I’m Katie Mosman, Course Development Specialist and Subject Matter Expert Lead on the IDLA’s Curriculum team, designing IDLA courses since 2021. I write curriculum and mentor new writers to create meaningful learning experiences for IDLA students. I have two toddler daughters, so free time is usually just something that lives in my dreams. But when I do find a spare hour, I like to head outside with my family. I do my best thinking on walks or mountain drives.
Unmuted: IDLA Q&A
What does a typical day look like in your role?
I kick off my day at 4:00 AM: coffee in hand and my toughest writing projects laid out while the house is silent. Early afternoon, I dive into feedback sessions and brainstorm with curriculum team members. After hours, you’ll find me recharging in the garden or on a walk with my two toddlers.
What’s one thing about your job that might surprise people?
What surprises people most is how genuinely mission-driven everyone here is. Early on, my first manager (now Superintendent), Jeff Simmons, told me, “IDLA is made up of people who are in education for all the right reasons.” Years later, I find that same energy on every team and in every project. No ego, just genuine commitment to our students.
What’s one project or achievement at IDLA that you’re especially proud of?
One project I’m really proud of is the training I developed to give our curriculum writers a practical toolkit to weave experiential, project-based learning into IDLA’s virtual, asynchronous courses. My goal was to empower our writers to integrate more real-world tasks into the curriculum. Seeing these practices adopted and students dive into learning beyond the screen has been a true career highlight.
What do you love most about working in online education?
I love that IDLA courses erase the barrier of geography. Twenty years ago, I took an IDLA Photography class in my rural high school, and, to this day, photography remains one of my passions. Knowing we can spark that same spark of curiosity for students in every corner of Idaho keeps me inspired.
What’s one unique aspect of IDLA that people might not realize?
Every IDLA course is developed and delivered by educators right here in Idaho. That local context means our lessons reflect state history, culture, and real-world examples students actually encounter. It gives our curriculum a sense of community and sets IDLA courses apart.
If you could swap roles with someone at IDLA for a day, who would it be and why?
Honestly, I wouldn’t swap. There’s no role I’d rather be in than mine. Crafting curriculum, mentoring writers, and thinking through instructional design hits the sweet spot of creativity and impact for me. However, if I had to, I’d say somewhere on the instructional team. Being boots-on-the-ground with students would be a fun challenge and would take me back to my face-to-face teaching days. But I do really love working behind the scenes.
What’s a favorite memory you’ve had while working at IDLA?
The first Everyone Can Create Camp! I was the OnRamp coordinator at the time, and it was so fun to see students hiking, learning about science, and then transforming their findings into stop-motion animations and nature-inspired sketches on iPads. Bringing virtual learners together for hands-on science and art in that stunning mountain setting was unforgettable.
What’s one fun fact about you that most people don’t know?
One fun fact: I actively seek out spoilers for books and movies. I skim the last few chapters of books and look up the plot synopsis before committing to a movie. Knowing the ending doesn’t ruin the experience for me. Instead, it lets me track how each twist and character choice builds toward that final moment. That same “end in mind” thinking drives my curriculum design: I start with the learning goals and reverse-engineer activities that guide students step by step to those outcomes.
Lightning Round!
What’s your go-to coffee (or tea) order?
Americano with cream
If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be?
Theodore Roosevelt
What’s the best book, TV show, or podcast you’ve enjoyed recently?
I recently devoured How to Be Perfect by Michael Schur, the creative genius behind The Good Place, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Office, and more. I’m genuinely in awe of how he made moral philosophy a page-turner, and as a recovering perfectionist, his focus on progress over perfection spoke to me.
What’s one piece of technology you couldn’t live without?
Dual monitors—my laptop alone feels like a squeezebox.
If you could work remotely from anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Zermatt, Switzerland: panoramic Matterhorn views, alpine hikes, and raclette to fuel my instructional design sprints.
Having walked the same backroads as many of our students, both student and teacher, I know firsthand how IDLA can turn even the most remote corners of Idaho into classrooms without walls. My mission is to expand the doors that once opened for me, so every Idaho learner, no matter where they are, can access boundary-breaking education. I’m proud to be part of the IDLA team, bringing quality learning to every ZIP code in our state.
