Officials kick off 'Life Choices' class
Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna, Jack and Mary Jo Ambrosiani, teacher Erin Roos, Clark Fork High principal Phil Kemink and Sandpoint High principal Becky Kiebert pose for a photo at the Life Choices kick-off. (Photo by CARMERON RASMUSSON)
PONDERAY — Morale was high among Lake Pend Oreille School District teachers and administrators on Thursday when they hosted Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna.
Luna’s visit centered on a new class at Sandpoint and Clark Fork high schools designed to help students’ skills in decision-making. Thanks to a donation by Jack and Mary Jo Ambrosiani of the Ambrosiani-Pastore Foundation, the teens will be able to enroll in the Life Choices class.
Life Choices’ course objective seeks to help students improve their decision-making in interpersonal skills, work ethic and money and time management. The class plan identifies a variety of common, practical situations like job hunting, home and car purchases, debt and conflict management. Erin Roos, a former Sandpoint Middle School science teacher, will teach the class at both schools.
The course is completely financed by the Ambrosiani-Pastore Foundation. Disturbed by the devastating effects of youthful ignorance, the Ambrosianis ecided to fund Life Choices in hopes that it will set its students on the path to a more successful personal and professional life.
“All too often, we see examples of kids who make one bad decision after another, and before you know it, a life-changing event has occurred,” Jack Ambrosiani said.
Luna lingered at the school district office to address the teachers and administrators gathered for the kick-off. He inquired about the morale within the district and was pleased by Lake Pend Oreille’s enthusiastic response.
“In these economic conditions, it’s all too easy for teachers to get discouraged,” he said. “It’s really great to see this kind of optimism in a school district.”
When Luna asked if the district had any questions for him, a substantial beat of silence filled the room. He was amused by the hesitancy, asking, “You wouldn’t let your kids get away with this, would you?”
District teachers invited Luna to inspect the schools upon his next visit. He assured them that he would and left the district with a message encouraging proactive administration.
“I encourage you to be active in your schools rather than be acted upon,” he said.