The Idaho Association of School Administrators named Jennifer Gomez the 2025 Idaho National Distinguished Principal.
Gomez is the principal of Orchard Elementary School in Lewiston. Under her guidance, Orchard Elementary was awarded the model Professional Learning Community school designation.
Gomez has been with Lewiston Schools since 1996, and worked at Orchard Elementary since 2016.
Boise principal receives recognition
Boise School District’s Chad Wright, outgoing principal of Les Bois Junior High and incoming Timberline High principal, has been named Secondary School Principal of the Year by the Idaho Association of Secondary School Principals.
Wright will represent Idaho at celebrations for the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
Lewiston selects new principal
Jolyn Hobson’s hiring as incoming principal of Whitman Elementary School has been approved by the Lewiston School District’s Board of Directors.
Hobson is an alumnus and former assistant principal of Lewiston High School. Hobson has been an administrator with Lewiston schools since 2020, and taught at Heights Elementary in Clarkston from 2015 to 2020.
JUMP to begin studio workshops
Jack’s Urban Meeting Place in Downtown Boise is hosting workshops for anyone age six and older this summer in their five interactive studios — MAKE, MOVE, INSPIRE, SHARE and PLAY. The workshops last anywhere from a couple hours in one morning to eight-week sessions on weekends. Topics include music production, film and video production, arts and crafts, backpacking, yoga and more.
Prices range from free to $450.
For more information, read JUMP’s summer catalogue at their website, jumpboise.org.
Some Boise graduates to wear green cords
Fifty-four graduating Boise seniors earned “Green Cords” to be worn with their graduation regalia. The cords were given as awards for taking initiative to be involved in environmental issues. This is the first time the Boise School District has awarded color-coded cords to graduating seniors.
Barry Manilow to honor an outstanding Boise-area music teacher
Singer and songwriter Barry Manilow announced last week that he plans to honor an outstanding music teacher in each city he performs in during his Last Arena Tour.
Manilow will honor a Boise area teacher at the ExtraMile Arena on July 15. The outstanding music teacher will be decided by a public vote, open to everyone at manilowmusicproject.org.
The award finalists hail from nine schools and voting ends on June 10:
- Capital High School: Casey Lindorfer
- Borah High School: Cristin Boeck
- Meridian High School: Luke Koenig
- Renaissance High School: Peggy McGrorty
- Idaho Fine Arts Academy: Monica Palmer
- Mountain View High School: Katie Hatley
- Centennial High School: Brittany Brings
- Eagle High School: Tyler Eriksen
- Rocky Mountain High School: Quentin DeWitt
