Main Profile #129

Gena Marker is originally from New Meadows, Idaho. She attained her Bachelors degree in Secondary Education and History/English from the University of Idaho. Subsequently, she received her Masters degree in Reading from Boise State University. She is currently the teacher-librarian at Renaissance Magnet High School, where she has been since 2008. She is also advisor to the International Club and Library Advisory Board. In all, she has been teaching for 14 years. Ms. Marker has received many awards for her accomplishments, including: Teacher of the Year at Eagle Academy High School; a Book Grant from the Idaho Humanities Council; a Book Grant from We the People, National Endowment for the Arts; an NCTA Alumni Grant from University of Washington; recognition from National Endowment for the Humanities for “Beyond Amistad” and “Living and Being Chinese”; an NCTA Alumni Grant from University of Washington; a Teaching East Asia Grant from University of Colorado-Boulder; recognition from National Endowment for the Humanities as a participant in “Silver Mining in the Coeur d’Alenes”; recognition for “Teaching East Asian Literature in the High School” from Indiana University; and countless other awards. Ms. Marker has also participated in programs such as the “K-12 Study Canada” Summer Workshop, the “NCTA in China” study tour, the “Fulbright Memorial Fund in Japan” study tour and a year spent teaching in Wufeng, Taiwan. She has also traveled extensively on her own throughout Asia and Europe. Ms. Marker lives with her husband and their dog, Wolly Bugger. Outside of the classroom, she likes to walk and hike in the Boise Foothills, camp and ride motorcycles in the summertime, read, spend time with family and friends and participate in any and all community and cultural events. She enjoys being civically active and a lifelong learner.

She was the mentor teacher for Ahmed Mohamed during the 2010-2011 academic year.