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Bluum’s mission is to create, grow, and support high quality schools across Idaho. Research shows that quality school leadership is one of the primary drivers for improving student achievement. For the past five years, Bluum has offered the Idaho New School Fellowship (INSF) to help elevate top education talent into the ranks of Idaho’s public school leadership.
The Idaho New School Fellowship is a one or two-year program that prepares future leaders to develop and launch an effective, innovative, and financially sustainable public charter school. Bluum has supported 21 fellows since 2016 with funding and access to resources to design, build, and launch high-performing public charter schools in a range of Idaho communities; from Garden City, to Caldwell, to Fruitland, to Kimberly, to Island Park to northern Idaho.
The Fellowship provides:
- Full-time salary, benefits, and other financial support to participate fully in weekly reflection, professional learning, and a number of projects to prepare for the opening of a new charter school;
- Learning the processes and systems necessary to build and launch a successful public charter school in Idaho;
- Access to Bluum’s connections to Idaho and national experts on leadership and charter school development;
- Travel and support for school visits; and
- The opportunity to make a difference for an increasingly diverse group of students in one of America’s fastest growing states.
This month, Bluum is excited to welcome two new fellows to the Idaho New School Fellowship Cohort. We are grateful to Mission43 and the DoD SkillBridge program for connecting Bruce to Idaho’s education community.
Vincent Kane
Following an extensive career in K-12 education in New Hampshire and Alaska, Dr. Vincent Kane joins us in Idaho as the founding principal of Idaho Novus Classical Academy (INCA). INCA is under development in the Avimor community north of Eagle and is a Candidate Member School in the Hillsdale College Barney Charter School Initiative (BCSI). Upon opening, INCA will be the second BCSI school in the Treasure Valley.
Dr. Kane brings a wealth of experiences to his new role. Before entering school leadership, he taught high school courses in government, economics, history, and world religions as well as sixth grade. He worked in urban, small town, and rural settings, including a remote village school on an island in the Bering Sea. His leadership experience encompasses all grade levels and includes assignments as an assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent.
After completing undergraduate studies in political science and philosophy in the honors program at Franklin Pierce University, Dr. Kane pursued three graduate degrees. He holds a master’s degree in social studies education from Boston University, a certificate of advanced graduate studies in educational leadership from Plymouth State University, and a doctorate in entrepreneurial leadership in education from Johns Hopkins University.
Bruce Sims
After serving 21 years and subsequently retiring from the United States Marine Corps, Bruce Sims joins us in Idaho as the founding assistant principal of Idaho Novus Classical Academy (INCA). In that capacity, he will serve as director of operations and dean of students. INCA is under development in the Avimor community north of Eagle and is a Candidate Member School in the Hillsdale College Barney Charter School Initiative (BCSI). Upon opening, INCA will be the second BCSI school in the Treasure Valley.
Mr. Sims brings an abundance of experience in operations and leadership to his new role; across his military career, he filled key positions in aviation, logistics, and ground operations. He has leadership experience leading smaller units as an enlisted Marine, and as an officer he led squadron detachments in addition to being a company commander. His operations experience includes preparing and deploying units for missions, both in the U.S. and overseas. Most recently, he served as the operations officer responsible for evaluating the efficacy of future Marine Corps concepts, equipment, and technology.
Originally from Alabama, Mr. Sims holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and Supply Chain Management from Auburn University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. Subsequently, when serving as an instructor pilot for an unmanned aerial vehicle squadron, Mr. Sims discovered his passion for educating others. He invested in that passion as his calling, and while still on active duty, he began his master’s degree in education for teaching mathematics through Western Governor’s University.
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