Friends – Eastern Idaho Board Member Gains Statewide Recognition

PHOTO (left to right): Randy Jensen, Superintendent of American Falls School District; Kathy Downes, Friends – Eastern Idaho board chair; Angela Groves, Friends – National chief expansion officer; and Miles Allen, Friends – National director of program training & innovation.

Randy Jensen, Founding Board Member of Friends of the Children – Eastern Idaho, was recently named Idaho Superintendent of the Year by Idaho Association of School Administrators. Jensen has a 39-year career in education and has been superintendent since 2017.

Friends – Eastern Idaho launched this summer, and Jensen has been a champion for the new chapter. The American Falls School District—where Jensen serves as superintendent—will identify 16 young students as the first cohort of participating youth at Friends – Eastern Idaho in partnership with Head Start. In addition, the American Falls School District also closed the final funding gap to open the new chapter.

“Randy exemplifies many characteristics of a great leader,” said Gina Judd, executive director of Friends – Eastern Idaho. “He sets an ambitious vision that motivates people to come together to work collaboratively and to creatively bring it to reality, he helps identify and obtain needed resources for implementing solutions, and he gets out of their way and cheers others on as they do it.”  

Jensen showed humility about the honor, giving credit to his school district and suggesting there should be a school district of the year award.

“This award is truly an award for our community,” Jensen said. “It starts with the unwavering support of our community, the dedication of our great students, and the incredible work of an amazing staff.”

Read more in the Idaho State Journal by clicking the button below.