D91 Employee News:
Jan 31, 2025
Superintendent Message
Last week, I was celebrating my daughter’s birthday when I received an excited text from an elementary school principal asking if I would like a little joy and celebration in my day. With anticipation, I excitedly answered yes.
The principal shared the results of mid-year reading testing for students in kindergarten through 6th grade, and they were exciting! The mid-year testing showed that 49 students who were not reading at grade level at the beginning of the year are now reading at grade level. That is phenomenal! What a fabulous tribute to the hard work and dedication of our teachers!
Our teachers are focused on the needs of our students and diligently working to meet their needs. D91 teachers are demonstrating their incredible courage to meet our students’ needs, compassion to provide the instruction our students require, and conviction to help students persist and grow. Our D91 teachers are unmatched!
We are thrilled to see such growth and success in our students, and we look forward to celebrating even more achievements as the year continues. Thank you to our amazing teachers, students, and families for your hard work and effort. Together, we are making a difference!
Superintendent Karla LaOrange
The Power of PLCs – Collaboration for Student Success
Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) provide valuable time for teachers to collaborate, identify key learning outcomes, design assessments, and plan instruction that meets the diverse needs of students. Working in PLCs allows teachers in the same content area or grade level to analyze student needs and create meaningful learning experiences that help determine whether students are mastering essential skills and concepts.
Teaching can often feel like an independent effort, making PLCs seem, at times, unnecessary. After all, why change what seems to be working? But PLCs are not just meetings—they are opportunities for collaboration, inquiry, and professional growth, all focused on improving student achievement. Most importantly, PLCs remind us that we are not alone in the important work of helping students learn and reach their potential.
This week, we’re diving into the insights of Larry Ferlazzo, a 21-year veteran teacher who specializes in teaching English Language Learners and mainstream students. Larry shares
his perspective on PLCs through books, articles, social media, and even a radio show. His practical and engaging approach highlights how PLCs can reduce teacher isolation while empowering educators to grow and refine their craft.
We’ll be exploring the first of a four-part series on PLCs by Larry Ferlazzo this week. Check out part one at the link below. Enjoy!
10 Strategies for Building a Professional Learning Community
Vision Committee
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Vision Committee—an exciting opportunity for our community to come together and help shape the future of Idaho Falls School District!
The Vision Committee will collaborate to develop a new mission and vision statement that reflects our commitment to student learning and educational opportunities. As part of this work, the committee will also help select a new district logo that aligns with our renewed focus on elevating student learning and opening doors of opportunity.
How You Can Get Involved:
📅The committee will meet twice per month and will include parents, teachers, and administrators.
📋Members will help design parent and staff surveys to gather input from the D91 community.
💡Your feedback will be critical in shaping our district’s future!
We value your voice and invite you to be part of this important process. Stay tuned for more details on how you can participate—we can’t wait to work together to create a bright future for our students!
Your Input Is Needed – 2025-2026 Calendar!
It’s that time of year! The Idaho Falls School District Calendar Committee has been working to develop three different calendar options for the 2025-2026 school year. These options were presented to the School Board this week, and the Board will make a final selection on February 12th.
Before making a decision, the Board would like to hear from you!
A text message with a link to the survey has been sent to all parents. The survey will remain open until Wednesday, February 5th at midnight.
We appreciate your input and involvement in shaping the school calendar. Your input is important for you. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback!
My Ride Helps Keep Students Safe
Does your child ride the bus to school? If so, My Ride is for you! This exciting new program provides real-time updates on pick-up times, drop-off times, and route delays for D91 buses—helping you stay informed and ensuring your child’s safety.
With My Ride, your child will receive a unique My Ride ID card that they will scan when they board and exit the bus. This system helps confirm that they are on the correct bus and getting off at the right stop.
Mornings a rush at your house? The My Ride app even lets you set an alarm to notify you when the bus is just two minutes away from the stop—no more guessing or waiting in the cold!
D91 is proud to be the first district in our area to offer this powerful program. Get started today by using the link below to download the My Ride app and register your child. Once registered, you’ll have access to real-time bus information and your child’s location while on the bus as soon as next week!
One District, One Book Is Almost Here!
