9-12 Faculty

jhickey@northstarcharter.org

Josh Hickey grew up in rural Pennsylvania where he developed a love for the natural world through exploration of the rivers, mountains, and woods surrounding his childhood home. His love for the natural world inspired him to pursue a degree in Fisheries Biology so he could develop a better understanding of the creatures and natural environments that fascinated him as a child. His love for the natural world also drove him to seek out opportunities to be and play outside as often as he could. Consequently, at the age of 16, he began ski instructing at a local ski area near his childhood home. Through his experiences ski instructing, he became fascinated by the way people learn and began to develop a passion for teaching. As time went on, he realized that his love for the natural world and his passion for teaching drove him to share his understanding of natural environments, and creatures that inhabit them, with anyone that would listen. This realization led him to pursue a career in education so that he could be better equipped to pass on his knowledge of the natural world with the future (i.e., kids!). Josh believes that by helping future generations better understand how the world works at a biological level can help to preserve it for generations to come.

When Josh is not in school, he likes to spend as much time outdoors as possible. This could be mountain biking and camping with his wife, fly fishing a remote river, hiking a mountain peak to photograph the landscape, or tending to his garden with his yellow lab and chickens.

srau@northstarcharter.org

Shirley Rau is a lifetime learner—a reader, writer and researcher. An Idaho native, she earned her undergraduate degree from Idaho State University and her graduate degree from Middlebury College in Vermont, with a summer residency at Lincoln College in Oxford.

Shirley has more than 30 years of teaching experience across university, private and public schools. At the secondary level, she taught Advanced Placement, IB and college preparatory English. At the university level, she taught composition and writing methods, and supervised intern teachers. She has also held several leadership roles: education director and interim head of an independent school, Executive Director of the Idaho Charter School Network, and School Choice Coordinator under Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna.

She has published numerous articles and co-authored A Classroom of Teenaged Readers: Nurturing Reading Processes in Senior High English, a research-based book on developing critical reading in high school. Other highlights include: coaching a two-time national champion cheerleading squad, addressing the US Senate Education Committee as a National Teacher of the Year finalist, and participating in the Japan-America Grassroots Summit.

She and husband share a passion for soccer, canoeing, gardening, the Oregon coast and international travel—their most memorable family vacation was a birding expedition to Honduras. And nearly every month they drive to Reno to visit their granddaughter Lili (and her parents).

Shirley says of teaching at North Star: “I feel as if my personal and professional life have come full circle. I love working with the engaged students, committed parents and outstanding teaching team. It’s a chance not only to share my knowledge, but to continue learning and growing.”

lsmith@northstarcharter.org

Logann Smith is excited to be joining North Star this year. She earned her BA in Literature and Creative Writing from the College of Idaho and recently completed her MA in Teaching from the same institution. Her passion for teaching grows from her own love of learning and the joy she finds in discovering what makes people happy. As a child, she explored many interests—reading, art, animals, and spending time outside (not the outdoors; she insists there’s a difference)—and she loved hearing how others found their passions.

During college, Ms. Smith realized she wanted to create a classroom environment where students feel comfortable expressing their interests and developing their own identities. She believes North Star will allow her to do just that while also helping students become avid readers and reflective individuals.

A native Idahoan, Ms. Smith naturally appreciates the outdoors, though she describes herself as an “outside‑y” person rather than an “outdoors‑y” one (i.e. reading by the lake, strolling through the forest, and picking up cool rocks). She also enjoys spending time with her many animals (three dogs, two hamsters, a chinchilla, and a parakeet), as well as reading, doodling, painting, and snowboarding in the winter.

areseigh@northstarcharter.org

Analee Reseigh was born in Logan, Utah and grew up in several towns in Utah and Idaho. From a young age, she knew she had an aptitude and passion for mathematics. Her passion was fueled by a couple of exceptional math teachers, and she decided during high school to become an educator herself.

After just one great year at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Mrs. Reseigh followed her new husband to the University of Idaho in Moscow where she earned a B.S. in Mathematics with teacher certification in math and physics and a M.S. in Mathematics. While pursuing her master’s degree, Mrs. Reseigh was awarded a teaching assistantship which gave her the opportunity to hone her teaching skills. The next year, she and her husband moved to Pocatello, Idaho where she was awarded a fellowship to pursue a Doctor of Arts in Mathematics.

The early birth and health problems of her second child ended that pursuit and she and her husband moved to Boise in 1999. After taking a few years off, Mrs. Reseigh started tutoring high school and college students and teaching as an adjunct faculty member at Boise State University. While raising her four children, she taught a wide range of classes at BSU, including Survey of Calculus, Math in Modern Society, College Algebra, and Geometry and Probability for Elementary School Teachers.

Mrs. Reseigh started at North Star Charter in 2015 where she has taught IB Mathematics, Data Science, Survey of Calculus, and Integrated 2 and 3. She was also North Star’s district testing coordinator from 2018-2023 and helped students start a math club chapter of Mu Alpha Theta from 2017-2020. Mrs. Reseigh believes all students can become competent mathematical thinkers. She has helped hundreds of students realize their potential and loves watching students learn their true capabilities.

After teaching one year in a larger district, Mrs. Reseigh is excited to be back at a small school and looks forward to using her experience and enthusiasm for mathematics to empower and excite students at North Star.

When she is not teaching or preparing, Mrs. Reseigh enjoys hiking and camping with her husband, four children, and new grandson, Beckham. She also loves running, cross-country skiing, gardening, card games with friends, and math history.

