Students at Sho-Ban Jr./Sr. High School successfully complete first semester of on-campus dual-enrollment courses at ISU

Students participated in a variety of courses including Elementary Shoshoni and Introduction to Philosophy as part of ISU’s College of Arts and Letters On-Campus Dual-Enrollment pilot program. The program allows high school students from Southeast Idaho to take courses that may not be offered at their local high schools on ISU’s campus with professors, alongside ISU students.

Students who participated in the program from Sho-Ban Jr./Sr. High School said the program has allowed them to see that they can attend college and do well.

“Taking classes at ISU helps us get off the reservation and see that furthering our education is a big step in our lives,” said Sincere Martin-Teton, one of the nine students who participated in the program. 

The high school’s faculty and staff were also committed to making this opportunity happen for their students. One example is school counselor Matt Wilson, who drove students to Pocatello every day to make sure they made it to their classes. The students said that without his dedication and commitment to them, this journey would be much harder.

“By Matt taking us to the ISU campus, it helps us feel like he believes in us and that we can do it,” said KiRae Gonzalez.

Sho-Ban principal and superintendent, Jonathan Braack is excited about growing the partnership between the high school and ISU.

“We are trying to create an environment here where students can see that this school is as much a preparatory school as any others,” Braack said. “The partnership between Sho-Ban and ISU is key, and we are willing to work with our class schedules to make sure our students can take as many courses at ISU as possible.”

Sho-Ban Jr./Sr. High School plans to have at least 15 students taking courses at ISU next semester. This is part of a bigger plan to have every high school student graduate with an associate’s degree.

Both Martin-Teton and Gonzalez have said this experience has shown them that they can succeed in college, support their tribes and give back to their communities once they graduate.

For more information on the on-campus dual-enrollment program, contact Holly Kartchner at kartholl@isu.edu or (208) 282-5362.