Roar Together: Building Idaho’s Future with INCLUDE Communities Grace and Soda Springs

Featuring Grace and Soda Springs

We are excited to launch a series spotlighting our incredible community partners through the INCLUDE project. This initiative connects rural Idaho communities to expanded educational opportunities, health services, and critical resources. By highlighting these communities, we celebrate the dedicated efforts of those working to uplift, educate, and support Idaho's youth. Join us as we share a bit about the communities who are helping to ensure a brighter future for all Idahoans.

 

Jason Moss, Grace School District: Transition and Preservation

Grace, Idaho is a small town nestled amidst stunning mountain ranges, deeply rooted in farming traditions, and brimming with a strong sense of community. Jason Moss, the Superintendent of Grace School District #148, is a man who embodies the spirit of this close-knit community. With a background in education and a commitment to his faith, Jason has become a familiar and respected figure in Grace, a place he has called home for the past four years. 

Superintendant Moss

 

Having started his career in the district as the principal of Grace Elementary and Thatcher Elementary schools, Jason has now entered his fourth year as superintendent. His connection to the town is not only professional but also deeply personal. As a native Idahoan, returning to his home state after twelve years in Wyoming was a deliberate choice for Jason and his wife, Becky, who wanted their nine children to grow up near their grandparents in nearby Dayton.

Jason’s love for Grace extends beyond its picturesque landscapes. He speaks fondly of the community’s strong work ethic, which is especially evident during the fall potato harvest when locals, including his own children, work on farms that have sustained the area for generations. This sense of tradition is a source of pride for Superintendent Moss, who hopes future generations will continue to appreciate the town’s agricultural roots and the values it instills. 

The Caribou County Fair and the high school’s Homecoming week are annual events eagerly anticipated, as they bring the community together in celebration. The fall potato harvest, a significant event in the town’s calendar, is another tradition that Superintendent Moss finds particularly meaningful, as it showcases the community’s collective effort and dedication.

“Grace is a town where neighbors look out for one another, especially in times of need,” he says. 

Superintendent Moss recalls instances where the community has rallied to support families dealing with illness, organizing fundraisers and providing assistance. This spirit of solidarity is also evident in the town’s enthusiastic support for local high school sports, where crowds gather to cheer on their teams with fervor. Local businesses and farms are the backbone of Grace’s economy, providing employment and contributing to the town’s character. Superintendent Moss highlights the importance of these enterprises, noting how they not only sustain the local economy but also foster a sense of community through their generosity and involvement in local causes.

While Grace is steeped in tradition, Superintendent Moss acknowledges that there is room for growth and improvement. He hopes that residents will focus more on the positive aspects of their community and work towards fostering an even stronger, more united environment. In a town where history is preserved through the continuation of age-old practices like farming and ranching, Superintendent Moss hopes that future generations will carry forward these traditions. 

“Grace is more than just a place to live,” he says. “It’s a community that offers a rich quality of life, where the beauty of the landscape is matched only by the warmth and resilience of its people.”

Scott Muir, Soda Springs School District: Growth and Tradition

Over the last three years as the superintendent of the Soda Springs School District, Scott Muir’s connection to the area has been evident in his commitment to the community and its schools. Growing up in Idaho Falls and spending the majority of his career in Idaho, with a 13-year stint in Arizona, Superintendent Muir was drawn back to Idaho by both family ties and a desire for the tranquility that small-town life offers. His wife, a Soda Springs native, played a role in their return, and together they outfitted the 1970s home they bought with a deck overlooking Soda Creek, which runs through their property. Walking out to see moose, deer, and sometimes elk on their property is just another day in Soda Springs.

Scott Muir

The town is home to mining activity, with several mining companies providing employment for many locals and contributing about 72% of the town's tax revenue, which plays an important role in supporting the community. With a population of about 3,000, Soda Springs is a bustling yet peaceful community surrounded by mountains and crossed by the Bear River. The Soda springs in the town produce soda water—carbonated water that bubbles up from the earth. It’s a place where outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, and kayaking are pastimes, and where the winters are long, sometimes stretching into May, making the brief summer a welcome respite.

