Superintendent Ybarra meets students and teachers to discuss future of education

It has been two years since Idaho superintendent of public instruction, Sherri Ybarra, was last at Rocky Mountain Middle School in Bonneville School District 93.

“It was great to come back and see the progress and see the changes, and see how the kids are doing,” Ybarra said.

Ybarra’s post-legislative roadshow is what brings her back to the school and Idaho Falls. The tour is designed for her to meet with districts and discuss what bills may affect the future of education.

It was also a chance for Ybarra to check out the classrooms and school programs.

“I’m here visiting (Rocky Mountain Middle School’s) mastery-based education setting that they have for their students,” Ybarra said.

Along with legislators, Ybarra and her team helped get more school districts involved in mastery-based education. This type of learning helps students go about at their own pace based on their own skills. It makes students take responsibility for their education.

“The last time I was here, students informed me that this setting is not for everybody,” Ybarra said. “If you’re not a self-starter this is probably not the setting for you.”

Ybarra said that mastery-based education gives kids the type of flexibility that many need nowadays.

For eighth-grader, Garrett Steffen, it gives him an opportunity to find a balance on subjects he thrives in.

“I can work on stuff I’m good at, like English for a shorter amount time and I don’t have to do as much because I know what I’m doing,” Steffen said.

And ones he needs a little more help on.

“I struggle a little bit in math,” Steffen said. “I can work more on math (and) more time than other kids might need.”

Another plus to the program?

It helps kids, like Steffen, who are involved in after-school activities get time to do homework and study.

“I can do it (at school), I can do it any time of the day,” Steffen said. “If I need to take notes, I can just log into a computer.

Ybarra calls it personalized learning at its best.

“The most impressive thing that I’ve seen both times that I’ve been here is the kids being able to verbalize exactly where they’re at in their learning,” Steffen said. “How much they love being in this setting and how much it’s helping them.”