approx. cost savings $20,000
Computer time-out settings
Timeout decreased to one hour
Classified pay for performance
Student Achievement
Engaged Titans
Community
Finance & Growth Management
Formal Custodial Safety Program
Developing facility replacement
schedules for major equipment/facility repairs
Recruiting techniques for classified
Staff accountability for all operations
Staff transition planning
Leadership training for successor planning (ET)
Building efficiencies
Various $/sq ft
cost comparisons
Vehicle efficiencies
Entry level driver training for new bus drivers
Long range planning- all phases
Manpower success-combine bus driver/custodial positions
Maintenance schedules on vehicles
Site security enforcement
Building project tax Incentives (FGM)
Utility Use tracking by facility (FGM)
Custodial/Maintena
Purchasing cust on
Completed Vent rage addition
Added maintena ntenance truck
Installed new do
Planning roof re and the Legacy and DEC gyms
Installing AC in t
Grounds
Ordered an addi
Replacing sports roved
Numerous fenci oved
Designing a bus de Moved discus th lds
Long Range Plannin
MS land purcha
468th Avenue in ed with township
New elementary Projects for 7.5 M are being planned for nex
HS scheduled to chool fall 2025
