The Idaho Public Charter School Commission named two longtime Idaho educators as finalists to be the commission’s director, Monday.

Rachel Burk, parent engagement and school choice coordinator at the Idaho Department of Education, and Lisa Costa, director of professional development at the Idaho Division of Career Technical Education, were interviewed by the commissioners at a special meeting last week. 

The announcement comes after a months-long statewide recruitment process following the weeks-long tenure of Korey Mereness, the commission’s previous director. The hiring is important for the commission after leadership turnover in recent years.

“This is a critical leadership position for the future of charter schools in Idaho,” Alan Reed, commission chair, said in a news release. “We are confident in the strength of our finalists and have enjoyed hearing their vision for supporting quality, innovation and accountability in public charter education.”

The commission and interim director and Executive Director of the State Board of Education, Jennifer White, did preliminary interviews in late July. The commission will consider the finalists and appoint the director at its regular meeting Thursday.

Burk previously taught English Language Arts in Texas and Idaho, including at a charter school in Nampa. She holds a master of arts in teaching from Western Governors University and a bachelor of arts in cultural anthropology and museum management from Oklahoma Baptist University.

In her current role, she already works with the commission and is a regular at its meetings, presenting on the state’s increased charter support program. 

Costa previously taught in the West Ada School District. She attended the University of Idaho where she earned a master’s of education in curriculum and instruction, career technical education, and a bachelor of science in family and consumer science education.

Both candidates passed a background check, according to the news release.

The charter commission oversees more than 70 public charter schools serving approximately 30,000 students statewide.

The commission is taking feedback on the finalists via email at pcsc@osbe.idaho.gov.