D91 Employee Newsletter

Our promise in Idaho Falls School District 91 is simple but powerful — to design success for every student. “Success by Design” isn’t just a slogan. It’s the heart of everything we do together.

One of the most effective ways we live out that promise is through our work in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). When we meet in PLCs, we collaborate and problem-solve around four essential questions:

1. What do we want students to learn?

2. How will we know when they’ve learned it?

3. What will we do when a student needs more time and support?

4. How will we extend learning for students who are ready for more?

Using common checks for understanding and reviewing student responses, we adjust instruction, target supports, and design extensions so every student can achieve essential outcomes. This work is powerful, and it takes dedicated time and teamwork to make it happen. That’s why our Friday schedule is intentionally structured to support PLC collaboration:

• Elementary teachers meet weekly to review progress, plan interventions, and design next steps for learning.

• Secondary teachers use Friday intervention time to provide targeted support or enrichment, helping students strengthen skills and deepen learning.

These structures reflect our shared belief that every student can learn and that together, we can create the conditions for success.

I am deeply grateful for your steadfast commitment to students, your creativity, and your collaboration. You are the heart of our work: empowering learners, developing leaders, and creating a legacy of success designed for every student. Thank you for all you do to make D91 a place where students thrive and teachers shine!

• Oct. 22-23: Parent Teacher Conferences
• Oct. 23: 90 MINUTE EARLY RELEASE
• Oct. 23: Southeast Idaho College Fair | Skyline High School | 5 - 8 pm
• Oct. 24: PTC Comp Day - NO SCHOOL
• Nov. 4: Election Day - NO SCHOOL

Parent teacher conferences will be held next week, Oct. 22-23. School will release 90 minutes early on Thursday, Oct. 23. There will be NO SCHOOL on Friday, Oct. 24. If you have questions about your student's conference schedule, please contact your school secretary.

The application window is now open for Idaho LAUNCH, Idaho Opportunity, FAFSA, and CEI Foundation scholarships!

Introducing our new series, D91 School Spotlights! Each week, we’ll be showcasing a school in our district — meeting teachers, getting to know principals, and more. Follow along on our Instagram and Facebook pages!

This week’s spotlight is on Westside Elementary! Westside was dedicated in 1979, and currently enrolls 473 students (known as the Wolfpack). After 6th grade, Westside students keep their blue and attend Eagle Rock Middle School and Skyline High School.

Principal Kelsey Anderson grew up in Salt Lake City, UT, but moved to Ammon as a teenager and graduated from Hillcrest High School. After earning her teaching degree at BYU-Idaho and completing student teaching in Utah, Anderson returned to Idaho to be closer to family. She taught kindergarten for 6 years, and then decided to pursue a pathway in administration after being inspired by her principal’s leadership. After two years as an assistant principal at Linden Park, Anderson came to Westside.

Now in her 5th year at Westside, she says she is guided by a “servant leadership” philosophy that prioritizes helping teachers and students however she can. On days when she feels stressed or overwhelmed by paperwork, Principal Anderson says she leaves the office and heads into classrooms with this announcement: “I’m going to find the joy!” She loves the camaraderie in the Westside Wolfpack between staff, students, and community members.

Outside of work, Principal Anderson loves traveling with her husband and spending time with her nieces and nephews.

On Monday, Westside cut the ribbon and opened their brand new playground! Two years ago, the Westside PTO, led by Megan Stembridge and Kiery Wilson, began saving money for new playground equipment. Though they were anticipating the project would take 4-5 years, they successfully raised $109,000 in just two years!

Shout out to Westside’s families and students, who raised $53,461 of that total through restaurant nights, carnivals, raffle tickets, and fun runs. Other valued donations came from the American Farmers Network, the CHC Foundation, Mountain View Hospital, Walmart, and Sam’s Club. Thanks to all these sponsors for their support!

Principal Anderson said students gave input on what playground structures they wanted the most. The new equipment includes a row of eight swings, a netted climbing tower, and a connected set with three slides, three climbing nets, a rock wall, and a spiral fireman’s pole.

