Parker School District 60-4

Dr. Donavan G. DeBoer is an experienced educational leader with 24 years of experience in public education. Dr. DeBoer became Parker School District’s Superintendent of Schools and Elementary Principal on July 1, 2014. He leads the district’s ongoing efforts and mission of Igniting Minds of the Future by encouraging educational collaboration, reciprocating communication, and diligent teamwork.  He focuses on transformational leadership and personal growth working to inspire everyone in the school and community, while expecting academic excellence from all students, shared accountability from all staff, and pride in the community.  His belief of making sound decisions using all avenues of research with the intentions of positively influencing the students at the Parker School District sets the foundation for future success.  He has a goal for every student to have an “exceptional experience that students can look back on as positive and proud of.”

Dr. DeBoer is a graduate of Northern State University with a degree in elementary education, following graduation he got married to his wife Michelle, and took a teaching position in the Clark County School District teaching fifth grade at C.H. Decker Elementary school in Las Vegas, Nevada.  He taught middle school in Wood, SD for the Wood School District before moving to Winner, SD where he taught fifth grade for two years and coached cross country, boys’ basketball, and track.  Dr. DeBoer completed his master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of South Dakota while teaching and coaching in Winner, SD, following that he took an elementary principal position in Newell, SD.  The position in Newell quickly became an elementary principal and middle school principal combination and he remained the elementary and middle school principal for six years.  In Newell, he coached football, track, volleyball, and girls’ basketball while also acting as Title I director for the district.  In 2004, Dr. DeBoer was nominated as Rookie of the Year for the SDAESP and in 2008, DeBoer received the Community Leadership Award for the South Dakota Association of Elementary School Principals.  After six years in Newell, SD Dr. DeBoer completed his doctoral degree in Educational Administration from the University of South Dakota and moved to Rapid City, SD.  In Rapid City he went back to the classroom as an elementary physical education teacher and head girls’ basketball coach at Rapid City Stevens High School.  He was the President of the basketball coach’s association during that time, and remained in those positions for five years in Rapid City, SD. 

Dr. DeBoer was hired by the Parker School District to be Superintendent/Elementary Principal and Special Education Director.  As enrollment has grown in the Parker School District, he was able to employee multiple administrators to help the school district and is currently serving as the Superintendent and Special Education Director. 

Dr. DeBoer believes it is important to have a voice in education across the state of South Dakota and is currently serving on the executive boards for SDSSA and SASD, as well as acting secretary for the Mitchell Area Superintendent’s group, the AREA II superintendent’s group, and the South Dakota Beadle Club.

Dr. DeBoer and his wife Michelle have two children, Paityn and Jaivyn.