Secretary Melody Schopp •
Education
Dr. Melody Schopp is the Secretary of Education within Governor Daugaard’s administration. She has served as Deputy Secretary of Education as well as Director of Accreditation and Teach Quality within the Department of Education. Before joining state government, Melody worked 23 years as a teacher.
Melody grew up in Greeley, CO, but lists Lemmon, SD among her hometowns due to her 23 years teaching in the community. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Elementary Education from the University of Mary before going on to earn her PhD in Educational Studies and Higher Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Melody’s husband, Arnie, farms in Meadow, SD. Together they have two children, Heather, a chiropractor in Houston, TX, and Stephen, who serves on the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Melody is a self-described ‘technology geek.’ She also enjoys building/remodeling homes and traveling.