We are also grateful to Lucky Dog Recreation and the D91 Maintenance Department for their help removing the old structure and installing the new equipment. The old structure, which had been in use for over 35 years, had sentimental value and was auctioned off to the public, and now the double metal slide has a new home on local land.

👑A huge congratulations to the IFHS Marching Band, who placed 1st at the Burley competition this month! They took the crown in all 5 categories: Best Music, Best Visuals, Best General Effects, Best Percussion, and Best Colorguard. This is an impressive feat — Go Tigers!

Idaho Falls School District 91 continues to focus on helping all students develop the skills and habits they need to succeed, not just in school, but throughout life. This year, our district behavior goals emphasize personal growth, collaboration, and civility. This week, we are highlighting Goal 3: Growth Mindset and Grit.

A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, effective strategies, and learning from mistakes. Students with a growth mindset understand that success comes from persistence and hard work, not just natural talent. They think, “I can learn this if I keep trying.”

Grit means showing persistence and determination, especially when things get tough. It’s the ability to stay focused and keep moving forward even when progress is slow or challenges arise. A student with grit says, “No matter what, I can and will do this.”

How Educators Can Foster Growth Mindset and Grit

Teachers and staff play a crucial role in helping students develop these traits every day. Here are a few ways to encourage growth mindset and grit in your classrooms and school communities:

• Praise effort, strategy, and perseverance. Focus feedback on what students did to make progress, not just the final product.

• Model a growth mindset. Share your own learning challenges and how you work through them. This normalizes struggle and persistence.

• Use the power of “yet.” Encourage students to reframe fixed statements like “I can’t do this” into “I can’t do this yet.”

• Celebrate progress and learning. Highlight improvement and reflection as much as achievement.

• Create a culture of perseverance. Provide opportunities for students to revisit work, revise, and persist through challenges.

When we teach growth mindset and grit, we do more than help students succeed in school. We prepare them to face life’s challenges with confidence, determination, and hope. Each time we model perseverance, give feedback that values effort, or encourage a student to try again, we strengthen the culture of learning in D91.

Let’s commit to being champions of the Power of Yet, reminding every student that they are capable of growth, and that success is built one step, one effort, and one “yet” at a time. We are working together to build a district where every student and staff member learns, grows, and thrives!

After a successful pilot last year, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is naming more snowplows this winter season! Name A Snowplow is a fun way to spread awareness about snowplow safety, foster a sense of ownership among the community, and teach future drivers how to be safe when driving near snowplows.

Names must be submitted by Oct. 31! Classrooms whose names are chosen will receive a special visit from the snowplow bearing the name.

See here for submission guidelines and a project timeline.

Every day in D91, there are amazing people whose hard work and positive attitude make our schools shine, from the cafeteria to the classroom, the ball fields to breakfast duty!

The High Five Club is your chance to celebrate those everyday heroes who go above and beyond. If you know someone who consistently puts others first, spreads positivity, or makes D91 a brighter place to learn and work, take a minute to nominate them today!

There will be 2 employee immunization clinics during the month of November at the Compass Academy Training Center. The following vaccines will be offered: Flu, COVID, Shingles (50 & older), TDAP (tetanus), Pneumonia (50 & older) and RSV (60 & older). More information to come!

💉November 7 | 12:00-4:00 PM

💉November 14 | 7:30-11:30 AM

~~~

The Human Resources Department is here to support you. If you have questions about your payroll withholdings, work calendar, benefits, or contract, please don’t hesitate to reach out at humanresources@sd91.org.

• Classroom Aide (Westside, part time)
• Crossing Guard (Temple View, part time)
• Custodian (Fox Hollow; part time)
• Head Custodian (Edgemont; full time)
• Satellite Server (Temple View, part time)
• Secretary (Hawthorne, part time)
• SPED Support Aide (Skyline, full time)
• Title I Tutor (Ethel Boyes, limited full time)
• D91 Substitute