abrekke@northstarcharter.org

Mrs. Andrea Brekke was born and raised in Boise, Idaho. She graduated from Borah High and went on to earn her elementary education degree from the University of Idaho. Mrs. Brekke will begin her 22 nd year of teaching this fall, but her first year at North Star. She is beyond excited to join the North Star family and be a part of this fabulous school!

Andrea now lives in Meridian, Idaho with her wonderful family- husband Jim, daughter Addi, son Ryan, and 2 super cute dogs named Jade and Murray. She has been married to Jim for 20 years. Addi will be a senior this year and Ryan is an 8 th grader.

Andrea loves spending time outdoors with her family. They enjoy hiking, camping, and paddle boarding. Summer is by far Andrea’s favorite season! If Mrs. Brekke could live anywhere besides Idaho, it would be in Maui. The beach is her favorite place.

Mrs. Brekke loves teaching kindergarten and is looking forward to team teaching with Mrs. Vanderwiel this school year. They are going to have so much fun!

jhandyside@northstarcharter.org

I was born in Laramie, Wyoming and grew up in Eastern Oregon.  I earned my teaching degree at Eastern Oregon University in LaGrande, Oregon. I earned my Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 2012.  I have lived in Idaho for the past 22 years and have taught fourth and fifth grades for several years. The last seven years I have been teaching full day kindergarten. 

 I have two children.  My son Nathan lives in Nampa and is a crew manager. My daughter Kellie graduated with a BS in psychology and has since earned her master’s degree in non-profit management.  She currently lives in St.Louis.  I love being a parent and take pleasure in sharing their challenges and triumphs. I also love teaching; it is right up there with parenting. ☺

 Art is one of my passions.  I enjoy oil painting, charcoal and pastel drawing, as well as ceramics.  During middle school, high school, and college I took as many art classes as I could along with private lessons.  I have a minor in art and enjoy teaching and encouraging my students to love and appreciate the many elements of art. In kindergarten we are able to explore a huge variety of mediums. 

 Other things I enjoy include reading, quilting, camping, fishing, white water rafting and horseback riding.  I love to hike in the mountains or just sit by a lake.  Anything outdoors and I’m game.

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ajohnson@northstarcharter.org

Ms. Johnson grew up in Temecula, California with a huge love for teaching and learning.  Her journey began at Azusa Pacific University studying music and after transferring to Grand Canyon University, she began pursuing her passion to become an Elementary School Teacher. After lots of coursework, summers working for the city day camp, and many hours in the classroom, she earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education after her graduation in 2019. 

Now with credentials in both Arizona and California, three years of teaching experience, and becoming a new Idaho resident, Ms. Johnson is overwhelmed with joy to work with the North Star Charter Team. Kindergarten is her favorite grade and she could not be more excited to see her new students grow and thrive. 

Outside of school Ms. Johnson still loves singing, reading, writing, attending church and spending time with family and friends.

tvanderwiel@northstarcharter.org

My name is Tisha Vanderwiel and I am very excited to be one of the full-day kindergarten teachers at North Star Charter School.  I am extremely devoted to teaching each and every one of my students and make it my personal goal to try and ensure that I am providing a rich learning environment in which my students are able to reach and/or exceed each of their personal capabilities.  

As far as my educational background goes, I have my Associates Degree in Early Childhood and my Bachelors and Masters in Elementary Education. This will be my 20th year teaching (my 14th year at North Star Charter) most all of which have been in kindergarten.  Aside from teaching, I also owned, and operated my own child care center in Boise, ID with approx. 120 children ranging in age from six weeks to twelve years.  I owned that center for 10 years before selling it to focus on my teaching career.  

I have five amazing “children” ranging in age from 17-25 years, an adorable son-in-law, a two-year-old grandson who lights up my world and a new granddaughter due in October!! I couldn’t be more proud!!  I live in Meridian with my husband, Erik, and have been an Idahoan most all my life. Some of my favorite things to do are spend time with my family, travel, and hang with my dogs! 

I absolutely love and believe in North Star and feel blessed to be a part of the learning environment and incredible culture that takes place here each day!  I look forward to working with you and your child and starting off their school experience with a fabulous kindergarten year!

cloper@northstarcharter.org

Charleen Loper graduated from Boise State University in 2008 with her Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Studies. She holds two teaching certificates, birth-third grade and K-8. This year she will begin her 15th year of teaching and she is very thankful to teach here at North Star. Prior to coming to North Star, Mrs. Loper taught kindergarten for two years before realizing first grade was her true passion and has taught first grade for the past 13 years. She promotes a collaborative classroom atmosphere where children are excited to learn and grow both academically and personally. Mrs. Loper encourages her students to have a positive outlook and to believe in their ability to conquer any given task.

She grew up in southern California and fell in love with her husband who grew up in Nampa, Idaho. They spent five years in California and moved to Idaho to raise their children. All three of their children have graduated from Boise State University. Mrs. Loper’s favorite colors are, of course, blue and orange! During her free time, Mrs. Loper enjoys reading, working on creative projects, planting flowers, riding her bike, and especially spending time with her family and friends.

Mrs. Loper looks forward to working together with her student’s families here at NorthStar to create a classroom full of lifelong learners

cmassimino@northstarcharter.org

This is Courtney Massimino’s ninth year at North Star Charter! She is a graduate of Boise State University in Elementary Education with an Endorsement in Early Childhood Education, and this will be her 20th year teaching!  All of which are in first grade!

She is very passionate about teaching students how to read, as well as the fundamentals of the core subject areas. She strives to ensure the success of all the students in her class and firmly believes that setting goals, both personal and academic, leads directly to achievement at all levels in the classroom. 