One District, One Book is almost here! Monday we will unveil the D91 book that we will all be reading together for One District One Book. It will be an exciting time to come together as a D91 community to read and enjoy the same book.
Guess Our Book
What book will we be reading? A committee of teachers selected the book and it is a great one! Below you will find three clues to the book. Let’s see if you can guess our book!
Clue 1: The book we’ve chosen is a cherished family favorite.
Clue 2: The book teaches lessons about friendship and sacrifice.
Clue 3: The main characters in the book are a girl, a farm animal, and an insect.
Here’s how it works:
- Each family with an elementary-aged student will receive a copy of the book from the district, along with a reading calendar outlining which chapters to read each day.
- Families can enjoy videos and recordings of each chapter being read by local celebrity guest readers. Recordings will be available in both English and Spanish to ensure everyone can join in the fun.
- Additional resources will be shared throughout One District One Book to make the experience even more enriching for families.
Mark Your Calendars!
The One District, One Book program will kick off on Monday, February 3rd. Yes, Monday! The youngest child in each elementary family will bring home the book we’ll read together.
We can’t wait to start reading and sharing a love of reading together!
College & Career Opportunities Are Within Reach!
You might think that college or technical training is “beyond reach” for your child—but did you know that millions of dollars in scholarships and funding go unclaimed each year? There are many resources available to help students afford education after high school, and Within Reach, a program sponsored by Idaho Business for Education, is here to help parents learn more about these opportunities!
Within Reach is designed specifically for parents who may have little or no experience with college, technical programs, or apprenticeships. This program provides valuable guidance on how to access free funding, apply for scholarships, and explore education options for your child’s future. Best of all, it’s completely FREE!
To support families, Within Reach is offering three free workshops to help parents:
- Find and apply for scholarships
- Navigate the college and technical school application process
- Help students explore career paths
No advance sign-up is required—just come and learn how to help your child seize these incredible opportunities! College, technical programs, and apprenticeships are truly within reach.
We encourage you to take advantage of this amazing resource and look forward to seeing you there!
Workshop Details:
📍Location: Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center
📅Tuesday, Feb 18, 6 PM: EIRMC
Title: Money Money Money!
Brief synopsis: Is the cost of college worth it? How do we pay for school after high school? Come learn about all the different ways to fund postsecondary education for your student!
Presenter: Dr. Megan Simila Executive Director of Youth Apprenticeship
📍Location: Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center
📅Tuesday, March18, 6 PM: EIRMC
Title: Exceptional Conversations with Teens about Careers
Brief synopsis: Kids hate being asked, "what do you want to do when you grow up." This question is limiting and lacks the passion we know our youth have. Instead, learn how to help your child ignite a spark of interest that can turn into a rewarding career.
Presenter: Mallory Essman College and Career Counselor and Coordinator for Nampa School District
📍Location: Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center
📅Wednesday, April 23, 6 PM: EIRMC
Title: Empowering Families: Navigating Idaho's Initiatives for Post-High School Success
Brief synopsis: From a direct admissions program to a single application for scholarships, Idaho has incredible initiatives that make it easier for students and families to access
education and training after high school. This session will walk parents through each state program so that families feel informed and empowered to help their students navigate the process.
Presenter: Dr. Megan Simila Executive Director of Youth Apprenticeship
Souper Bowl Begins February 3rd
Idaho Falls School District 91 is once again using the fuel of a great high school rivalry to help feed families in the community. The annual Souper Bowl is a food drive where Idaho Falls High School students and Skyline High School students compete to see which school can collect the most donations. This year, the two schools have a collective goal of gathering 300,000 cans.
The drive will begin Monday, February 3 and go until Saturday, February 15. Donations can be dropped off at either Idaho Falls or Skyline High Schools. Cash and Venmo donations will also be accepted. All donations go to the Idaho Falls Community Food Basket, which fed more than 160,000 families last year in Idaho Falls and surrounding areas.
