Compass Partners in Learning

09/04/2026

Every classroom is different. Your support should be, too.

A few weeks into the school year, you’re starting to see what your students and your team really need.

Maybe it’s finding new ways to keep students engaged, strengthening classroom routines and behavior supports, making instruction more explicit, or using student data to determine where additional support is needed.

We can help!

Through Student Centered Learning, Behavior Support, Explicit Instruction, Tiered Instruction, and other customizable services, we work alongside educators to strengthen the practices that make a difference in the
classroom.

See how we can support your classroom or team this school year: go.bhssc.org/classroom-support

09/03/2026

SAVE THE DATE: TIE27

TIE27 is coming to Sioux Falls, April 8–9, 2027!

Join educators, administrators, and changemakers for two days of connection, collaboration, and learning designed to inspire new ideas and strengthen education across our region.

📍 Canopy by Hilton Sioux Falls Downtown
🗓 April 8–9, 2027

Mark your calendar and get ready for two days of connection, inspiration, and big ideas.

More details coming soon. Stay tuned!

08/27/2026

Staff Spotlight: Connie Godfrey

“Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” – Fred Rogers

For Connie, those words reflect both the people who inspired her and the role she has built her career around. A proud product of public education, Connie credits the many teachers who supported and encouraged her with inspiring her to become an educator herself. Today, she continues that cycle by helping students and families find the support and learning opportunities that work best for them.

Connie has served as a Project Manager with Black Hills Online Learning Community (BHOLC) since 2014. Before joining the team, she spent several years teaching second grade, developing a deep appreciation for helping children learn and grow. Now, she partners with families and schools to expand access to quality online education for public school students across South Dakota.

Over the years, Connie has seen firsthand how the right learning environment can change a student’s path. One story that has stayed with her is that of a single mother of two who returned to school after dropping out. With her own determination, support from her local school, and the flexibility of online courses, she earned her high school diploma and opened new opportunities for herself and her family.

For Connie, that story is also a reminder that success looks different for every student. Sometimes it means thriving through online learning. Other times, it means recognizing that a traditional classroom is the better fit. Her goal is to meet students where they are, help them see the value of their education, and work alongside them to find a path toward success.

Outside of work, Connie’s favorite thing is spending time with family. She and her husband have two grown children and two granddaughters, along with large extended families they see often. She also lives just a block away from her 89-year-old mother and cherishes the time they can spend together.

We’re grateful for Connie’s dedication to students and families, and for the many years she has spent being one of the “helpers” who makes sure students have opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed.

08/21/2026

📚 Meet the Educators Behind Compass: Erin Bauer

Throwing it back to 2009! This photo is from Erin’s very first day of teaching, when she began her career as a 4th and 5th grade teacher.

She spent eight years in the classroom before serving five years as a school administrator, experiences that continue to shape the way she supports educators today through her work at Compass.

Her biggest piece of advice for new teachers?
“Build relationships. Give yourself grace. Ask for help. Laugh when things don’t go as planned. And remember, you’re learning, too.”

From the classroom to school leadership and now Compass, Erin has never lost sight of what matters most: supporting both students and the educators who serve them. We’re grateful to have her experience, perspective, and encouragement supporting educators, families, and communities through her work at Compass.

08/21/2026

We’re excited to partner on this upcoming event! Find event details and explore more upcoming trainings: compass.bhssc.org/trainings

Western Dakota Technical College and COMPASS Partners in Learning Invite the Rapid City Community to Explore the Future of Artificial Intelligence. Learn more: https://www.wdt.edu/corporate-education-center/short-term-classes/

08/21/2026

We had a great time in Cheyenne on August 20, spending the day with educators from Laramie County School District 1 for their conference-style professional development day at Johnson Junior High School!

