Happy New Year! We hope your holiday break was rejuvenating and restful. With the beginning of a new legislative session and the 2017-2018 school year halfway over, we pause and reflect on what 2018 will have in store for us.
Several issues of importance to educators are likely to be at the forefront of discussion and debate during the 2018 Idaho legislative session. The IEA lobby team will once again advocate on behalf of our members and their students for policies that promote a strong and equitable public education system.
Teacher Pipeline Workgroup IEA, Education Stakeholders Tackle a Tough Problem A large and influential group of education stakeholders developed a series of recommendations aimed at addressing the shortage of certified, qualified teachers in Idaho classrooms, particularly in rural areas and in hard-to-fill positions. The recommendations were formally presented to the Idaho State Board of Education…
Kirstin attended the National Education Association’s Representative Assembly for the first time this year, and shares some of her impressions. The Idaho Caucus started at seven o’clock sharp that first morning and there wasn’t much chit chat before we dove into RA Today, the “newspaper”, which included proposed changes to the Constitution of…
“It is so easy to get sucked into the trials and tribulations that come with teaching, and that is why our membership is so important” says IEA and Idaho Falls Education member Kirstin Wheeler. “Teachers have a responsibility to encourage and support each other and reinforce that what we do matters.” Wheeler is in her…
Dozer the Dog Helps Aspiring Readers in Coeur d’Alene Schools Elementary school students enjoy some classroom visitors more than others. When Dozer the Reading Dog comes to class though, the eyes of students at several Coeur d’Alene schools get very bright and the anticipation level rises dramatically. Accompanied by his “mom”, Loretta White, Dozer cuddles…