Congratulations to Mr. William Weaver, a Kindergarten through 5th grade music specialist at Nampa Idaho’s Iowa Elementary.  Bill was recently awarded a $350 Classroom Grant to purchase a book and musical instrument to enhance music instruction in the school’s self-contained special education programs.  NWPE Regional Director Brenda Miller presented the award at the all school SOAR assembly.

Congratulations to Pamela Sutton, a first grade teacher at Marsing Elementary School in Marsing, ID, who was awarded one of Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE) $250 New Classroom Start-Up Grants.  Pam plans to purchase basic school supplies to help students learn organizational skills, creative expression, and confidence in writing. Brenda Miller, NWPE Regional Director, presented the award at a staff meeting.

Kelly Hughes, a K-12 music teacher at Garden Valley Schools, ID, and a Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE) member, recently received a $250 New Classroom Start-Up Grant to purchase a bass drum with carrier to help outfit a new school drum corps. NWPE Regional Director Brenda Miller presented the award at a school staff meeting.

Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE) Regional Director Brenda Miller recently awarded  $250 New Classroom Start Up Grants to two West Ada teachers and NWPE members, Sarah Holloway and Robin Stewart.  The awards were presented at the teachers' school staff meetings.

Congratulations to NWPE member Beth Richtsmeier, a teacher at Meridian Technical Charter School in Meridian, Idaho.  Three of her students were recently featured in Idaho Education News for developing an innovative web program that tracks the daily physical activities of legislators.

Senator Jim Patrick from Twin Falls, Idaho, has introduced a bill to deal with an important issue for Idaho's education system, namely, increasing the knowledge and engagement of Idaho’s young voters-to-be.  According to Sam Stone, political director for the Civics Education Initiative, about 92 percent of immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship pass the American citizenship test on their first try, but studies in Arizona and Oklahoma have found that less than 5 percent of high school students passed the test.

Northwest Professional Educators is partnering with TeachIdaho for a book study on "Why Don't Students Like School?" by

Along with the numerous coaltion partners such as the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation, Idaho Coalition of Charter School Families, the Idaho Charter School Network, Idaho Business for Education and the Idaho Federation of Independent Schools, and others, Northwest Professional Educators' (NWPE) Brenda Miller helped plan one of the premiere National School Choice Week (NSCW) events in the country.

NWPE Regional Director Brenda Miller, a former teacher union and PTA leader, recently shared how reflection on what is best for her own children and that of other families led her from a strict adherence to supporting the status quo to being a strong advocate for student and teacher choice.  Read about her journey in this guest column published in the Idaho Statesman  during National School Choice Week.

The action of the teachers in Mansfield, WA, to establish a "local only" teacher association for bargaining has attracted the attention of public policy think tanks and the media.

Back in 2005, Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy teacher Jean Robinson and a trio of students from across the United States and Mexico had the opportunity to work with Dr. Kobie Boykins, a mechanical engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) in Pasadena, CA, and NASA's current spokesman for the Space Program.   They were selected through National Geographic's JASON Project which takes a team of teachers and students somewhere in the world to work with research scientists.

We are proud to announce that the following teachers have been awarded Fall 2014 NWPE Grant/Scholarship awards.   Please click the links to learn more about the teachers and their awards.

NWPE is proud to congratulate Kim Zeydel, Idaho's 2015 Teacher of the Year!!  Kim, an NWPE member and teacher at Meridian Academy, West Ada School District's alternative school, was awarded the honor at an assembly in front of the school's 150 students by State Superintendent Tom Luna.  Other dignitaries who attended the assembly include Gov. Butch Otter, West Ada Superintendent Linda Clark, Meridian Mayor Tammy De Weerd, and several lawmakers.

Congratulations to Mr. Chad Harris, a 5th grade teacher at Blackfoot Charter Community Learning Center in Blackfoot, ID, who was recently awarded a $500 Classroom Grant from Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE), the state’s only non-union professional teacher association.  Mr. Harris will use the funds to obtain books and art supplies in order to expand the arts and humanities program in his classroom and school.

Congratulations to Ms. Lorelle Williams, a 7th Grade English teacher at Madison Jr. High in Rexburg, Idaho, who has been awarded a $400 professional development scholarship from Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE), the state’s only non-union professional teacher association. Ms. Brenda Miller, NWPE Regional Membership Director, presented the award at a staff department meeting. Ms. Williams will utilize the award to take the course “Teach Like a Champ: Effective Strategies for an Engaged Classroom” offered through Learner’s Edge.

Congratulations to Ms. Wendie Muñoz, an English and U.S. Government teacher at Canyon Ridge High School in Twin Falls, ID.  Brenda Miller, NWPE Regional Director for Idaho, recently awarded a $500 grant to Wendie to fund the purchase of technology to enable students to complete digital portfolios that will help them learn through technology as well as enhance technological skills in preparation for college and career endeavors.

Congratulations to Ms. Jennifer Capell, a 3rd-4th grade teacher at Idaho Arts Charter School in Nampa, ID.  Jennifer was recently awarded a $500 Classroom Grant from Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE), the state’s only non-union professional teacher association. Ms. Brenda Miller, NWPE Regional Membership Director, presented the grant at a staff meeting. The award will fund the purchase of two Chromebooks so that students can utilize Khan Academy resources which can be tailored to their individual learning needs.

The certified teaching staff in Mansfield, WA, has taken the bold step to declare independence from the Washington Education Association (WEA) by replacing the Mansfield Teacher Association (MTA), a local affiliate of the WEA, with a new local teacher organization that has no ties to the WEA.

Congratulations to the students and staff at Prairie Elementary School in Cottonwood, ID!  The school has been designated a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.  The Blue Ribbon School program honors schools that achieve high marks or make significant improvements in their learning.  See television news coverage here.