Administration Members

ahorning@northstarcharter.org

I am so excited to start my 20th year in education with the great people of North Star. I look forward to working closely with each and every one of you as we continue to strive for high levels of performance while creating lifelong experiences that our students will remember for years to come.

I’m a small town guy, born and raised by two educators in Emmett, ID. After high school, I went up to THE University of Idaho. While in school, I was able to experience studying abroad in Brighton, England. What an amazing opportunity. The U of I treated me so well, I have now earned all three of my degrees from them.

As a native Idahoan, I enjoy all that this great state has to offer. Hunting, fishing, mountain
biking, golfing, rafting, and camping are just a few of the things I love to do outside of the office.
My main love is spending time with my wonderful family. My wife Mandi and two kids Kyler and Kinley keep me busy with sports, vacationing, and laughing all the time.
As I mentioned, I was raised by two educators, so education seemed like the path for me. I’ve
had an amazing career so far. I was a science teacher at both the middle and high school
levels.

Science was a natural fit for me as I love learning by doing. The last 14 years, I have
been working as an administrator. Again, I’ve worked at both the middle and high school levels as both a principal and assistant principal. I have also had the pleasure of working with
elementary schools as I had an opportunity to work at the district level as well. Each of these
experiences have provided me with a great deal of experience and exposure to how different
educational systems work. I look forward to learning and leading the great people of North Star as we strive to identify ourselves and truly show people what an amazing institution we have.

jdurflinger@northstarcharter.org

I am so excited to become a part of North Star Charter this year and join this community! I quickly fell in love with the school throughout my interview process and have enjoyed every minute I have been fortunate enough to spend on campus so far. I am looking forward to hitting the ground running this upcoming year and immersing myself in the school’s culture.

I have spent the previous 8 years teaching math and student leadership at Mountain View High School in Meridian. After graduating from Boise State University (Go Broncos!) in 2015, my wife and I moved to Central Oregon to work at a youth camp. We spent one year working in Oregon, my home state, but realized that my calling was still in Education. We moved back to Meridian where I began working for Mountain View, the same school that I had also completed my student teaching at in college. After 4 years of teaching math, I quickly realized that my true interest was in serving the school outside of just my classroom. I then began to pursue my master’s degree through Grand Canyon University before graduating in December of 2020. During this time, I also took over as the student leadership advisor which gave me a lot of experience as a leader of staff and students throughout the school. Through my various leadership positions that I have held I have realized my strengths lie within serving others by supporting and empowering them to become the best versions of themselves.

Outside of school, my joy comes from time spent outdoors with my wife and four kids (Rowen, Maggie, Ollie Jane and Griffin) all under 8 years old. We love spending our family time camping, hiking, bike riding and kayaking. We love the state of Idaho and all that is has to offer and explore.

Thank you all for helping welcome me into the North Star family, I am eager to get to work and serve the great community that makes this school what it is. It is an honor to be a part of this community and I cannot wait to see what the future holds!

sdavis@northstarcharter.org

Growing up in Richland, Washington, Shay Davis embraced anything active that involved friends or family. Her penchant for an active lifestyle soon led to Boise State University recruiting her for track out of high school. Although her earliest aspirations and desires in college were those of becoming a nurse, she awoke one night her junior year with an epiphany that she wanted to help be the change by becoming a teacher.

This educational clarity was welcome in Shay’s life, but because it happened so late in her college career, her schedule became much heavier and time consuming. Striving toward her goals with determination and vigor, Shay graduated from BSU in December 2000, the very same university where she would receive her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership 12 years later.

Those 12 amazing years were spent teaching in the classroom, five of which were here at North Star. During those critical years as a classroom teacher, Shay received valuable experience and tremendous growth which would significantly help her as an administrator later in life. Now the K-5 principal at North Star since 2014, Shay uses her ‘boots on the ground’ experience to help the students and teachers at North Star enjoy as much success as possible. Working alongside a diligent and wonderful staff, and supported by students and parents that are immersed in growth mindset, Shay continues to encourage students, parents, and teachers to use and understand the power of their voice. Shay understands and models the importance of a safe and open educational environment where brainstorming solutions and daily conversations directly impact academic and real world learning.

Shay is married to Jeff Davis, a high school teacher and coach, and is the proud mother of three amazing children: Peighton, Josie, and Kolt.

lleatherman@northstarcharter.org

Laiena Leatherman is so excited for another year as the part-time vice principal in the elementary program.  She has taught third grade at North Star since 2009 and decided to go back into administration in 2020 to work alongside Mrs. Davis with the BEST staff and students!

Laiena started her teaching career after high school as a paraprofessional working in a special education classroom, which sparked her love, interest and desire for helping children. This passion led her to studying and earning Bachelor of Science in Education Degrees: Dual Major in Elementary and Special Education in 1997.  She taught K-3 special education for a few years and decided to go into administration to help her students and families even more. In 2001, she received her first Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University and became the youngest vice principal in her school district. She continued to pursue Educational Administration at CSUSB and was blessed with her first son, Hunter, in 2003.

