First Day

My youngest daughter Amelia started her first day of kindergarten today. Obviously, I have a mixture of emotions. From sadness at the thought of my baby growing older to pride in watching her confidently stride into school — one last hug more for me than her.

But I am also thankful to know the school she will attend every day and our school systems all across South Dakota are strong.

Part of what inspired me to run for the state legislature in 2012 was the lack of attention dedicated to our school systems. To be blunt, after teaching high school science for 10 years, I had heard enough about education policy from a bunch of folks with no experience in education.

When I got to the state house, I understood that if I hoped to get anything done, I would need to work with those on the other side of the aisle. Democrats are a little bit like an endangered species in Pierre but I wasn’t deterred by the numbers or the odds. I believed in what I was fighting for and determined to make it happen.

I did my best to develop relationships one conversation, one person at a time. And eventually, conversations that were non-starters at the beginning of my legislative career began to be taken seriously at the end of it. Appointed to the Blue Ribbon Task Force, I worked with Democrats and Republicans to develop the framework for one of the largest overhauls in education policy in South Dakota history.

After decades of debate, years of conversations, months of studies, and some last minute legislative wrangling — we did the politically impossible. We elevated South Dakota out of last place in teacher pay and made our schools stronger.

I am not naive to the problems that face us in Washington. Special interests reign supreme and the spirit of compromise seems non-existent but I don’t think that’s a reason to give up or give in. I spent my entire legislative career learning how to work from a position of weakness to create relationships of strength. I did it in Pierre where Republicans outnumber Democrats 4 to 1. And I will do it again in Congress where almost every other state outnumbers our one lone voice.

Today, I know my daughter is in good hands, but I worry about her future and the challenges we have to overcome to ensure her and all children the American dream.

At the same time, I am not deterred, just determined. I know what I’m fighting for.