Marie Ivers Chosen Special Education Director of The Year

Marie Ivers (Vipond), an MHS graduate, has been selected as the Outstanding Special Education Director for 2022 by the South Dakota Council of Administrators of Special Education. Ivers, who is in her first year as an administrator in the Milbank School District, is celebrating her 30th year in education. 

Prior to coming to Milbank, she was the Director of Special Education for Flandreau, Colman-Egan, Oldham-Ramona, and Rutland schools for 14 years. She was nominated collectively by her former superintendents for this award.

Before moving to the Flandreau School District, Ivers was a speech therapist in hospitals and schools in Brookings for 16 years..

According to Ivers, her duties in Milbank encompass the areas of special education and all federal title programs including English language learners, migrants, Title math and reading, homeless and foster care, Title IX, and Section 504, which involves equal accessibility.

“I have many more responsibilities in my capacity as the special services director here in Milbank,” she explains. “I only work in one district now, so I have much less travel time and much more staff, parent, and student interaction time.” 

Regardless of where she is, she says, “I pride myself on being an advocate for others. I use my years of personal and professional experience to explore doors of opportunity for students and their families.”

“Although I love seeing academic, communicative, and behavioral progress with all age-levels,” she says, “I’m particularly pleased when our young adults find success with employment, social interaction, and independence after hard work and training.  This leads them into successful, happy, and productive lives beyond school.”

Submitted Photo: Marie Ivers, receiving her award with South Dakota’s secretary of Education, Joe Graves.