Our Compass team, Brady, Stefani, Toni, and Maria, led sessions focused on practical strategies, resources, and ideas educators can take back to their schools and classrooms. Sessions included:
🔹 AI for Educators
🔹 AI for Future-Ready Classrooms
🔹 Developing a Literacy Leadership Team
🔹 Assessment and Data-Based Decision Making
🔹 Unpacking MTSS RTI
🔹 Co-Teaching
🔹 Para Toolkit: Communication
🔹 Family Engagement 101
🔹 Engaging Families in the Science of Reading

A BIG thank you to Johnson Junior High School for welcoming our Compass team and giving us the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and learn alongside educators in Cheyenne! We loved being part of such a great day of professional learning.

08/20/2026

📚 Meet the Educators Behind Compass: Billie Jo Bakeberg

Billie Jo’s teaching journey began in 1987 as a kindergarten through 3rd grade teacher in Lantry, South Dakota.

She later taught Title I reading and math, 4th grade, and spent 30 years leading an afterschool program before bringing decades of experience and passion for education to Compass.

Her biggest takeaway from her years in the classroom?

“The greatest privilege of teaching was getting to know my students, their strengths, their struggles, and their dreams, and then challenging them to become more than they thought they could be.”

Nearly four decades after stepping into her first classroom, Billie Jo still believes relationships are at the heart of great teaching. She’s even stayed connected with some of her very first students, a reminder that the impact of a caring educator can last a lifetime. We’re grateful to have her experience and heart for students guiding this work at Compass.

08/18/2026

📚 Meet the Educators Behind Compass: Sarah Leibel

Sarah’s teaching journey began in South Dakota, where she taught 2nd through 4th grade at Littleburg Elementary in Todd County.

Over the next 13 years, she taught in classrooms across South Dakota, New York, and Rhode Island, including serving as a founding 3rd grade teacher at both KIPP Academy Elementary in the Bronx and Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy. She also taught 3rd grade, self-contained middle school, and later transitioned into leadership roles as a Dean of Students, instructional coach, and principal before bringing her experience to Compass.

Her biggest takeaway from those early years of teaching:

“Give yourself some grace. Teaching is a craft, and it takes time to get good at it. Be humble, ask questions, keep learning, and never underestimate the power of building genuine relationships with your students. When kids know you care and believe in them, they’ll take risks, work hard, and grow in ways you never imagined.”

The lessons Sarah learned in those first classrooms continue to shape how she supports educators today. Her belief that every student deserves a champion and every educator deserves support is reflected in the work she does every day at Compass.

08/17/2026

Foundations of Family Engagement in Education: Enroll Now for Fall 2026
August 24, 2025 - Dec 7, 2026
Online, self-paced course hosted in Canvas
Register Now: sdsfec.org/family-engagement

Family Engagement 101: Enroll Now for Fall 2026

Our Family Engagement course explores the research behind effective family engagement and provides practical, evidence-based strategies educators can implement right away. Grounded in more than 50 years of research, participants will:

✔️ Explore the core beliefs of meaningful family engagement
✔️ Learn research-based strategies for classrooms and schools
✔️ Reflect on current family engagement practices
✔️ Develop a preliminary family engagement plan for their school or district

August 24, 2025 - Dec 7, 2026
Online, self-paced course hosted in Canvas
Register Now: sdsfec.org/family-engagement

08/13/2026

📚 Meet the Educators Behind Compass: Koreen Hammel

Koreen’s teaching career began in the classroom, where she spent 20 years helping students grow as both learners and individuals.

During those two decades, she taught Title I Reading for grades 3–8, 5th grade, 6th–8th grade reading and math, and 6th–12th grade computers and technology, with 15 years spent teaching 5th grade. Today, she brings that wealth of classroom experience to Compass, supporting schools and educators across South Dakota.

Her biggest piece of advice for new teachers?

“Don’t stress. Just be there for the kids. They need you.”

After two decades in the classroom, Koreen knows that while lessons, technology, and curriculum may change, students will always remember the educators who showed up for them. We’re grateful she continues to make that impact through her work at Compass.