How to Change Your Federal and State Withholdings on your W4
Did you know that you can change your W4 Forms for both Federal and State withholdings at any time through your Tyler ERP Pro - Employee Access portal? Follow the below instructions:
- Go to Idaho Falls School District 91 Website www.ifschools.org
- Click Single Sign On
- Click Tyler ERP Pro
- Click Employee Access
- Under My Pay, click Pay & tax information
- Click on box in upper right hand corner
- Either follow the "Guide me" process or "Let me choose" to complete the process
Emails for Human Resources
If you need to the send an email to the HR department, please direct those to humanresources@sd91.org.
Nominate a Teacher for Humanities Educator Award
The Idaho Humanities Council is asking us to help celebrate outstanding teachers by submitting nominees for the IHC Outstanding Humanities Educator Award. The IHC recognizes their outstanding work with an annual award for three teachers: one in grades K-5th, 6-8th, and in 9-12th grades. Administrators, colleagues, parents, and former students are all invited to nominate an outstanding teacher. The deadline to nominate is February 28th.
Award Criteria:
- Educator must be teaching full time in a classroom in the current school year in Idaho.
- Educator must be licensed to teach in the state of Idaho.
- Educator must be teaching a humanities discipline.
- Educator must exemplify the guiding principles of the Idaho Humanities Council.
- Educators cannot have won this award in the past.
What are the humanities?
The Idaho Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities define “the humanities” to include history, literature, philosophy, jurisprudence, cultural anthropology, comparative religion, art history and criticism, music history and other interpretive disciplines that through study yield wisdom.
To learn more about the award or to nominate a teacher, click here.
School Pantry Now Available at Emerson Alternative High School
Emerson Alternative High School is now an official school pantry with the Idaho Food Bank! It is open to all District #91 families. It is operating by appointment only. Families in need of assistance can contact the school at 208 524-7800. A special thanks to the amazing students, teachers, and staff at Emerson High School who made this possible.
D91 College and Career Fair a Huge Success
We want to thank all the sponsors and vendors who made the D91 College and Career Fair a HUGE success. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors district-wide got the chance to see some of the great opportunities available to them. Local businesses, organizations, and schools were able to interact with the future workforce and leaders. Thank you to all who made this wonderful community collaboration happen each year.
D91 Cheer Squads Bring Home Trophies with Districts Just Around the Corner
Congratulations to the Skyline Cheer Team for finishing 1st place in show, 3rd in pom, and 3rd in sideline at the Treasure Valley Cheer Invitational at Eagle High School over the weekend. The Idaho Falls Cheer team performed well at the Cupid's Cheer Challenge in Pocatello earlier this month. The Tigers took 2nd in sideline, 2nd in pom, and 3rd in show. The district VI state qualifying tournament is Feb 8. Good luck to both teams.
Compass Academy's AcaDeca Team Achieves Historic Milestone
On Saturday January 25, the Compass Academy Academic Decathlon (AcaDeca) team set a team record for points at a regional competition. The Lions scored 29,119 points to finish 3rd place overall. The team secured 25 placement medals and 25 honorable mentions across various academic categories. Additionally, 14 Compass Academy students qualified for the state-level competition, with nine in the running for Nationals. Congratulations on such a historic performance.
Fuger Named 5A All-state Volleyball Player of the Year
Congratulations to Idaho Falls Tiger Grace Fuger for being named the 5A state volleyball player of the year. We look forward to seeing her continue her playing career with Baylor. Addie Bowen and Leah Thomas were named to the all-state 1st team. Averi Look earned 2nd team honors. Great work from these student athletes representing Idaho Falls High School and D91.
Some ways to Handle Stress
There can be a lot of stress when working in education. If you are feeling it, you are not alone. Here is some practical advice to help teachers and education staff handle stress.
- Set aside time each day for hobbies or exercise: Gentle repetitive exercise, such as walking, swimming or cycling are good to relieve stress. Meditation, yoga, pilates and dance are also excellent. Find what suits you best and make it a habit. Hobbies that focus attention are also good stress relievers.
- Take your time: Frenzied activities lead to errors, regrets and stress. Request time to orient yourself to a new task or responsibility at work. If rushed, ask people to wait until you are ready. Plan ahead to arrive at appointments early, composed and having made allowances for unexpected hold-ups.
We'll have more tips for you in upcoming newsletters.