@northstarcharter.org

esavoy@northstarcharter.org

acollins@northstarcharter.org

This will be Mr. Collins 27th year of teaching, primarily in the subjects of Economics and Business, although he has taught several other Social Studies subjects as well. The majority of his teaching experience has come with his service to Eagle High School in Eagle, Idaho and the Anglo-American School of Moscow in Moscow, Russia. He holds undergraduate degrees in Business Administration, History, and Political Science, and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Currently, he serves as Adjunct Professor for both Northwest Nazarene University and the College of Western Idaho in the subjects of Economics, Business, Political Science, and Philosophy. Prior to his teaching career, he worked as a university administrator, Emergency Medical Technician, and Russian Language Interrogator for US Army Military Intelligence.

jmcconnell@northstarcharter.org

Jen McConnell grew up in Western Washington and attended both private and public schools. She began dancing at age 3 and carried that passion into a nearly 25-year career teaching many forms of dance. She also directed major productions, choreographed for community events, and trained and choreographed for figure skaters.

After a trip to Italy, Ms. McConnell developed a love of history and decided to pursue college with the goal of becoming a history teacher. She earned a BA in American Studies and an MA in History from the University of Washington. Her connection to Italy continued through a summer study abroad program. While in graduate school, she also served there as an assistant lecturer on the Italian Renaissance and as a student liaison for another study abroad program. In December 2025, she was selected to join the University of Washington’s first Scholars Abroad program. Italy remains her favorite place to visit, though she also enjoys traveling throughout Europe and wherever opportunity takes her.

Ms. McConnell began teaching middle school humanities and government at Annie Wright Schools in Tacoma and later at St. Thomas School in Medina, Washington. After she and her husband relocated to Emmett, Idaho, in 2022, she continued teaching middle school history and art at Emmett Middle School. Civic education is especially important to Ms. McConnell. In recognition of her work, she was selected as the Idaho State VFW Teacher of the Year for 2025.

Outside the classroom, Ms. McConnell enjoys golfing with her husband, attending concerts and hockey games, and traveling to visit their children in Washington and Montana. She also loves gardening, reading, and caring for their Golden Retriever, Pomeranian, and a very spoiled cat named Puck.

vcampbell@northstarcharter.org

Mrs. Campbell teaches Exploratory Spanish, Spanish 1, and Spanish 2 at North Star, as well as facilitates Yearbook this year. Having lived abroad in Mexico, she developed a love for the language, the people, the culture and the food! She loves helping others along in their language learning journey. Mrs. Campbell loves spending time with her husband and family, trying new skills (right now it’s learning how to snowboard), being outdoors, watching movies, and volunteering in the community.

kvandiepen@northstarcharter.org

Kristen van Diepen grew up in Idaho and attended Boise High where she was the school’s mascot. She went on to Boise State and graduated with her bachelor’s in communication in 2005. Kristen is endorsed in several subjects: communication, psychology, theatre, journalism as well as English as a new language. Kristen received her master’s in education from the College of Idaho in 2012.

Kristen met her future husband, Nic right before she graduated college and they moved to his home country of New Zealand shortly after. Kristen and Nic were married in the beautiful country where they stayed for almost two years, until they moved back to Idaho.

Kristen lives with her husband in Garden City with their two rescue dogs. One bully breed mix named Val and a three-legged terrier named Chula they brought home with them from a Mexico vacation.

hwhitt@northstarcharter.org

Heather Whitt grew up in Boise, attending McMillan elementary school, with her mom as librarian. She then moved onto Lowell Scott MS, then onto graduate from Centennial HS. Heather grew up playing recreational and competitive soccer in the Treasure Valley. She played all four years on Centennial’s varsity team and earned a spot on the Idaho state team. This along with her academic achievements earned her a scholarship to College of Idaho for four years. There she met the love of her life, the famously epic, Ty Whitt! She finished schooling with a BA in Secondary English Teaching and then later acquired her Art credential.

After finishing college Heather was able to buy an “around the world” plane ticket allowing her to visit over ten countries over the course of a year. She taught summer school for the Boise School District along with Special Education and coached girls JV soccer at Capital HS. She then started the art program for the middle and high school at North Star Charter. For three years she was able to teach students from 6th-12th including introduction classes, multicultural art and commercial art in the high school.  After taking a break to raise two feisty daughters she has been back at North Star for five years!  She has taught 6-12 Visual Arts and for the last two years has taught IB Visual Arts as well.

In her spare time she loves to garden, camp with her family and friends, and create one of a kind mosaic art pieces for her and Mr. Whitt’s art business, R.A.D Mosaic. 

ckane@northstarcharter.org

Chrissy Kane was born and raised in Indiana and is a graduate of Purdue University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Family Studies and met her husband, Joe. They are proud Boilermakers! In 2006, they relocated to Idaho, where she earned her master’s degree in Counseling from Boise State University.

Mrs. Kane recently completed her 17th year as a school counselor, including this past year serving as the Director of School Counseling at an urban high school in South Bend, Indiana. Previously, she spent 13 years as a counselor in the West Ada School District and 3 years at Bishop Kelly. She is passionate about working with teens and finds great fulfillment in helping students pursue their goals and recognize their potential.

Mrs. Kane is a mom of three boys, ages 25, 18, and 13. In her free time, she enjoys traveling for hockey games and tournaments, reading, watching true crime shows, hunting for mid-century vintage Christmas treasures, camping, practicing yoga, and spending time with family, friends, and her two dogs and two cats.

Mrs. Kane is very excited for the new opportunity to join the North Star team, as well as meeting the faculty, staff, students, and parents!