Misti Young refused to go home until her homework was done. That made for long days for the Post Falls High School special education teacher.

The long hours and time away from her family paid off, though. Young earned her master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Idaho in Coeur d’Alene, capping a two-year effort in May.

“I want to be a director of special education some day,” said Young. “This master’s degree is an important step in achieving that goal. I knew if I went home, I could never get my work done. It made for some long days. When I got home, I could be mom.”

Post Falls School District Superintendent Jerry Keane praised Young’s efforts in the classroom.

“Misti is one of the finest educators I have ever been associated with,” Keane said. “She is so dedicated to her students. She’s willing to do anything to make their lives better. We are lucky to have her.”

Young is part of the 2016 class of 85 graduating students at the University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene. She’s not done yet, either; Young is taking education specialist classes at the University of Idaho in Coeur d’Alene.

A 10-year veteran at Post Falls, Young started as a life skills teacher. Her passion is working with special needs students.

“I feel I have to be an advocate for the students and their parents,” she said. “Every day is a fresh start. They teach me that even when there is a struggle, you can still be the very best.”

Young said other students without developmental disabilities can sometimes take life for granted.

“It’s why I started the peer assistance program last year,” she said. “I bring students into the special education classroom. Together they learn how to cook, sew buttons, count money… All of life’s basics.”

An estimated 130 special education students and about 15 other students participated in the program, said Young.

Something magical happens inside that classroom.  

“They become best friends,” Young said. “They’re taking them to dances and doing things together outside of classes.”

Young, who earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Eastern Washington, picked the University of Idaho because of its affordability, reputation and online curriculum.

“I wanted an online program to fit into my life, two kids, four dogs, cats, chickens and full-time job,” said Young. “I was nervous because you don’t have a teacher in front of you. However, there was so much interaction online, it was as good or better than being in a classroom.”

Online learning requires discipline and a heaping of hard work to complete readings and difficult assignments.

“There is an expectation to talk to each other online, which meant I was talking to people from North Idaho, the southern part of the state, even overseas,” said Young. “It helped because you get a completely different perspective and you learn so much. You learn from each other more than the professor. The professor’s job is to guide you through the course.”

While a veteran teacher, Young said her educational leadership degree provides a new perspective on the education system. She learned about school finances, including teacher association contracts, how the money comes to the school and how it is spent.

“It’s understanding the whole school,” said Young. “I also think it made me a better teacher.”

The decision to go back to school wasn’t easy.

“We had to have a family meeting,” she said. “I told them this is my dream and here’s what I want to do. It was a sacrifice, but I think it had a big impact on my children. My daughter is 19 and she wants to be a teacher. And my 16-year old son never listed education as one of his future occupations. Now he’s looking at it.”

--Written by Marc Stewart, Director of Sponsored Content

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