We met over 20 years ago. As new English teachers in the Blaine County School District, Stephanie and I were eager to begin our careers. I admired her charisma and the easy connections she made with students and staff. Marking time with the school calendar, we bonded over celebrations and sorrows, including the births of our boys and the deaths of her mother and my sister.

Although we share striking similarities, we also challenge one another’s beliefs and behaviors; we’ve learned from each other as much as we’ve loved each other. While I am naturally pragmatic, a toe-the-line type of teacher, Stephanie questions, pushing back when she doesn’t think something is right. I’m drawn to her spirit, her style, as are her students. I’ve heard numerous graduates say that they would not have earned their diplomas without Ms. Spindler’s steady support.

Yet, despite her unquestionable influence over the past 22 years, Stephanie is slated to lose her job at the end of the school year due to Blaine County School District’s projected budget shortfall and its current reduction-in-force policy. This policy, created by former board members and staff in 2014, dictates that a coin toss determines the fate of an employee should there be a tie.

Stephanie is the first to tell students that they can achieve their goals, that they are more capable than they realize. In recent years, Stephanie has reflected on ways that she, too, can grow. Her reminders to keep striving— reminders not only to her students but to herself as well—exemplify one of Wood River High School’s central tenets: We improve.

Nominated as graduation speaker several times, Stephanie overcame her fear of public speaking in 2022 when she agreed to speak at WRHS’s commencement. Because she knew students were counting on her, in showing up, Stephanie modeled another important tenet: We earn trust.

Championing students beyond the classroom, Stephanie helps them tackle everything from résumés to the FAFSA. She’s spent countless hours beyond contract time helping with assignments, job applications, and college essays. A few years ago, Stephanie and her family invited a senior into their home when he didn’t have a place to live. She watched him graduate and then helped him secure enough scholarships to attend BSU. He graduates this May. Her selflessness embodies a third tenet: We take care.

Stephanie doesn’t do these things because they are part of her job description. Rather, she supports students because she wants them to understand that they are more than a score on a rubric. She spends time getting to know them, including their past challenges and their future hopes. Stephanie’s desire to connect with students—both academically and personally—exemplifies the final Wolverine tenet: We stay curious.

I am sharing my experiences working with and learning from Stephanie because I want to offer the Blaine County School District board of trustees a complete picture of this seasoned, impactful employee. Stephanie is an educator who, despite dedicating her career to teaching, will not return next fall due to our current RIF policy.

I understand that in these increasingly difficult times—times marked by rubrics and reductions—there are no quick fixes. But I also believe that the board strives to do what’s best for students. Knowing that they are working to improve an outdated rubric, I am confident that they will adopt a process that ensures a more thoughtful and thorough assessment of staff.

Wood River Valley’s future students deserve to learn from phenomenal educators like Stephanie—educators whose impact stretches far beyond any classroom.

This is a monumental loss for us all.

Summer Gilmore is a teacher at Wood River High School