D91 Employee News:

At Idaho Falls School District 91, our three guiding values—Courage, Compassion, and Conviction—are the foundation of everything we do. These values define our efforts to help each child learn and grow.

• Courage is demonstrated when teachers analyze data to understand student needs.
• Compassion ensures we focus on the unique needs of every student.
• Conviction keeps us dedicated to each child’s success, driving us to adjust our instruction to meet their learning needs.

What does Conviction look like in our classrooms? It’s the commitment to continuously monitor student progress, refine our instruction, and adapt teaching approaches when needed. This cycle of assessing, adjusting, and responding empowers teachers to meet students where they are and help them grow. Conviction is persistence in action—it reinforces our belief that every child can learn.

I am deeply grateful for our teachers and staff who partner with parents in this meaningful work. Your dedication, passion, and unwavering belief in our students make a difference every day. There is no greater joy than helping a child learn and grow, and I appreciate all that you do to embody Courage, Compassion, and Conviction in our schools.

Superintendent Karla LaOrange

Great news for D91 families! Keeping track of your child’s school bus journey just got easier with the launch of the My Ride program. This exciting new tool provides real-time updates on pick-up and drop-off times, along with notifications about any route delays—helping parents stay informed and ensuring students travel safely.

As part of this program, each student will receive a unique ID card to scan when they get on and off the bus. This extra layer of security helps confirm that children are on the right bus and getting off at the correct stop.

One of the most convenient features of My Ride is its app-based alarm system, which alerts parents when the bus is just two minutes away. No more long waits in bad weather or last-minute dashes—this feature is designed to make school mornings smoother for everyone!

D91 is proud to be the first district in the area to introduce this innovative program, reinforcing our commitment to student safety and family convenience.

Parents can get started today by downloading the My Ride app and registering their child at ifschools.org. Learn more about the program by watching the video below.

The High School Social Studies Review Committee has evaluated curriculum materials for world history, economics, and government from various publishers and has narrowed its selection to two finalists: Savvas and McGraw-Hill.

To gather community feedback, physical displays of student and teacher materials are now available for public viewing at the District Office Building. Additionally, digital access to the materials is provided through a flyer containing instructions and a QR code linking to a feedback survey.

The public is encouraged to review the materials and share their input with the committee before the displays are removed at the start of Spring Break.

For those interested in an in-person review, the district will host a public open house at the District Office Building on Wednesday, March 5, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Community members are invited to attend and provide their perspectives on the curriculum options.

District 91 juniors at Skyline, Idaho Falls High School, and Compass Academy will take the SAT on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

Parents with questions about the SAT are encouraged to contact their child’s counselor. We remind students that while assessments are important, they are just one measure of student achievement and success.

To accommodate the testing, Wednesday March 19th will be an on-line learning day for 9th, 10th, and 12th graders (except for Emerson).

Students from Westside Elementary, Dora Erickson Elementary, and A.H. Bush Elementary are making waves in the SeaPerch club. SeaPerch is a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), a competition, and a community. The national program guides students on building an underwater robot while supplying educators with the tools and training to help them through the process.

These young engineers are gearing up to compete in an underwater obstacle course at the Eastern Idaho Regional competition on April 4 at the Wes Deist Aquatic Center in Idaho Falls. Regional winners could qualify to compete in the International SeaPerch Challenge in College Park, Maryland at the end of May.

With guidance from mentors, students learn valuable STEM skills while constructing and testing their robots. This year, Westside Elementary is adding an exciting new tool to its arsenal—a 3D printer, which will enhance their robot designs for the first time. Best of luck to all the teams as they dive into competition!

Amy Ehlers, Theresa Bunker Elementary

Amy Ehlers grew up in the small town of Niagara, Wisconsin, where she attended a K-12 school and graduated from Niagara High School with a class of just 34 students. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Northern Michigan University, with minors in math and science. Currently, she is completing her master’s degree in administration from Grand Canyon University, set to graduate in April.

Amy has been a dedicated educator in District 91 for 16 years, teaching 1st grade at Theresa Bunker Elementary. She finds great joy in watching the tremendous growth her students achieve each year. Beyond the classroom, she has served on various leadership teams at the district, state, and building levels, with a particular focus on evaluating ELA curriculum—an area she has grown passionate about.

Outside of teaching, Amy enjoys the great outdoors. Her hobbies include horseback riding, kayaking, hiking, and both downhill and cross-country skiing. She also has a love for travel and exploring new places.

At home, Amy is accompanied by her two beloved dogs, Benny and Bell, as well as her two horses, Rosie and Knight.

Tawnya Sherck, Ethel Boyes Elementary

Tawnya Sherck was born in Alabama and spent time in Illinois before settling in St. Marys, Georgia, where she lived from 4th grade through high school. She graduated from Camden County High School in the early 90s and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of North Florida. She later obtained a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from a university in Savannah, Georgia. In 2006, she achieved National Board Certification, and after joining District 91, she pursued an additional endorsement in Educational Leadership.

With a career spanning over two decades, Tawnya has taught kindergarten through 3rd grade, spending eight years in Georgia and ten years in Florida before moving to Idaho in 2015. She spent five years teaching at Bunker, then moved to Boyes, and is now in her fifth year at EB. She has also served as the summer school principal in District 91 for three years and has actively contributed to numerous district and school leadership teams, always striving to improve her school and district.

Outside of the classroom, Tawnya enjoys reading, baking, and adventuring with her family. Currently, her greatest joy is supporting her twin daughters in their activities, often attending marching band competitions and concerts—a role she embraces wholeheartedly.

