Boise State University has established its first endowed professorship in education, creating a permanent funding source dedicated to advancing literacy instruction and dyslexia intervention strategies across Idaho. The 2026 gift creates the Endowed Professorship in Dyslexia within the College of Education and Public Service, marking a significant shift in how the university supports teacher preparation for students with reading disabilities.
The position was awarded to Carolyn Cort, a longtime Boise State educator and literacy expert. As first reported by boisestate.edu, the endowment is designed to support Cort’s ongoing work in expanding tutoring partnerships, developing policy recommendations, and enhancing professional development for K-12 educators throughout the Treasure Valley.
A Legacy of Literacy Advocacy
The creation of this endowed chair stems from a long-standing collaboration between two Boise State alumni who have dedicated their careers to improving reading outcomes. Marybeth Flachbart, who earned her doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction at Boise State in 2009, provided the funding for the professorship. Cort, who received her master’s degree in literacy from the university in 1999, has taught part-time literacy courses at Boise State since 2002.
Both women entered the field after witnessing the limitations of traditional reading instruction. In the 1990s, Flachbart observed behavioral issues linked to undiagnosed reading struggles while teaching in a Texas middle school. Similarly, Cort found that the literacy methods she learned in college were ineffective for elementary students in Boise classrooms at the time.
“There was so much stigma associated with not being able to read,” Flachbart said, according to boisestate.edu. “Contrary to common belief, dyslexia isn’t about seeing letters backward.”
Aligning with State Policy
The endowment arrives as Idaho implements stricter standards for early literacy screening. In 2022, Governor Brad Little signed legislation requiring dyslexia screenings for students in kindergarten through third grade. Following the law’s passage, Cort and other Boise State experts provided professional development to train teachers on proper screening techniques and intervention strategies.
Flachbart, who later became CEO of the Neuhaus Education Center and worked with the Idaho Department of Education after moving to Idaho, previously funded a fellowship for Cort in 2024. That award allowed Cort to earn a graduate certificate in dyslexia from the University of Florida, further solidifying her expertise in evidence-based reading instruction.
Expanding Tutoring Initiatives
The new endowment will directly support Cort’s efforts to scale up tutoring programs that connect university students with local children. The Boise State Literacy Lab already pairs teacher education students with local children for one-on-one tutoring. This fall, Cort launched the Boise State Literacy Corps program to recruit additional students for on-site school tutoring placements.
Cort estimates that one in five children requires additional literacy support to reach grade-level proficiency. The endowed position ensures that resources remain available to train future educators and sustain these community partnerships without relying solely on fluctuating grant funding.
For readers interested in how Boise State is expanding its educational offerings, the university recently launched a dual master’s program combining public health and social work. Additionally, local school districts continue to report on student performance metrics, such as the West Ada School District’s recent ISAT test results.