Meet Our Board

Board Members

Dan Fritz

President

Dan Fritz brings over 25 years of experience as an attorney, helping individuals and businesses navigate complex challenges with confidence. As the Managing Attorney of the Sioux Falls office, Dan has guided clients through everything from trust and estate disputes to personal injury cases and commercial conflicts. His career began in St. Paul, MN, where he defended doctors, hospitals, and other professionals in malpractice claims. Since moving to South Dakota, Dan’s practice has grown to include a diverse range of cases, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of legal disputes.

Beyond his legal work, Dan is deeply committed to serving his community. He is the current Board President of South Dakota Partners in Education and has held leadership roles with organizations like the Sioux Falls Catholic Schools Board, where he was a past president. He also contributes his time as a board member for East River Legal Services. Dan’s dedication to improving his community and helping others thrive is evident both in his legal practice and in his volunteer efforts.

Brian Gosch

Vice President

Brian Gosch is a South Dakota attorney and father of six. He attended both public and private schools before earning his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of South Dakota. A former member of the South Dakota House of Representatives, he served as Speaker of the House (2013–2014) and Majority Leader (2015-2016). Brian was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

Phyllis Heineman

Secretary

Phyllis Heineman is a former South Dakota state legislator who served several years as Chair of House Education and later as a Senate Appropriator. Phyllis is currently a member of South Dakota’s Board of Education Standards.

A former teacher, Phyllis believes our focus must be on student success and the measures that give children the opportunity to reach their full potential. Parents have a profound responsibility and impact on the success of their child’s education. Empowering parents to choose their child’s school, whatever that choice is, further engages them.

Tom Cink

Treasurer

Dr. Tom Cink strongly supports the mission of the SDPE and the opportunity that school choice offers to all children in South Dakota. He is presently enjoying being a retired physician. He and his wife were fortunate to have four daughters and are happy to have nine grandchildren.

Tom practiced in the Sioux Falls medical community for 37 years, with a specialty in diagnostic radiology and a subspecialty in breast cancer. He was involved in the establishment of the Breast Health Institute at Sanford Hospital and was its medical director until his retirement. He was a member of the Wellmark Blue Cross/Blueshield of Iowa and SD board of directors for 14 years.

Lisa Beacom

Lisa is a homemaker and mother of four children, all of whom graduated from private schools in Sioux Falls. She became involved with South Dakota Partners in Education because of how much she appreciated the ability to choose the education she preferred for own children and wanted to help provide the same opportunity to others.

Dustin Strande

Dustin is the Regional Director with Lightwell Advisors, where he works with faith-based schools, camps, non-profits, and churches across South and North Dakota. He is passionate about serving organizations that make a difference in their communities. Dustin loves that his work on this board helps ease the financial burden of private education for families, giving them the freedom to choose the best educational path for their children.

Although Dustin attended public school himself, his wife is a proud graduate of Sioux Falls Christian, and their three children are blessed to attend the same school, continuing the family’s tradition of faith-based education.

Al Kjenstad

Al Kjenstad serves on the Board of Directors for South Dakota Partners in Education. He is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Dacotah Bank in Aberdeen, SD.

A graduate of Northern State University and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Al began his career in public accounting before transitioning into banking. Since joining Dacotah Bank in 2013, he has held key leadership roles, including Director of Credit Risk Management, Vice President of Credit Administration, and Vice President Controller. His commitment to professional growth is evident in his completion of the University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking Financial Managers School, the Dacotah Bank Academy Leadership Program, and the Leadership Aberdeen Program.

Beyond his professional achievements, Al is deeply involved in his community, serving on multiple school, church, and community boards. He also finds joy in coaching youth sports and supporting educational initiatives. Having attended both public and private schools in South Dakota, Al values the importance of school choice and is committed to expanding educational opportunities for students across the state.

Al and his wife are proud parents of four children.

SDPE Staff

Katie Mellor

Administrator

As a career educator and parent, Katie knows firsthand the importance of guiding children to succeed. Her journey from teacher to principal to superintendent cemented her conviction in the good that can come when parents are enabled to select the school their child attends. She’s grateful that she can bring her personal values to her work as the Administrator of South Dakota Partners in Education.

Robert Satter

Executive Director

Robert Satter is a proud alumnus of the Rapid City Catholic School System and the University of South Dakota, where he earned a degree in education. He began his career as a teacher before transitioning into business, spending more than 20 years as the Executive Director of Sylvan Learning in the Phoenix, Arizona, area. From 2014 to 2022, Robert served as the Director of Development for the Rapid City Catholic School System.

In addition to his professional roles, Robert dedicated six years as Vice President of the South Dakota Partners in Education board. Committed to advancing educational opportunities for children, he is honored to now serve as the Executive Director of South Dakota Partners in Education.