Jim and Judy Liday

Jim and Judy met at Idaho State University in 1960. They were both active in the Greek system with Jim belonging to the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and Judy the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. They met at a Greek exchange and started dating in the Fall of 1960. They were married while Jim was still attending ISU in December, 1961. Jim graduated with a BS in Elementary Education, and Judy graduated with a BA in Elementary Education. They both began their teaching careers in Pocatello, Idaho. Jim taught fourth grade at Syringa School, and Judy taught second and first grade at Tendoy School and the summer Kindergarten program at Syringa and Roosevelt schools.
Jim went on to get his Med in School Administration at the University of Nevada and became an Elementary Principal in Pocatello at the age of 27 after teaching fourth grade in Reno, Nevada. After moving back to Pocatello, he later attended ISU and received an Education Specialist in 1974, being one of the first recipients of this degree. He was Principal of Tendoy, Edahow, Lincoln, and Wilcox elementary schools and retired in 2000. During his years as a principal, his biggest accomplishment was being on the National Board of Directors for the Elementary Principal’s Association representing seven western states. He also received the Idaho National Distinguished Principal award in 1988. After retirement, Jim supervised student teachers at ISU for five years.
After returning to Pocatello, Judy took a break from teaching (substituting occasionally), to be a “stay at home” mom until their three children were older. When she returned to teaching, she taught Title 1 Math and Reading at Jefferson, Kindergarten at Green Acres and Ellis elementary schools (with Kindergarten being her favorite grade to teach). She went on to get a Med degree in Early Childhood Education at ISU in 1986, being one of the first recipients of this degree. She was chosen as the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District #25 teacher of the year 1991-92, and that same year was chosen as the Runner-up Teacher for Idaho. She retired in 1995 and was asked to teach a full day kindergarten at St. Anthony School from which she retired in 2002 and then supervised student teachers at ISU for twelve years. Both Jim and Judy credit ISU for developing their love for teaching and giving them the skills to be successful in their chosen fields of working with young children.