Pocatello Times

More than 200 P-12 educators across the state and region have added orange and black to their classrooms and school spaces thanks to a new campaign called Make Your Classroom ROAR, sponsored by the Idaho State University College of Education, the ISU Alumni Association, and Lookout Credit Union. 

Beginning in the Spring 2022 semester, the College of Education encouraged P-12 teachers, coaches, support staff, principals and superintendents to sign up to add Bengal spirit to their workplaces. Free ISU flags, stickers, highlighters, pennants, pens, pom-poms, lanyards, staplers, notepads, and a custom Benny the Bengal stuffed animal were provided to recipients in the Fall 2022 semester. All educators, including those who were not ISU alumni, were invited to take part. 

"We are proud of our Bengal teachers. They change lives for the better. Day in and day out, they set our children up for success as citizens by inspiring them to do good, to think, and to learn,” said Ryan Sargent, Executive Director of the Alumni Association. “The ISU Alumni Association is excited to continue partnering with the College of Education and Lookout Credit Union to ensure educators around the country can share their ISU pride with their students."

In addition to the free ISU gear, Lookout Credit Union sponsored a $500 gift card to those who shared photos of their spaces on social media with the Make Your Classroom Roar gear displayed. The gift card winner, who works for Ellis Elementary School in the Pocatello/ Chubbuck School District 25, received their gift card during a surprise presentation on Friday, December 16, 2022. 

“This was a fun, collaborative project that encouraged hundreds of educators to show their Bengal pride. More importantly, we hope that through these displays even more P-12 students from across the state will see ISU as the vibrant university it is and consider pursuing their post-secondary education here," said College of Education Dean, Jean McGivney-Burelle.

The College of Education plans to continue the Make Your Classroom ROAR campaign in 2023 with the goal of delivering 200-250 boxes each semester. Educators are encouraged to learn more by emailing coemarkt@isu.edu.

Original source can be found here.