Sharing our Bengal Pride

The College of Education Makes Over 200 Classrooms ROAR

by Aubi Moon

Over 200 P-12 educators across Southeast Idaho have added orange and black to their classrooms and school spaces thanks to a new campaign called Make Your Classroom ROAR, sponsored by the Idaho State University College of Education and the ISU Alumni Association.

Beginning in the Spring 2022 semester, the College of Education encouraged P-12 teachers, coaches, support staff, principals, and superintendents to sign up to add Bengal spirit to their workplaces. Free ISU flags, stickers, highlighters, pennants, pens, pom-poms, lanyards, staplers, notepads, and a custom Benny the Bengal stuffed animal were provided to recipients in the Fall 2022 semester. All educators, including those not ISU alumni, were invited to participate.

“We are proud of our Bengal teachers. They change lives for the better. Day in and day out, they set our children up for success as citizens by inspiring them to do good, to think, and to learn,” said Ryan Sargent, Executive Director of the ISU Alumni Association.

“The ISU Alumni Association is excited to continue partnering with the College of Education to ensure educators around the country can share their ISU pride with their students.”

In addition to the free ISU gear, the College of Education sponsored a $500 gift card to those who shared photos of their spaces on social media with the displayed Make Your Classroom Roar gear. A teacher from Ellis Elementary School in the Pocatello/ Chubbuck School District 25 was announced as the gift card recipient during a surprise presentation in December 2022.

College of Education Dean, Jean McGivney-Burelle added, “This was a fun, collaborative project that encouraged hundreds of educators to show their Bengal pride. More importantly, we hope that through these displays even more P-12 students from across the state will see ISU as the vibrant university it is and consider pursuing their postsecondary education here.”

The College of Education plans to continue the Make Your Classroom ROAR campaign in 2023 with the goal of delivering 200-250 boxes.

It may seem like a silly question at first glance, but to a 4th grade student, the answer feels very important. And when four elementary students stopped by the Idaho State University College of Education in February 2023 to interview Dean Jean McGivney-Burelle, they wanted to know.

These 4th graders, from Grace Lutheran Elementary School in Pocatello, were tasked with interviewing a series of people from the community about their jobs and how they help others. The year-long project builds towards students completing their Idaho Binder while also learning soft skills such as making eye contact, speaking clearly, and shaking hands.

Dean Jean always knew that she wanted to be a teacher, and she told the students that she now has the important task of taking care of the faculty and staff within the College of Education, thus supporting them in taking care of students. “Specifically, since the College of Education prepares teachers, we are not only changing their lives but all of the students that they will teach,” said Dean Jean.

During their visit, students had the opportunity to tour the College of Education, learn more about collegiate programs, administrative duties, and higher education in Idaho. Students were also asked what they wanted to be when they grew up ending the interview. One student responded, “I want to become a teacher. It just feels right.”

The College of Education always appreciates the opportunity to connect with young learners in our community, and we look forward to future visits.