The Unsung Heroes of Dual Enrollment

Dual enrollment programs are a powerful bridge between high school and college, offering students a head start on their higher education journey at significantly reduced costs.

At the heart of these programs are dedicated liaisons who ensure the seamless integration of high school courses with college standards.

The Department of History at Idaho State University (ISU) is enhancing college readiness among high school students through its dual enrollment liaison program. ISU’s dual enrollment liaisons are professors who play a crucial role in supporting high school teachers. They offer consultations, classroom observations, syllabi reviews, and regular support throughout the school year. The goal is to provide high school teachers with the tools they need to deliver genuine college-level courses, ensuring their students receive a quality education.

History liaisons currently serve a diverse range of high schools including American Falls, Century, Highland, Madison, Malad, Preston, Renaissance, Sho-Ban, and Thunder Ridge.

Dean Kandi Turley Ames of the College of Arts and Letters (CAL) at ISU says, "Our faculty work with high school teachers to ensure they have the tools they need for dual enrollment, which helps ensure these high school courses meet genuine college standards."

A few of the history liaisons at ISU include Marie Stango, PhD, Assistant Professor and Director of Graduate Studies; Raphael Njoku, PhD, Professor; and Ronald Hatzenbuehler, PhD, Emeritus faculty member. 

Hatzenbuehler sees his role as a liaison primarily as providing supplementary support to high school teachers. For instance, he collaborates with teachers like Lucas Ingram at Madison High School by offering presentations, small-group activities, and class discussions to enrich classroom learning experiences. 

Hatzenbuhler says that if he could replicate Lucas Ingram, many of the challenges in the education system could be addressed. “Lucas uses a variety of teaching methods--including internet platforms, chat forums (required), and traditional in-class small group discussions--to challenge his students to learn US history,” Hatzenbuhler says. “It has been one of the highlights of my professional career to work with Lucas and his students over the years.”

Stango has recently been working with five teachers: Kevin Smith at Highland, Rob Hibbard at Madison, Angie Davis at Century, Mariah Cole at Thunder Ridge, and Holly Morris at American Falls. 

Davis, Cole, and Morris completed their Master of Arts (MA) through the Instructor Waiver Program offered by CAL, which provides a tuition waiver for six graduate credits. This program greatly benefits high school teachers by allowing them to further their education while still working in their classrooms, and it benefits high school students by providing access to dual enrollment courses that might not otherwise be available to them.

Morris faced a challenge when the dual history courses teacher at the school planned to retire, leaving her as the sole replacement candidate without the required master's degree. ISU's Early College Program (ECP) provided a solution by offering a program that allowed her to complete her master's degree while teaching dual enrollment courses. Over the past four years, Morris has successfully taught these courses while pursuing her degree, which she completed in May 2024. She describes the journey as deeply fulfilling.

One aspect of Stango’s role is the personal engagement and innovative teaching methods she fosters. For example, in Davis’ class, students engaged in a lively debate on the Articles of Confederation, stepping into the roles of early American states. In Morris’ class, Stango assisted students in refining thesis statements and developing stronger arguments, showcasing how dual enrollment can build essential academic skills and confidence.

Davis expressed her appreciation for working with Professor Stango saying, "Dr. Stango is delightful! She has given me lots of ideas and resources, especially for interactive assignments."

Morris says that working with Stango has significantly influenced her teaching methods and approach to dual enrollment. Morris, who has over 20 years of teaching experience, credits Stango with refining her teaching methods and approaches, particularly in historical content and pedagogy. 

An example of impactful collaboration Morris highlights is when she sought support from Stango while developing a new sophomore-level honors history course curriculum last school year. Stango generously shared her curriculum resources to help Morris get started, demonstrating her commitment to supporting her colleagues. 

Stango elaborated on the mutual benefits of the dual enrollment program: "I love getting students in my courses at ISU who took dual enrollment classes in high school. They come in well-prepared for the college classroom, and it helps me build a connection with the students if I know their high school history teacher."

"Dual Enrollment courses give students more confidence that they can go to college because they know they can be successful in a college class and because they have already started by getting some credits," Davis says.

The dual enrollment program not only exposes high school students to college courses but also builds their confidence, easing the transition to college. Stango’s experience as a first-generation college graduate informs her understanding of the challenges students face.

Njoku shared his motivation for participating in the program: "Dual enrollment provides ample opportunities for high school students to test their readiness for college education. When a high school student successfully completes a college-level class, the confidence they gain is unparalleled." Njoku says that participating in the dual enrollment program promotes a seamless transition from high school to college for students. “This is crucial,” he says, “as it helps high school students gain confidence in their aptitudes and instills a strong desire for a college education, reassuring them of their potential.”

Njoku recalled a visit to Sho-Ban High School, where he was impressed by the history teacher's preparation and the students' enthusiasm for classroom discussions. "The collaboration between high school and college faculty is not just about creating a seamless transition for our students, but also about mutual learning and growth,” he says.

Hatzenbuehler also emphasized the importance of preparing high school students for college-level work: "In addition to writing papers, taking tests, and interacting with their instructor and other students in the class, ECP students are required to engage in critical thinking, essential for college-level work." 

Morris notes that students who participate in these courses demonstrate stronger skills and readiness compared to those in regular high school courses, reflecting the higher expectations and college-level rigor they experience. “I look forward to teaching dual history courses,” she says, “because of the ability to teach history at a higher level and to help young students prepare for their future college experience.” 

These teachers’ dedication to dual enrollment extends to their broader impact on education. ISU liaisons collaborate closely with colleagues in the ISU College of Education to support students pursuing history endorsements. Their efforts ensure that secondary teachers are well-prepared, well-supported, and equipped with the necessary tools to deliver college-level education effectively.

Morris says that the experience working with her ISU liaison has given her more confidence. “By working on my master's degree, and developing and teaching the college curriculum, my professional development has seen much growth,” Morris says. “I love learning and I love teaching, and now I feel that I am better at both. I approach every teaching year as an opportunity to learn and grow, right along with my students. Now, with teaching dual enrollment, I have even more opportunities to do so.”

“Getting to know our local high school teachers is a real bonus of working with the dual enrollment program,” says Stango. “So many of our teachers are ISU alumni, and they are literally changing lives every day. It’s a hard job, and often thankless, but teachers in our region are incredible. They do amazing, transformative work. It’s fun to reconnect with them in my role as a liaison.”

To learn more about the ISU Instructor Waiver program that provides tuition assistance and academic support to high school certified instructors pursuing a master's degree in their Idaho endorsed content area, visit https://www.isu.edu/ecp/high-school-instructors/. For dual enrollment information, please visit https://www.isu.edu/ecp/.