COEUR d’ALENE — Area schools got a visit Wednesday from Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra. Ybarra is touring the state this month to listen to school district officials, teachers, and students.

Ybarra said the two concerns she keeps hearing about are the lack of teachers in Idaho public schools, and the way that public education is funded in the Gem State.

On the bright side, throughout her travels she said she has also heard a lot about the state department of education’s responsiveness to local schools.

Lakeland School District assistant superintendent Lisa Sexton said prior to Ybarra, the state education department had a reputation for being distant from local school districts. Ybarra has made the department a service organization, said Sexton, who serves on Ybarra’s cabinet. Sexton said Ybarra regularly teleconferences with district officials from all regions of the state to take the pulse of public education in their districts, and to get constructive criticism on proposals.

“She’s very connected to what’s going on in the schools. We appreciate it,” said Sexton. Ybarra “advocates for us” at the state capitol, she added.

Ybarra said she believes in being a leader that people want to follow, and who is results-oriented. When asked about criticisms of her work habits and relationships with state legislators, Ybarra said her track record shows that what she’s doing works. The state has added $100 million to public education during each year of her tenure, she said. Colleagues in the state capitol know her door is always open, she said. Ybarra said, during her first year in office, most of the emails she received were about what was wrong with the state education department. Now the ratio is about 50 percent positive to 50 percent critical, she said. The department exists to support schools as they help students achieve, Ybarra said.

Ybarra visited Mountain View Alternative High School in Rathdrum, where approximately 100 students study in a family-style environment, said principal Paul Uzzi.

“We have a reputation as a place where kids want to be,” he said.

Ybarra also saw firsthand how professional development takes place at Lakes Middle School. Vice principal Trayce Hemenway said after teachers led their students through a study of the “Diary of Anne Frank” and read articles on conflict resolution, the teachers gathered together and offered peer critiques of one another. It takes a lot of courage to let your peers evaluate you, Hemenway said.

Ybarra also attended the Region 1 superintendents meeting in Coeur d’Alene on Wednesday.

“It was good for her to hear our concerns,” said Coeur d’Alene School Board chairman Casey Morrisroe. “We appreciate her coming.”