IDEA's interns keep our ship running smoothly in a variety of ways.
Darcy Bedortha
Location: Portland, Oregon
Darcy has always believed that change in public education was necessary; that it must be meaningful, relevant and often different for each individual, and that great things are already happening for students, in a variety of ways and in a variety of places. She holds a Masters in Leadership for Sustainability Education from Portland State University, a TEFL certificate, and is working towards a Masters in teaching secondary English at Goddard College. She believes that all young people have a voice, and that our job as adults is to help them find, develop and use it with wisdom, empathy and respect. Passionate about issues of environmental wisdom, social justice, diversity, dignity and youth, she has worked in public education, children’s mental health, and with homeless kids. She has served in the non-profit arena addressing issues of poverty and education. Darcy has coached, mentored and advised young people in a variety of extra-curricular projects, is an educator for Trackers PDX and volunteers with the Pangaea Project. She has two fantastic, grown sons of her own who get the credit for why she does what she does. Darcy currently lives in Portland, Oregon.
Shawn Gude
Location: Iowa City/Des Moines, Iowa
Shawn Gude recently graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.A. in political science. He is currently taking a year off before enrolling in a social and cultural foundations of education or education policy M.A. program. Shawn's chief interests are democratic theory, the history of school reform, critical pedagogy, and civic education; among his influences are Louis Brandeis, Chantal Mouffe, and Paulo Freire. He believes deeply in the emancipatory power of education and its ability to augment citizen agency. In his free time, he enjoys going to used bookstores, listening to music (jazz, underground hip hop, indie rock), and playing basketball.