Centennial High School American sign language (ASL) instructor Isabelle Clark joined the Boise State Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP) in August 2025. It’s a full circle moment for Clark, as the former CEP student is now teaching the very classes she earned concurrent credit for.
“I don’t fully know what’s it going to be like as an instructor, but … I’m glad that I can give back to (the students) and offer something,” Clark said. “And it’s validation for me that I’m doing a decent job, that I’m ok enough to do this.
“And it’s a big deal. I never thought of myself that way and it makes me want to be a better teacher and want to provide more resources and opportunities to help them and prepare them for that college experience.”
As a Centennial High School student, Clark had heard about concurrent enrollment through older siblings and peers around school. After a CEP staff member visited her classes and presented class offerings, she knew the opportunity was for her.
Clark’s first CEP class was American Sign Language 1 (ASL 101), followed by American Sign Language 2 (ASL 102), Academic Success Topics (ACAD 101) and Career and Life Planning (ACAD 108).
Prior to her graduation in 2019, Clark wrapped up her Boise State CEP credits with three information technology classes, including Operating Systems and Word Processing Topics (BUSAPP 104), Spreadsheet Topics (BUSAPP 105) and Database Topics (BUSAPP 106). According to Clark, she also completed concurrent enrollment classes through the College of Western Idaho and Idaho Digital Learning Alliance (IDLA).
Completing over 20 concurrent credits, Clark gained a clear understanding of college curriculum and was ready to be challenged further in the postsecondary setting.
“The transition was so easy,” Clark said. “I didn’t go to Boise State but I went to another state school and those (credits) transferred seamlessly and I was able to jump into higher-level courses in ASL when I took ASL courses in college. It was the best of both worlds, and then having that fast forward funding just to utilize for that situation was great. So seamless and easy and worked out for sure.”
Clark attended Utah State University and completed her undergraduate degree with more credits than required for graduation. She majored in elementary education with a minor in American sign language. She also got an endorsement to teach middle school math and received her master’s in mathematics from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
Clark began teaching math at Star Middle School in 2023. But she quickly realized that teaching in high school was her preferred career route. Her father, Curt, taught English at Centennial and always preached how great of a career it was. So after receiving her ASL certification, she returned to Centennial in 2024 as a new instructor.
“With ASL, we’re our own little thing,” Clark said. “I think there are like five teachers in the district. Not every high school offers it, but we get to play with our curriculum a little more. It’s more open and freeing which is really nice.”
Clark taught high school for one year before returning to the Boise State CEP. She is now the newest CEP instructor teaching ASL 101, American Sign Language II (ASL 102), American Sign Language III (ASL 201) and American Sign Language IV (ASL 202) for Boise State credit.
“Forming relationships with students and giving them positivity like that is my main goal,” Clark said. “Whether it be in a classroom or it be somewhere else, just being an influence is huge.”
Learn more about ASL courses in the CEP through the Participating High Schools, Courses and Instructors webpage. Learn more about CEP instructors with the High School Instructors webpage.