Darbi Hunt has always been passionate about every child having a good start in life and her work supports this passion. She began leading the Birth to Five pillar of the Statewide Family Engagement Center (SFEC) in 2018, and also assists with grant administration and teaching and coordinating Common Sense Parenting.  Darbi serves on several boards and committees including South Dakota’s Learn the Signs Act Early Team; the Education, Innovation and Research Task Force; and Early Learner South Dakota Leadership, serving as the co-chair of their Collaboration Committee.  

Darbi graduated Summa Cum Laude from Black Hills State University with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology in 1997 and started at Black Hills Special Services Cooperative in 1998. She has had the opportunity to work in many programs throughout BHSSC; each one has taught her something new and contributed to her personal and professional growth. She started with the Developmental Disabilities Division and later served as the Director of the Black Hills Foster Grandparent Program for 10 years. 

Darbi lives in Sturgis, SD with her husband and 13-year-old boy-girl twins. She is also an advocate and friend to a woman who receives support services in Lemmon, SD.