Public Notice

Notice: The IESDB Board of DirectorsRegular Board meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, March 12th, has been cancelled. A notice will be provided her when it is rescheduled.

Welcome to Our Site

Brian Darcy, Agency Administrator

Dear Students, Families, and Staff, Stakeholders and Community partners,

Welcome back to another exciting year at the Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind! As we embark on this new academic journey, I am filled with immense pride and optimism for the exceptional opportunities that lie ahead. Our commitment to providing an inclusive and empowering education remains unwavering. Our dedicated educators, support staff, and administrators have spent countless hours preparing for this moment – a moment that symbolizes not just a return to school, but a return to growth, learning, and community.

For our students who are Deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or low vision, this is a place where your unique talents are celebrated, and your dreams are nurtured. We understand that every individual's path is different, and we are here to guide and support you every step of the way to achieve your potential. Together, we will conquer challenges, discover new strengths, and achieve remarkable feats. Families, you are an integral part of our school community. Your partnership, insights, and involvement contribute significantly to the success of our students. We encourage open communication and collaboration to ensure that each student's needs are met comprehensively and effectively. As we navigate the current educational landscape, we remain adaptable and resourceful. We have integrated the latest technologies and teaching methodologies to enhance the learning experience, both in-person and through distance education. The partnerships we have developed only enhance the educational services we provide. Our goal is to provide a safe and conducive environment for all students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

In my 13 years in this position, I never tire of witnessing the growth of our students as they explore new subjects, engage in meaningful discussions, and form lasting friendships. Let us embrace the spirit of curiosity, empathy, and determination that defines our small community. I am also thrilled to highlight the important role of our Outreach Services. These services extend beyond the walls of our school and into local communities, into local school districts, and the sanctity of homes, ensuring that the valuable resources and support we offer are accessible to as many students and families as possible. Our commitment to outreach reflects our belief in the transformative power of education, empowerment, and inclusion.

On behalf of the entire Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind family, I extend a warm welcome to all – returning students, new students, families, and staff. Let us make this academic year one of resilience, learning, and joy. Here's to a successful and enriching school year! Cheers!

Summit Attendees

The ISDB is pleased and excited to announce that our school won an all expense paid trip for 4 high school students and 2 Educators to attend the Presidential Inauguration Leadership Summit in Washington DC from January 18-January 23. The contest--called "Chase the Race--Champions for Change" -- was sponsored by Discovery Education and involved nominating our school and then gathering many people to vote for us over a period of a 2 or 3 months. Voters were allowed to vote once a day for the school of their choice.

It is amazing that our small school beat out some many other entrants. The 3 schools garnering the most votes all won a trip to Washington DC. ISDB placed 3rd. We owe so much thanks to all out there who faithfully voted for ISDB in this contest. Thank you faculty, students, families, and friends who participated in voting!

The students chosen to attend wrote letters of interest to the Administration in order to be considered to represent ISDB in the Leadership Summit. Students chosen to represent ISDB will be Wasim Hussni, Enrique Lopez, Karlee Robinson, and Zak Jones. The Leadership Summit is put together by Envision, a leading experiential education organization. It is reported there will be about 2,000 students from across the nation and the world attending. Students attending the 4 day event will hear national level speakers, and will participate in groups focused on brainstorming and proposing possible solutions for specific issues and problems in the world. We are very excited for our ISDB students to have this opportunity!

Envision, a leading experiential education organization, and Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, announced today the three grand prize winning schools of the Champions for Change Contest:

  • Ballico Elementary School (Ballico, CA) of Ballico Cressey School District
  • Ozark Junior High School (Ozark, AR) of Ozark R-VI School District
  • Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind (Gooding, ID) of ISDB School District

With more than 35,000 contest entries, these schools received the highest number of public votes to attend Envision’s Presidential Inauguration Leadership Summit held in Washington, D.C. from January 18th to 22nd, 2017. The contest is part of the Chase the Race in School program that works to engage, captivate and energize the youth voice on the importance of democracy and civic engagement. The program includes a series of classroom resources to lead students through the major presidential election milestones.