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Idaho

The demand to improve Idaho’s public education system is growing. Teach For America leaders are fueling that movement.
Teach For America Idaho
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Idaho’s education system can, at times, feel as rugged as its landscape. Less than half of all students are proficient in reading and math and less than a quarter of adults in the state have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Looking more closely at Idaho’s student population, there's a disparity in the performance of low-income and Hispanic students compared to their wealthier peers. These statistics only begin to highlight the inequity that exists throughout the state, which since 2007 has ranked last in the country for average annual wage, per-capita income, and wage increases. This trend is expected to continue for the next 10 years, while employers will simultaneously increase their demand for individuals with higher levels of education.

Working to reverse this trend, the response to Idaho’s growing inequity has been strong. In Treasure Valley, coalitions of local districts, foundations, nonprofits, individuals, and businesses have worked to raise awareness and develop innovative solutions. At the statewide level, the governor and state board of education recently headed a task force focused on improving the state's education system. Notably, local organizations are working to provide support for more personalized learning experiences for students and for school leadership training.

Teach For America Idaho is adding fuel to this movement. We’re recruiting more leaders to serve as high quality educators for some of Idaho’s neediest students. You’ll become a lifelong advocate, continuing to push for change, from all sectors and industries. 

As an Idaho corps member, you’ll have the opportunity to fuel the new and growing movement for educational equity in Idaho.

Our Vision for Idaho's Kids

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Check your eligibility to join the Idaho corps today.
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Living Here

Living Here

Idaho may be one of the United States’ best kept secrets. Sometimes confused with Ohio and Iowa, or talked about in relation to its famous potatoes, Idaho has a lot more to offer than many people outside the state realize. Its most popular feature is outdoor recreation; Idaho’s landscape is bursting with variety. Mountains soar above 12,000 feet and canyons plunge to form Hells Canyon, the deepest river gorge in North America. Idaho also has more wilderness than any other state in the lower 48. The state’s 13 national forests are great for fishing, hiking, and hunting, and the backcountry is filled with trails for backpacking and exploring.

As one of the fastest growing states in the U.S., Idaho is becoming more and more recognized as a desirable place to live due to its low crime rate, affordable cost of living, and abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities. With a statewide population of 1.7 million people and area of 84,000 square miles, Idaho is the 14th largest but 12th least populous state. Drive just one or two hours from the Teach For America office in Nampa and you can find yourself skiing at Bogus Basin Ski Resort, hiking in the Owyhee Mountains, or biking on the Greenbelt along the banks of the Boise River.

A view of pine trees and mountains in Idaho.
“Idaho is my home. As someone who was born and raised here, I can personally speak to the wonderful community that exists in Idaho, which is unique in the way everyone shows up for one another in times of celebration and struggle. We still have work to do, but I believe that in 20 years we will look back and be proud of the educational opportunities that exist for all children here in Idaho.”

Becca Alamilla

Idaho Corps Member 2015

Teaching Here

Teaching Here

Our more than 40 corps members teach 3,000 students in seven different communities within the Treasure Valley, which is in the southwestern part of the state and spans from the rural Oregon border to Idaho’s urban capital, Boise. With a combined population of over 700,000 residents, the Treasure Valley contains Idaho’s three largest cities. Corps members are placed in 24 different public and charter schools across nine school districts.

Teach For America Idaho

Where We Teach

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Questions about Teach For America Idaho?
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Our Network

Established in 2015, the Idaho region is one of Teach For America’s youngest regions. Our inaugural 2015 corps was made up of 13 members placed within three communities. They joined a community of about 25 alumni who had completed the corps experience in other Teach For America regions and then moved to Idaho. Since then, our alumni network has expanded to over 60 local leaders who continue advocating for Idaho students from within and outside the classroom.

While we are extremely proud of the progress made during our first three years, a lot more must be done to solve inequity in Idaho’s public education system. Transformational change will require a powerful army made up of not only excellent teachers and school leaders, but also business leaders, policy makers, parents, philanthropists, community leaders, and more. To grow this army over the next three years, we plan to double the number of incoming teachers and implement new strategies to engage our alumni so they stay in Idaho and continue working towards change.

Local Leadership

Toney Ashton

Tony Ashton

Greater New Orleans '01

Executive Director

Teach For America Idaho

Tony Ashton has worked in education for over 14 years as a teacher, administrator, and policy specialist.

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Your generosity helps create a future in which all of Idaho's children can learn, lead, and thrive.