“We don’t get treated like high school students. We get treated like teachers, which has given me a good understanding of what it would be like to be a teacher and solidified that teaching is definitely what I want to do,” said Piper Thompson, a senior participating in Sandpoint High School’s original career training program.

In its second year, Education Pathway allows students to spend 60 hours during one semester career training at a Lake Pend Oreille School District elementary school. The focus is to prepare future educators by immersing kids in the same professional training licensed teachers receive and engaging in real classroom experience.

The program’s ultimate goal is to help kids pursue a passion for education.

“We are excited to provide this incredible opportunity as part of Sandpoint High School’s work and career training,” said Kari Granier, an assistant principal, who played an integral role in recruiting and placing each student — called teacher cadets — in an elementary school.

Thompson, who was placed at Kootenai Elementary, designed her senior project from her career experience. The final graded presentation included background on the science of reading, evidence-based instruction and details regarding how student progress is monitored.  

This experience helped shape her future, because Thompson wants to give back to the district community by working as a paraprofessional as part of her “gap” year.

Lisa McElroy, the district’s Literacy Lead, introduced cadets to a unique, full-day Enhanced Core Reading Instruction training, an opportunity that both supports the district’s commitment to “graduate every student a reader” and provides real-world professional training.

It prepared these aspiring educators to implement the Science of Reading framework, setting them up for success in both their current practicum placements and future education classes. Students left the training with meaningful insights and a new understanding of teaching strategies.  

“My biggest takeaway from the training is how helpful the repetition can be,” senior Betty Travers explained. “We use a technique from the training called ‘Say it, Spell it, Say it.’ And it really works!”

Travers added, “I always knew I wanted to be a teacher but secretly I wondered if I would really have the passion for it. Being at Kootenai has shown me that I do.”

In total, the SHS program has served seven students since it was piloted in 2023-24. The goal, according to Granier, is to have at least two teacher cadets placed at each of the district’s seven elementary schools. At least in LPOSD, the pipeline for recruiting and developing new teacher candidates is healthy.

    Sandpoint High School’s cohort of teacher cadets are, pictured from left, Lola Stoken, Maddie Mitchell, Betti Travers, Piper Thompson and Mira Gunter.