In 2004, Laiena and her husband, Greg, moved to Eagle, which is when she decided to stay home with her son and enjoy all the wonderful things of being a first-time mom. Two years later, she and Greg were blessed again with another wonderful son, Ty.  After staying home with her beautiful and sweet boys for five years, Laiena was approached to team teach third grade when the new school site was built. She was excited to get back into education, as well as continue to stay home and be a mama.

Laiena couldn’t have ever dreamed that she would’ve been a part of such a devoted, caring and stellar staff, which is why she hasn’t left since she started in 2009! She feels truly blessed to be a part of an amazing school family & community!  She can’t wait for another wonderful school year with the BEST students, wonderful parents and the most incredible staff!

jodonnell@northstarcharter.org

Joanna was raised in Boise, Idaho. She attended Westmont College, in Santa Barbara, California and received her degree in Business and Economics. After college, she returned to Boise to work in sales and marketing for a software company. In 2001, she moved to Boston, Massachusetts to fulfill her dream of living on the east coast. During her time in Boston, Joanna helped to create partnerships between the private sector and Boston Public Schools, worked in corporate relations for a large insurance company, and as the Director of Development for a private school in the heart of downtown Boston. She counts herself lucky not only to have witnessed the “Reverse of the Curse” of the Boston Redsox (still cheering), but that she met and married her husband, Dan during her ten years in Beantown.

In 2011, Joanna and her husband decided to move back to Boise to be near family. Joanna worked for Mission Aviation Fellowship in Nampa, Idaho as the Manager of the Major/Middle Market and Capital Campaigns prior to joining North Star as the Director of Development in May, 2015. In 2020 Joanna transitioned to Director of Human Resources and Communications. She looks forward to serving and supporting our staff, teachers and parents in this new role.

Joanna and her husband Dan live with their son, Jack in Eagle.

thandy@northstarcharter.org

Tara Handy was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi, followed by a Master of Education and an Education Specialist degree from the University of Idaho. Tara and her husband have called Idaho home since 1996, where they raised their four now-adult children.

With a strong background as both a teacher and an administrator, Tara brings a deep understanding of the importance of accurate student records and state reporting. She is honored and excited to begin a new chapter in her career as the Registrar at North Star Charter School.

Outside of work, Tara enjoys spending time with her family and her cats. She is an avid reader, especially drawn to true crime and non-fiction.

bgarner@northstarcharter.org

Belle was raised in Southern California. She attended UC Santa Barbara and earned her degree in Business Economics with a concentration in Accounting. She held internships in both Finance and Taxation before establishing her career in Business Management in Los Angeles, CA. After rising through the ranks working for the stars, her own stars aligned when she met her Idaho sweetheart; inspiring her to leave her busy life to marry and  start a family in beautiful Idaho with him. She and her husband Jake are raising their two young sons (and a surprising chill golden doodle) in Star, ID.  Wonderful opportunities have presented themselves allowing Belle to work in Taxation and Corporate Finance in Idaho. She is now serving in her most special position because she has combined her love of Finance with her admiration and respect for all things Education, as North Star’s Business Manager. She brings a heightened level of organization, critical thinking and her sunny disposition to North Star Charter School and couldn’t be happier.  She is so humbled and honored to serve the most amazing teachers, administrators,  and students in her new role.

mnilsson@northstarcharter.org

Monica Nilsson was born in Fairfield, CA but moved to St. Maries, ID when she was four. After graduating from St. Maries High School she attended U of I and WSU earning her BSN in nursing. She worked all of the units for a year before settling on the medical/oncology unit. She was also a Utilization Review Nurse for Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Monica and her husband Randy have 2 children, Mikena and Ryker. They lived in Montana, Northern Idaho, Oregon, California, and Hawaii before returning to Idaho in 2014. They love being back in Idaho and are enjoying the seasons again!

Monica joined the North Star family in 2016 as a 4th grade para. Since then she has been a para for 2nd-4th grade and part time office staff. This year she switched to working full time in the office. Monica loves working with the kids and is looking forward to a great year!

vbrown@northstarcharter.org

Vanessa graduated from University of California, Davis with a degree in Psychology. It is there where she met her now husband, Matt, who was from Boise, Idaho. Her and Matt married after college in 2003, moved to Idaho in 2009 and had their son, Hayes, in 2013.

Vanessa is starting her 5th year at North Star and loves every second of it! She enjoys being surrounded by such wonderful co-workers and looks forward to a new exciting year!

jcall@northstarcharter.org

Jessica was born and raised in Blackfoot, Idaho.  After graduating from Blackfoot High School, she continued her education earning a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Boise State University.  She spent a year and a half living in Ecuador and has enjoyed a variety of jobs that  have allowed her to use her language skills.

bkearney@northstarcharter.org