In South Dakota, a unique blend of cultural heritage and community spirit faces a daunting challenge. As the superintendent of the K-12 Crow Creek Tribal School in Stephan, South Dakota, Rob Coverdale exemplifies the state’s adaptive resilience. Upon his appointment in 2023, Coverdale was confronted with an alarming deficit: 15 unfilled teaching positions. Within just nine months, he ingeniously addressed this gap not through domestic hires, but by welcoming a cadre of skilled Filipino teachers via the H-1B visa program, a crucial lifeline for meeting specialized educational needs in rural America.
Yet, a new hurdle emerged for educational leaders across the state. As of September 19, 2023, the Trump administration introduced a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications. Intended to curb the replacement of American workers with cheaper foreign talent, this fee jeopardizes the lifeline that areas like South Dakota rely on to keep their classes filled and ready.
Rob Coverdale, explaining the necessity of H-1B hires, firmly stated, “We’ve hired the H-1B teachers because we quite simply didn’t have other applicants for those positions. So they’re certainly not taking jobs from Americans. They’re filling jobs that otherwise just simply we would not get filled.” For communities like Stephan, located nearly an hour from the nearest major shopping hub, such international educators bring a hope desperately needed in a state often juggling the demands of limited resources and vast educational needs.
The recent fee announcement, while not affecting current visa holders and allowing applications for exemptions, still threatens the delicate balance rural sectors maintain in education and healthcare. The strategic importance of filling positions in South Dakota comes at a time when one in eight public school roles remains vacant nationally, and the American Medical Association forecasts an 87,000 deficit in physicians over the coming decade.
In South Dakota, the implications of these shortages are felt acutely. Not only do schools turn to uncertified teachers and online classes as stopgap solutions, but healthcare systems also brace for increased patient wait times and decreased access to care.
The Crow Creek Tribal School’s experience with H-1B visas highlights their critical role beyond just tech. Although these visas are often associated with tech professionals from India, their contributions to other fields—such as education and healthcare—offer invaluable support to rural communities. H-1B visas facilitate long-term employment and potential residency, unlike the short-term J-1 cultural exchange visas, which lack a pathway to permanence.
Mary Joy Ponce-Torres, a 24-year teaching veteran from the Philippines now imparting history at Crow Creek, epitomizes the positive impact foreign teachers can have. Reflecting on her journey, Ponce-Torres shared, “I came from a private school. When I came here, I saw it was more like a rural area … but maybe I was also looking for the same vibe, the same atmosphere where I can just take my time, take things at a much slower pace.” Her adaptation to Stephan’s community underscores the mutual benefits of international partnerships spurred by programs like H-1B.
Rob Coverdale Speaking
At Bison Schools in Bison, South Dakota, George Shipley, the superintendent, highlighted the essential nature of H-1B visas. “It’s so important that we find permanent people, people who can buy homes, who can become part of our community,” he stressed. As rural schools grapple with higher costs, the community impact of losing such vital educational contributors is starkly evident. George Shipley affirmed, “The H-1B opens that possibility. It is super important, in my opinion, to actually transition from the J-1 visas to the H-1B.”
George Shipley
Across South Dakota’s healthcare sector, fears of physician shortages are no less pressing. With 25% of the nation’s doctors coming from international pathways, the new H-1B fee poses a potentially exacerbating threat. Allison Roberts, vice president of human resources at Prairie Lakes Healthcare System in Watertown, voiced the concerns shared by many. “If we end up not being exempt, the variation between what it is now and that $100,000 fee is going to really take your smaller, rural health care institutions out of the picture,” she remarked.
As South Dakota navigates these complex challenges, efforts to mitigate impacts on essential services through collaborative approaches continue. A cohort of healthcare providers, religious organizations, and educators have collaboratively filed a lawsuit challenging the H-1B fee. They argue it significantly hampers their operational capabilities and financial viability.
The unfolding story in South Dakota is emblematic of a broader national discourse. As legislation shapes and reshapes the contours of visa policy, local communities remain at the forefront of adapting to ensure that the fabric of their daily lives—education, healthcare, and beyond—remains robust and comprehensive.