Four new faces recently joined the Idaho Education Association team, and they are already digging into the work of building IEA’s membership and influence so that IEA members can focus on the work they do best: helping every Idaho student succeed.
“IEA’s staff are among the most dedicated and professional public education advocates in the nation,” said IEA Associate Director Matt Compton. “Our new teammates fit in to that profile perfectly and will help us level up IEA’s advocacy for members and build their influence as Idaho’s most important education experts.”
Here’s a quick introduction of each new staff member and their new IEA role:
Misty Kerr — Region 4 Associate
Misty is an administrative and bookkeeping professional with 22 years of experience at banks and small businesses in Twin Falls and Jerome. A native of Twin Falls, she still lives there with husband and three sons. Her family enjoys spending time together outdoors and do lots of camping and boating in the summertime. Misty also enjoys traveling. Her first day in the Region 4 office in Twin Falls was May 9.
Eliza Walton — Organizer for the Western Region Organizing Center
Eliza bring valuable experience in policy advocacy, lobbying, coalition building and community organizing to the IEA. She has worked with a variety of state and local organizations including Conservation Voters for Idaho, Votes Idaho, the City of Boise and the Idaho Conservation League. She grew up in North-Central Idaho and is a student at Boise State University, pursuing an interdisciplinary degree in environmental studies, sustainability, and urban studies. When not organizing or volunteering in the community, she is working in her garden on the Boise Bench or riding her bike. Her first day at IEA was May 31
Chelsea Inmon — Organizer for the Eastern Region Organizing Center
Chelsea is the former state supervisor for education and training for the Arizona State Department of Education. Since moving to Idaho in 2018, she has served as an instructional coach for the Jerome and Hagerman school districts. She is a certified trainer and has been strong contributor to IEA’s Center for Teaching and Learning. She also served as the Region 4 Danielson Evaluation Framework Facilitator for the Idaho Department of Education. Passionate about education and advocating for teachers in the field, she has engaged and observed teaching programs in 22 countries during her long career. She has three children and resides in Glenns Ferry with her family. She started her new role at IEA on May 31.
Brooke Calderon — Region Director for the Western Region Organizing Center
Brooke is a life-long educator, both in and out of the classroom, and passionate about public education. Born and raised in Idaho, she spent the last ten years teaching middle grade students at a public charter school and in the Boise School District as a member of Boise Education Association. She graduated from the University of Idaho “several times,” earning undergraduate degrees in child development and elementary education, as well as a master’s degree in educational leadership. A mother to two girls and “happily married to my best friend,” she loves to run, read, and bake in her spare time.
WE’RE HIRING!
In addition to these new teammates, IEA is hiring for three openings around the state:
CLICK HERE to learn more about the openings and how to apply.