Soda Springs is a community in transition, with ongoing projects aimed at improving infrastructure while preserving the town’s character. The main street, sewage and water systems are being updated, and there are plans to build a new high school. Muir hopes that the town’s development will be gradual, allowing Soda Springs to retain its charm while welcoming new residents.

The Soda Springs School District serves approximately 850 students across three schools—elementary, middle, and high school. Despite its small size, the district has made significant strides in academic achievement. The elementary school, in particular, has been recognized for climbing to the top five schools in Idaho on the state’s IRI (Idaho Reading Indicator) test. 

“I am so proud of this achievement,” Muir says. “This success is due to the close-knit community and the dedication of the school’s staff.”

The recent addition of a Career Technology Education (CTE) building, funded by a state grant, marks an expansion in the school’s programs. Students can now pursue courses in woodworking, construction, and auto mechanics, in addition to existing programs like welding. There is also a high school apprenticeship program, with Soda Springs having the largest number of participants, which allows students earn credits while gaining real-world experience and getting paid for their work with local companies. 

The recent addition of a Career Technology Education (CTE) building, funded by a state grant, marks an expansion in the school’s programs.

 

Superintendent Muir is particularly enthusiastic about the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) initiative, which has brought improvements to the district. According to him, PLCs are groups of educators who meet regularly to share expertise, analyze student work, and collaborate on instructional strategies. A grant received last spring allowed the district to send 11 staff members for specialized PLC training, further enhancing the program’s effectiveness.

“This focus on student growth has been instrumental in ensuring that every student, regardless of their starting point, receives the support they need to succeed,” he says. 

The Soda Springs school district has also recorded a number of athletic triumphs, with the girls’ basketball team winning multiple state championships, the girls’ cross country team claiming several state titles and the girls’ track team winning their first state championship just last year.  

The community’s involvement in the schools is another cornerstone of Muir’s vision for the district. Volunteers from the community, including the mayor and other prominent community members, regularly visit the elementary school to read to students as part of an annual reading program. Members of the community are also active participants in the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) and Booster Club, made up of parents of high school athletes. They play an active role in supporting the schools through fundraisers and other initiatives.

Soda Springs is a town that knows how to celebrate its traditions. The Fourth of July is a major event, with parades, fireworks, and a unique tradition where the fire department sprays a bubbly substance on the grass for children to roll around in—a core memory for many who grew up in the area. The town also hosts the largest cross-country meet in Idaho, held at Kelly Park, which attracts schools from Wyoming, Utah, and across Idaho. This event, held on the Saturday before Labor Day weekend, is a testament to the community’s passion for sports and its ability to bring people together.

Superintendent Scott Muir’s leadership is marked by his hands-on approach and his desire to stay connected with both students and staff. He makes it a point to visit each school regularly. He values these interactions, reminiscing about the early days of his tenure when the elementary school principal invited him to visit classrooms once a month to say hello to the students and hand out candy to the teachers. Although his schedule has become busier, he continues to prioritize his interactions with students and teachers, believing that personal connections are key to effective leadership.

Despite being relatively new to the community, Muir and his wife have been welcomed by the residents of Soda Springs. He says, “The people of Soda Springs are kind and friendly, with a strong work ethic that is evident in the number of students who choose to stay in the community after high school, often working in the local mines.” While Muir appreciates this loyalty to the town, he also hopes to encourage more students to explore educational opportunities beyond high school, whether through college or other avenues that allow them to broaden their horizons.

In Soda Springs, Scott Muir has found a community that shares his values of hard work, dedication, and a commitment to education. Under his leadership, the Soda Springs School District continues to thrive, with students achieving new heights in both academics and athletics, all while being supported by a community that is invested in their success.

Meet our contributors:

Omotomilayo O. Lawanson

Omotomilayo O. Lawanson is a second-year graduate student in the English and the Teaching of English program at ISU. Her passion for learning about people and cultures fueled her excitement to work on this project, which showcases local Idaho communities. This passion for understanding and appreciating different cultures is also responsible for the internship she's currently undertaking, where she co-teaches the ENGL 2215: Survey of World Mythology course. Tomilayo is a creative writer whose works, "Adaba" and "Vain Gilds," have been accepted for publication in the 2024 edition of Black Rock and Sage, ISU's student journal of creative works.