Dr. Melody Schopp

Board Member

Dr. Melody Schopp serves as the Director of Education Industry Consulting at the SAS Institute, supporting the Education Practice to empower education leaders and states to use analytics to improve student outcomes.

Melody was the Secretary of Education in the State of South Dakota for seven years where she served on Governor Daugaard’s cabinet. She championed a significant increase in teacher salaries statewide with bi-partisan support. This was following a decade of opportunity in the Department of Education in various roles and divisions. Twenty-four years of classroom experience and six years on a school board have rounded out her passion as a lifelong educator.

Prior to joining SAS, Melody had an Education Consulting firm for three years and supported clients across the country on numerous K12 issues. She continues to be engaged in national and international education issues and recently traveled to Kyrgyzstan through the US Embassy to support the Minister of Education’s Task Force as they look to expand student opportunities.

Dr. Schopp served on several national boards and was president of the Council of Chief State School Officers. She was also the treasurer of Education Commission of the States and on the board of directors of Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG).

Schopp has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in elementary education, and a PhD from the University of Lincoln, Nebraska in higher education and leadership.