The compensation plan for educators teaching in Idaho is in the process of being revised with both the Department of Education and the Idaho teacher’s union weighing in with proposed compensation plans. One plan, iSTARS (Idaho State Teacher Advancement and Recognition System) will allow for performance based pay increases, which proponents believe will improve classroom performance, provide incentives for good teachers, and improve recruitment and retention of teachers in Idaho.
Current initiatives include the Rural Education Initiative, the Idaho Math Initiative, Safe and Secure Schools, the Middle School Task Force and the Teacher Performance Evaluation Task Force. Each of these initiatives aims to improve the school environment for both students and teachers. As part of these initiatives, educators teaching in Idaho should experience greater opportunities for training and advancement, as well as expanded employment opportunities, particularly in the areas of rural education, math education and students with special needs.
Idaho Teacher Requirements
Today, teaching in Idaho is no different than teaching anywhere else in the United States. Across the country there are teacher shortages everywhere in special education classrooms, in junior high and senior high mathematics and science departments, and an overwhelming shortage of bilingual instructors who are capable of teaching all subjects to those with English as their second language.
Beyond the areas listed above where shortages are happening from coast-to-coast, the teaching industry in Idaho seems to be a very secure place to apply for work if you would enjoy teaching in Idaho – a state with lots of wildlife, friendly people, low crime rates, and beautiful scenery. The cost of living in Idaho is lower than in other areas of the country, making Idaho a very desirable place for educators to reside.
Idaho has many small family-friendly communities that take pride in their local education systems, with a higher than normal rate of parent and community involvement in the schools. For the future, this pride in education is expected to continue to make Idaho an ideal place to consider for long-term employment options as a classroom teacher. Financially, when communities are involved with their schools, pay reflects this interest.