When the final school bell rang in May, learning took on new shapes. Away from their classrooms, Idaho teachers spent their summers in ways as unique as the communities they serve.

This summer, three Idaho teachers found renewal in very different ways: touring the ancient streets of Greece, exploring career pathways that will shape Idaho’s future workforce, and camping throughout the Idaho wilderness.

For Sarah Galindo, an English teacher at Skyview High School in Nampa, this summer offered the chance to fulfill a longtime dream. She and her sister, Mary, explored Greece on a guided tour in June.

“We started planning the trip in mid-2025 and knew from the start we were going to take a guided tour,” Galindo said. “It was our first trip with just the two of us, and we wanted it to be memorable because of the sites rather than the stress of navigating a foreign country.”

The 14-day tour took the sisters to 11 locations across the country, starting in Athens and bringing them to the ancient ruins of Delphi, Olympia, Epidavros, and Mycenae (to name a few). For Galindo, who spends each school year introducing students to the intersection of literature and history, seeing these sites firsthand offered a new kind of education.

While Galindo was walking through the footsteps of ancient civilizations, Monica McDonald was focusing on helping build Idaho’s future workforce.

The Lowell Scott Middle School eighth-grade physical science teacher spent her fourth summer participating in an externship through the Idaho STEM Action Center, which pairs teachers with Idaho employers to bring real-world career experiences back into the classroom. This year, she divided her time between Idaho Launch and St. Luke’s Health System and created classroom lessons that introduce middle school students to healthcare careers while helping them understand the educational pathways available after high school.

The curriculum she developed during her externship is designed to support statewide middle school career exploration requirements, giving students an early look at careers they might otherwise never have considered.

“For students, it opens the door to future career pathways and funding opportunities they may not have realized were available,” McDonald said of Idaho Launch.

These experiences benefit teachers as much as students by giving participating educators firsthand industry experience that they can bring back into their classrooms.

“For me, it’s a wonderful fit to be doing something creative and getting some ideas to bring back to the classroom,” McDonald said. “I also feel like what I’m creating can be used in a way that benefits both the state and our students.”

She hopes that the lessons she created spark curiosity as students begin thinking about college or careers, helping them see opportunities that exist right here in Idaho.

For elementary teacher Fawn Johnson, this summer was all about embracing change while staying rooted in the places she loves most. This fall, she’ll begin teaching fifth grade at MOSAICS Public School in Caldwell.

“Starting at a new school is always nerve-wracking but I’m so excited for this next chapter,” Johnson said.

Before the first day at her new school, Johnson balanced preparations for the move with a familiar summer routine. She worked part-time at a local garden center, where she had returned for multiple summers, and spent as much time as possible camping throughout Idaho with her family and her two dogs, Letty and Farrah.

“I grew up in a family that loves the Idaho wilderness and, as an adult, it’s still where I reset and recharge,” Johnson shared. “My family, all of our dogs and I try to camp at different locations throughout the state because each place offers something new.”

Although their summers looked very different, each teacher returned to the classroom with something valuable to share. One brought home fresh perspectives gathered around the world, another had new ways to connect students with meaningful career opportunities, and the third returned with renewed energy from time spent exploring Idaho’s outdoors. As another school year approached, their experiences serve as a reminder that summer break isn’t just time away from teaching—it’s often where inspiration for the year ahead begins.