Name: Erin Schons
Years at CHS: 15 years
Current Position: Assistant Director of Schools, Loving School

Tell us about your family, including pets.
I live on the east side of Sioux Falls with my husband, Tim. I have two children—Liam (13), and Lauren (12). I also have a two-year-old golden retriever named Luna.

Where did you grow up?
When I was eight years old, my family and I moved from Akron, Ohio, to Brookings, South Dakota.

What are some of your favorites:
-Movies? My favorite movies include “While You Were Sleeping,” “Hamilton” and “Wicked.”
-TV shows? I love watching “Big Bang Theory,” “ER” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”
-Books? Historical fiction is my favorite genre to read, especially anything WWII-related.
-Musicians? I like most types of music; however, Garth Brooks is the best.
-Sports or teams? I enjoy cheering for the Twins and Vikings.

What are your hobbies?
I love to read, create paper crafts and be outside.

Can you share a special memory or two from your time with CHS?
Each year, one of the highlights for our school is Farm Day, generously hosted by the Grode family. They invite the entire Loving School community out to their farm for a day full of joy, laughter and hands-on experiences.

It’s always heartwarming to see the excitement and happiness on the children’s faces. Many of them form new connections with animals, some even overcome their fears by spending the day feeding horses, cows, and goats—who are more than happy to accept corn chips from eager little hands!

The Grode family goes above and beyond, planning a variety of fun and engaging activities to keep the day lively. From start to finish, there’s never a dull moment. It’s a day our kids remember and talk about long after it’s over.

Do you have any advice for newly-hired employees?
There will be days when you question whether this is the job you signed up for. Days when the challenges feel relentless and you end your shift completely drained—physically, mentally and emotionally. Keep in mind that this is normal and part of the work we do.

But in those moments, remember this: the behaviors you’re seeing are not personal. The children are not angry at you. You haven't done anything wrong, and often those behaviors mean you’re doing something right.

These kids act out because they feel safe with you. For perhaps the first time in their lives, they trust that someone will stay, even when they’re at their worst. That safety is what allows their pain to surface—and that’s a hard, but necessary, part of healing.

So, when you feel defeated, know it’s because you care, deeply—and that matters to these kids. You may be the first person in a long time—maybe ever—who has truly cared.