Idaho Falls page tells Senate Education Committee the program taught her how to participate in state government

Ainsley Braithwaite, an 18-year-old page from Idaho Falls, told the Senate Education Committee on March 25 that her time on the committee had taught her how state government works and encouraged her to stay involved locally and statewide.

Braithwaite said she was accepted into the page program on short notice after meeting Senator Cook at a PTA event. "For the record, my name is Ainsley Braithwaite. I am from Idaho Falls. Senator Cook is my sponsor," she told the committee. She later said the experience "has taught me a lot and it's really getting me excited about getting involved on like a local and state level in politics."

The students' visit followed several procedural votes at the start of the meeting. The committee approved minutes for March 18, 19, 20, 24 and 25, 2025, and later adjourned. Those approvals were handled as routine motions and carried without recorded opposition.

Committee members asked Braithwaite about what surprised her and how she kept up with schoolwork while serving. Braithwaite said an initial confidence from a classroom project gave way, once at the Capitol, to an appreciation for how much legislators must track statewide context and constituent needs. "At first I thought I knew everything about Congress; then the second week I got more into it and I was like, I don't know a single thing at all," she said, describing how the program helped her identify gaps and ask better questions.

On logistics, Braithwaite said arrangements came together quickly after she applied: she was offered a place to stay with a family identified by Senator Cook, and teachers provided remote assignments. She said some pages have taken AP exams in person and that accommodations vary by student. Braithwaite also described practical support from the Idaho State PTA through her mother, who is involved with the organization.

Several senators encouraged Braithwaite and asked whether the experience shaped her future plans. Braithwaite said she plans to attend Brigham Young University–Idaho in the fall and later study dentistry at Creighton University, with an interest in orthodontics; she added she also wants to stay involved in politics at the local and state level. "It's basically paying me to know all about the Idaho Legislature," she said, describing the intensity of learning while serving as a page.

Committee members closed the session by thanking Braithwaite and presenting a parting gift. The chair then moved to adjourn; the committee stood adjourned and said it would be at the call of the chair for future business.

Votes at a glance: The committee recorded and approved minutes for the following dates: March 18, 2025; March 19, 2025; March 20, 2025; March 24, 2025; and March 25, 2025. All motions to approve the minutes were moved, seconded and carried; no opposition was recorded on the transcript.