Students, parents, former and current staff members came together on Wednesday to celebrate 25 years of Cynthia Mann Elementary School in Boise. The school opened in 1990 with an enrollment of 550 students. Shirley Ewing, the school’s principal from 1990 to 2003, was a special guest at the ceremony and explained to students why their school was named after Cynthia Mann.

“I assembled a group of students, teachers, parents and historians to come up with a name for the school and we wanted to make a statement back in 1990,” Ewing said. “We wanted to find an Idaho woman who was worth naming a school after, and that’s when we recommended Cynthia Mann.”

Cynthia Mann began teaching in Boise in 1890. She worked with the Legislature to ensure that Idaho became a state in 1890. She also organized the Idaho State Teacher’s Association.

“Cynthia is recognized as a very dedicated philanthropic teacher,” Ewing said.

During the celebration, teachers spoke about memories and Boise schools superintendent Don Coberly shared Boise demographics of the late 1980s era.

“It’s a time for students and staff to celebrate what we have accomplished these past 25 years,” said principal Tammy Burks.