• Worked closely with South Dakota Department of Education to determine the best possible ways to distribute and train school districts on school improvement and ESEA mandates. 

• Work with districts in the areas of school improvement and piloting a new systemic collaborative process for the schools in priority and focus status for making instructional decisions based on their data. 

• Working with the South Dakota Department of Education’s Special Education office to develop a results-based process rather than compliance-based. 

• Working to help offer support, models, strategies and resources for administrators to move their districts/schools toward Mass Customized Learning, including developing and instructing online classes.

• Grant Writing: Local, State, Federal 


• Grant Management: Local, State, Federal 


• Development work for six divisions of BHSSC: TIE, Developmental Disabilities, Economic Development, Education and Workforce/CLC, Human Services. 


• Development Coordinator for State of Wyoming Professional Development Assessment Grant: responsible for managing all areas of grant including logistics, budget, training, communication, national speakers, national conferences. Work closely with Wyoming Department of Education, Wyoming Assessment Consortium and Lander School District. 


• State of South Dakota Professional Development Contracts: responsible for managing all areas of contracts including logistics, budget, assigning and managing education consultants to contracts, and internal and external training of consultants. 


• ESA (Educational Service Agency): Worked closely with South Dakota Department of Education to determine the best possible ways to distribute and train school districts on school improvement and NCLB mandates. Work with districts in the areas of school improvement, federal mandates for ESEA, professional development planning, technology integration, curriculum development and planning, and research-based instructional strategies.

Ms. Laughlin has extensive experience in community and family engagement. She served as the Project Coordinator and Project Director for the South Dakota Parent Information and Resource Center from 2003-2013. She has continued to work in the field of family engagement working with Title I focus and priority schools. Over the years she has designed a wide variety of print and training resources for educator and families all focused on improving student achievement through family engagement. Ms. Laughlin has designed course work for educators in the area of family and community engagement based upon the US Department of Education’s Framework for Family and Community Engagement.

Ms. Smith is a Title I Education Program Specialist at the South Dakota Department of Education with a specialization in family and community engagement. Dawn has provided support for Title I Part A and worked at the department for over 14 years. Prior to working at the department she was a middle school teacher. Dawn's true passion is supporting educators to enhance their experiences when working with families and communities. She is interested in helping educators and families to develop partnerships that will support students and help create positive experiences.