Tawnya has been married for 27 years to her husband, a retired military serviceman and mental health therapist. Together, they have twin daughters, who are juniors at Thunder Ridge High School. Their family also includes two beloved dogs—a big Great Dane Mastiff and a small chihuahua mix, both of whom demand just as much attention as children! After a decade in Idaho, Tawnya and her family have found it to be the perfect place to raise their daughters and call home.

Check your D91 email! You may have been identified as requiring a Dependent Verification Review with American Fidelity. The email will have a make-up schedule showing when Representatives will be available to assist with this process. Use the link in your email to sign up for an appointment.

What to Expect in a Dependent Verification Review

Before enrollment, your employer will inform you about the Dependent Verification Review process and provide a list of documents required to confirm your dependents' eligibility for benefits.

Documents You May Need to Bring:

• Tax documents
• Proof of residence
• Marriage license
• Birth certificates
• Adoption paperwork

During your one-on-one review, these documents will be verified and promptly returned to you. You will receive immediate confirmation regarding your dependents’ eligibility and a signed Dependent Eligibility Form at the end of your session.

Who Qualifies as an Eligible Dependent?

Each benefits plan may have different eligibility rules, but typically, the following are considered ineligible dependents:

• Children over the age of 26
• Ex-spouses
• Ex-stepchildren
• Other relatives who are not your spouse or children (e.g., parents or siblings)

Please ensure you have the necessary documents ready for your appointment. If you have any questions, the American Fidelity representatives will be available to assist you during your review.

Thank you for your attention to this important process!

If you need to the send an email to the HR department, please direct those to humanresources@sd91.org.

• Mar 7: End of 2nd Trimester
• Mar 10: Teacher Work Day- No School
• Mar 12-13: Elementary Schools: Parent Teacher Conference
• Mar 13: Elementary Schools: Early Release
• Mar 14: Elementary Schools: On-line Learning Day/Teacher Comp Day
• Mar 14: Secondary Schools: Regular Full School Day with 1 hour early release
• Mar 19: 11th grade: SAT
• Mar 19: 9th, 10th, and 12th grade: On-line Learning Day
• Mar 24-28: Spring Break

Students from Idaho Falls High School & Skyline High School teamed up for the annual Souper Bowl food drive, collecting an incredible 46,621 cans and raising $7,151 to support local families in need!

Last week, they delivered the donations to the Idaho Falls Community Food Basket, where funds will be stretched to provide 4x the amount of food to those in need. A huge shoutout to these students for making a real difference in our community!

Fourth graders in Idaho Falls School District 91 had the unique opportunity to perform with the Idaho Falls Symphony as part of Carnegie Hall’s Link Up Program. Students participated by playing recorders, percussion instruments, singing, or simply listening and learning. Thanks to a grant, each student received a recorder for the event. The performance, The Orchestra Rocks, took place on Thursday, February 27, at the Frontier Center for the Performing Arts. This special event highlighted the power of music education and gave students an unforgettable experience performing with a professional orchestra.

Congratulations to our individual district champs from D91: Jace Matheson, Saxton Scott, DJ Neider, and Mya Bolander from Idaho Falls. Cooper Landon, Ayden Tokita, and Molly Olague from Skyline.

Also qualifying for state this year are Mason Peck, Grayson Newman, Chase Greenwood, Riley Hyde, Jace Allen, Jakob Jenks, Cassydi Keim, and Nevaeh Spivey-Hayes from Idaho Falls. Representing Skyline will be Kyson Smith, Autumn Olague, Brooke Hensley, Xoey Zollinger, Mikayela Lopez, and Halle Thomas.

Good luck to all of our D91 wrestlers at state this Friday and Saturday Feb 28-Mar 1 at the ICCU Dome in Pocatello.

Both Idaho Falls and Skyline Cheer Teams are in Nampa for the State Cheer Competition. It is Friday February 28 at the Ford Idaho Center. Good luck at state!! Go Grizz. Go Tigers.

Compass Academy: Evening Custodian-Full-time

Ethel Boyes Elementary: Afternoon/Evening Custodian Full-time

Idaho Falls High School: Special Education Support 1:1 Limited Full-time Para

Longfellow Elementary: Special Education Support, Day Treatment Limited Full-time Para

Longfellow Elementary: Elementary School Secretary-Full-time

Student Services Department: Educational Sign Language Interpreter -Full-time

See all current openings here.

Getting enough good-quality sleep is essential for overall health and well-being at every stage of life. While you sleep, your body works to support healthy brain function, repair tissues, and maintain physical health. Chronic sleep deprivation or poor sleep quality can increase the risk of various health conditions, including heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke.

Recommended Sleep Guidelines

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provide the following sleep recommendations:

• Babies (4-12 months): 12-16 hours (including naps)
• Children (1-2 years): 11-14 hours (including naps)
• Children (3-5 years): 10-13 hours (including naps)
• Children (6-12 years): 9-12 hours
• Teens (13-18 years): 8-10 hours
• Adults (18+ years): 7-9 hours

Sleep and Heart Health

Adequate sleep plays a key role in maintaining heart health by helping to heal and repair blood vessels. Additionally, good sleep:

• Supports a healthy balance of hunger-related hormones
• Encourages growth and development
• Strengthens the immune system

Over time, insufficient sleep can contribute to serious health issues. Prioritizing rest and maintaining a regular sleep schedule can lead to better physical and mental well-being.