Leaders and Educators Transforming Idaho’s Future Article

Students across Bluum’s 31 Idaho schools have a lot to say when it comes to their school leaders.

“They’ll take the time to stop and make sure you understand the subject, really caring about more than just your grade.”

“A good leader is not only someone who can have a voice but someone who listens to the people who are leading. Listening is a very important thing, not just as a leader but in life in general.”

“To have such knowledgeable people at your fingertips is really cool. Like, they are so intelligent and I look up to them a lot.”

Without teachers… “we’d basically just be animals.”

Okay, so the kids might not actually become animals, but the sentiment tracks. Without talented and innovative school leaders – and the work that Bluum does to bring them to Idaho – our state’s educational landscape would look quite different.

Recognizing that exceptional schools are built on the foundation of remarkable leaders, Bluum works to cultivate and support visionary school leaders who wish to transform the way we approach learning in Idaho. This might manifest as a principal who, empowered by Bluum’s coaching, fosters a collaborative environment where teachers can unleash their creativity and ignite a love of learning in their students. Or, it might be a teacher who, thanks to a Bluum fellowship opportunity, gets to design an entirely new school and curriculum that supports the unique needs of the community.

With 13,000 students at 31 schools, Bluum has made it their mission to cultivate leaders who build sustainable learning opportunities across Idaho, especially in rural communities like Island Park, New Meadows, Idaho Falls, Fruitland, and Salmon.

“Everything Bluum does starts with leadership. Our experience in Idaho – and it is backed up by the national experience – is that outstanding public charter schools have strong leaders. Strong charter school networks have stellar CEOs. We focus our efforts on leadership because that is how change happens.”

Since its inception. Bluum has championed thirty Idaho New School Fellows and charter network partners who lead some of our state’s highest performing public schools.

As one Idaho student thoughtfully said, “I can’t imagine where I’d be without my teachers.”

Neither can we.