We are excited to announce today the expansion of our education coverage to include East Idaho with the hiring of journalist and educator Devin Bodkin. He begins today.

Devin was a reporter for two years at the Idaho State Journal in Pocatello before spending the past three years as an English teacher at Blackfoot High School. The combination of reporting and teaching in his professional background makes him a perfect fit for our EdNews team.

“I’m very excited about this opportunity,” Devin said. “I’m even more excited about the chance to do it right here in East Idaho.”

Devin and his wife both grew up in Blackfoot. They now live in Shelley with their three daughters. Devin will work from his home and travel throughout the eastern side of the state seeking news, features and profiles. He’ll report on happenings in districts and charters from Rexburg, Idaho Falls and Pocatello to Preston, Bear Lake and Burley.

We encourage you to contact Devin with story ideas at [email protected].

Also this month we hired Janalee Schrader as an administrative assistant to support the EdNews team. Please contact her at [email protected] for any customer service needs.

In three years, IdahoEdNews.org has surpassed 1 million page views and has tallied thousands of followers on Twitter, Facebook and a Friday e-newsletter. We’ve won multiple Idaho Press Club awards and our lead reporter Kevin Richert was named 2013 Reporter of the Year.

We’re proud to have developed partnerships with nationally recognized Education Week and local news organizations Boise State Public Radio, Idaho Public Television and KIVI-TV (Channel 6).

We are deeply committed to providing Idahoans with the most in-depth and timely information, news and features on public education in Idaho. We vow to be an independent and free public awareness service.

Please contact me at [email protected] with ideas and comments.

— Jennifer Swindell, managing editor, Idaho Education News