Gov. Rhoden appoints Dr. Tonia Warzecha and Greg Von Wald to the Board of Education Standards

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Larry Rhoden announced the appointment of Dr. Tonia Warzecha and Greg Von Wald to the South Dakota Board of Education Standards.

“Our students are the future of our state, and they deserve the very best education to get into the career of their dreams,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “Dr. Tonia Warzecha and Greg Von Wald will be tremendous additions to the Board of Education Standards, and they will continue to help set our students up for success.”

Dr. Tonia Warzecha is an experienced educational leader, spending more than 25 years of her career in education and over a decade in district and building-level leadership roles. She currently serves as Superintendent of the Dakota Valley School District. Prior to this role, Dr. Warzecha was the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for the Tea Area School District, overseeing curriculum development, assessment systems, and federal programs. In 2021, she was recognized as South Dakota’s Curriculum Leader of the Year. Dr. Warzecha has also served in a leadership role for the Area II Superintendents’ Group and serves on several statewide education advisory boards.

“I am deeply honored by Governor Rhoden’s appointment to the South Dakota Board of Education Standards,” said Dr. Tonia Warzecha. “This is a responsibility that I will approach with a commitment to high-quality education, fairness, and careful stewardship of our students’ futures. I look forward to working collaboratively to uphold and strengthen South Dakota standards in a way that serves all learners and communities across our state.”

Dr. Warzecha holds a Doctor of Education and Specialist in Educational Administration from the University of South Dakota. 

Greg Von Wald is the former President of Mitchell Technical Institute (MTI). He led the college through unprecedented growth, overseeing an enrollment increase of nearly 60%. Prior to his appointment at MTI, he served as CEO and General Manager of Golden West Technologies and Internet Solutions and CEO and owner of a telecommunications company in Aberdeen. Von Wald also has military leadership experience, having served as the head of the Operational Development Team and Faculty Member at the Marine Corps University. He was selected as part of the team that developed and implemented the Marine offensive plan during Operation Desert Storm.