Margaret Jacob, Coordinator/ Instructor, ABE
jacomarg@isu.edu

Margaret Jacob began working for Adult Basic Education in 1989 as a part-time coordinator for the Adult Education for the Homeless grant. In 1990 she assumed a full-time position with the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) program, where she served as coordinator/instructor for six and a half years, teaching all subjects at all levels. When JOBS ended in 1997, she became the outreach coordinator for ABE. Margaret was asked to serve as interim chair of the General Education Department in the fall of 2000 and did so until December of 2003. At that time she assumed her present duties as program coordinator for ABE Region V, which encompasses seven counties of southeastern Idaho.

Margaret received a BA in American Studies and an MA in English from Idaho State University. Before returning to ISU as an employee, she worked at the Portneuf District Library in Chubbuck for ten years. Among her achievements, she has been recognized as an Adult Basic Education Advanced Instructor through the Idaho Professional Development Series (IPDS). Her hobbies include gardening and travel. Margaret has traveled to forty-seven states and to countries on four continents.

Monica Conley, Administrative Assistant
conlmoni@isu.edu

Monica Conley, a graduate of Wallace High School in Wallace, Idaho, has worked at Idaho State University since September 2004 as an Adult Literacy Tutor. Monica has worked with Adult Basic Education and English as a Second Language students, as well as assisting the instructors and staff members at the Adult Success Center. She has also worked at Downtown Outreach, Blackfoot Outreach, and the Intensive Supervision Program. Most recently, she used her talents to work at the Bannock County Jail as a GED instructor. Monica moved from Post Falls, Idaho to Pocatello to attend Idaho State University. She was a transfer student from Spokane Community College where she worked as a teaching assistant and as a receptionist for the college's faculty office. While at Spokane Community College, she was an active member of Phi Theta Kappa. Outside of the office, she enjoys activities that involve her family, such as camping, local outdoor concerts, biking, swimming, cooking, homemade science projects, and exploring Southeastern Idaho

Geraldine (Jerri) Ray Johnson, Instructor
jerrirayj@yahoo.com

Jerri taught for the Pocatello School District for 28 years before retiring in 2001. In 2003 she began working at the ISU GED center as the language and reading teacher. Being the mother of five adult children and grandmother of nearly nine grandchildren keeps her busy. She recently visited her youngest daughter’s family in Germany. It was a dream come true to see historical places only formerly known from books and T.V. Summers are spent working in the garden and yard as well as picnics with grandkids, reading and time with family. Her off-hour interests are tying quilts and target shooting with her sons. Much time is spent in helping service organizations such as the Salvation Army, SEICAA’s Stone Soup fundraiser and anything to do with assisting the troops in the Middle East. Her two sons served with the Army in Iraq in 2004-05. She often is the chief cook and bottle washer at her brother’s business, Dutch Oven Delights. . Jerri says she totally enjoys working at the GED Center and takes great pleasure in seeing people reach their dreams and goals. The friends she has made here are precious, both faculty and students.

Janna Graham, Instructor
grahjann@isu.edu

Janna Graham has taught for the Adult Basic Education program since 2002. She graduated from St. Cloud State University in 1995 with a B.A. in English, and earned an M.A. in English from Idaho State University in 2003. She teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) as well as basic reading, writing, math and GED preparation.

Linda Ostin, Instructor
gooclind@isu.edu

Linda Salas Ostin has been working for the Idaho State University Adult Basic Education program since 1985. Linda earned an M.Ed. in Adult Education and Human Resource Training and Development from ISU and also has a B.S. in Accounting/Economics from Utah State University. She is also certified/endorsed as an Advanced Occupational Specialist in Bookkeeping, Related Subjects, Work-Based Learning and Vocational Special Needs. Linda has attended over one hundred workshops, seminars, and conventions for ABE/GED programs in her career. She began working at North Idaho College in 1983 and then moved to Pocatello in 1985. There she began working in December of that year as a volunteer and then as an instructor. Linda was the first one out of her extended family to go to a university. She is the end of the family line "Salas" which is of Spanish heritage and she had the opportunity to visit the actual town of Salas in Spain several years ago. Linda's favorite things are animals, the ocean, and sunsets "because they create a Technicolor closing for each day."

Susanne Shatto, IT Support Tech
shatsusa@isu.edu

Susanne Shatto is a native Idahoan. She is currently working as IT Tech Support and tutors students with the Resource Center. She has a certificate in Bookkeeping from the College of Southern Idaho, an Associate of Applied Science degree in Accounting and Computer Programming from the College of Southern Idaho, an Associate of Arts degree in Physical Education from Ricks College, a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Computer Information Systems, and a Masters of Education degree in Human Resource Training and Development. She has been a coordinator and a trainer for the Northwest Regional Literacy Resource Center for Idaho. She is a member of Phi Delta Kappa and Delta Kappa Pi, an education honor society. She belongs to the Idaho Life long learning Association and Mountain Plains Adult Education Association and has been a member of the Accounting Society and the Association of Management Accounting. She loves to read and if the opportunity unveiled itself would probably be a professional student because she loves the learning and discovery process. Susanne likes sports and the outdoors and enjoys camping and especially being with her family. She has two children, one boy age 26 and one girl age 22. She has one granddaughter, the apple of her eye.