Mrs. Massimino met her husband, Dan, at BSU…needless to say, they are big BSU fans! She has two boys, Vincent who is 16 and will be a 11th grader and Xander who is 13 and will be in 8th grade.  Xander attends North Star!  They both love hanging out with their friends and playing games. When she is not working, Mrs. Massimino loves to go boating, camping, and fishing (she’s the best fisherperson in their house!), and spending time with her family. She and her children LOVE being at North Star and are looking forward to another great year!

sasin@northstarcharter.org

Shalayne Asin was born in Tucson, Arizona. She moved to Boise 17 years ago with her amazing husband, Todd, and loved it. She is the mom to three wonderful children; Adison, 16, Avery 12, and Tanner, 9.  Her three children all love North Star as much as she does! She is excited to start her third year here at North Star teaching the wonderful first graders again.

She graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education focused on K-8, with a Literacy endorsement, a Reading Specialist certificate for both K-8 and 8-12 and a history minor. She has taught 3rd grade, 4th grade and Kindergarten. She is passionate about teaching and the students that she teaches. She strives to encourage their delightful sense of wonder and individuality in and out of the classroom. One of her favorite things each year is to get to watch as the students grow in confidence, grasp new ideas and come to see that learning is an exciting and fun experience. She strives to make her classroom a welcoming, happy environment that inspires students to want to learn.

She enjoys biking, swimming, taking long walks with her family that usually end up at a park, and just about anything out in the sunshine. She likes snowshoeing and sledding with her family. She loves to read, as do her children. They spend a great deal of time reading, at the library and just hanging out in the bookstores

sdrain@northstarcharter.org

Growing up in Phoenix, Arizona, Sheri Drain always knew she wanted to be a teacher. Sheri grew up loving school, while excelling in many sports such as volleyball, swimming, and track throughout her school years. Wanting a small town feeling she decided to attend Northern Arizona University where she went on to earn her Bachelors of Science degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education with an emphasis in Learning Disabilities. She then taught in the Phoenix area for the next 7 years until her family relocated to the Boise area in 2002.

Sheri was then fortunate enough to stay home with her two young children until they were of school age when she then returned to the classroom. Always wanting to continue to educate herself, she then went to earn her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. While Sheri has more than 20 years’ experience in teaching at the elementary level as well as special education and administration, she continues to love most of all working directly with students. She joined the North Star team in 2009 and looks forward to many more years of teaching at what she believes to be the best school in Idaho. It brings her such joy to see students’ excitement as they grow both socially and academically.

rfranks@northstarcharter.org

lholt@northstarcharter.org

Lisa Holt has lived in Eagle, Idaho since 1998. She graduated from BYU Provo many moons ago in Elementary Education. This will be Lisa Holt’s thirteenth year of teaching, ten of which have been at North Star Charter School in the second grade. She feels blessed and honored to be able to come to work each day and be a part of this community and teach these students. She is very involved in the school and the community.

She is the mother of four daughters and feels like she hit the jackpot with them. She only has one still living at home with her who will graduate this year. The others are off pursuing their interests in careers, college, and life.

Ms. Holt loves tennis and wishes she could find more time and energy to play. She also enjoys camping, walking, reading a good book, and a good movie.

She is looking forward to another great year here at North Star Charter. She believes each year is a new beginning and there is growth for all kids awaiting them. She believes in making a good connection with each kid and strives hard for them students to feel safe to take risks in her classroom. She tries hard to build a community within her classroom of mutual respect and admiration. She loves teaching and second grade is the best.

teardley@northstarcharter.org

Teresa Eardley is from Utah. She attended Brigham Young University where she received a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. After graduating, she taught in Utah, South Carolina, and Tennessee. She and her family returned to the West and has been teaching 3rd at North Star since 2011. She loves teaching 3rd graders and watching them grow. Teresa is married to Jared. They have one daughter, Savannah who is married to Michael and both of them are working on their BA’s at BYU-I. Teresa loves to read, bake anything chocolate, and play games. She is looking forward to an amazing year at North Star.

mpeik@northstarcharter.org

Maryann Peik was born and raised in San Diego, California. The Peik family was looking for a change in pace and decided to call Eagle, Idaho home in 2017. Maryann completed her education degree in Diversified Liberal Arts with an English Language Learner emphasis from the University of San Diego. After some time, she decided to further her education and graduated with a Master’s Degree from Grand Canyon University in Gifted and Talented Education.

Maryann has taught students in various settings, but she feels most at home in 3rd grade! She loves third grade because students have a brilliant spark for learning. Maryann commits to making her classroom a warm and inviting safe space for making mistakes and learning from them. Maryann Peik is thrilled to be coming back for her third year at North Star Charter.

When not at North Star, Maryann can be found at her daughter’s theatrical performances, at home in her garden, or traveling throughout the beautiful state of Idaho. Maryann is married to her college sweetheart and together they have three daughters; Hannah is 18 and studying Aerospace Engineering at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, Emma is 14 and is studying theater at Idaho Fine Arts Academy, and Nora is 9 and in the 4th grade here at North Star. Go Huskies!

ewaller@northstarcharter.org

Long-time Eagle resident, Erin Waller, grew up in Allendale, New Jersey. She has always had a
love and interest in educating children. After graduating from Penn State University, Erin
immediately put her teaching credential to use, teaching kindergarten and preschool in New
Jersey. Erin was also an owner of a preschool as well as one of its teachers. Erin took a hiatus to
raise her large family and was excited to return to teaching in 2010. She taught 4th grade at
Rolling Hills Public Charter School and absolutely LOVES teaching third grade and being a part
of the incredible North Star staff.

Each year, Erin hopes that her students in her class feel valued and comfortable in her classroom
environment so they are happy and enjoy coming to school. Her goal is to reach each student
based upon their individual learning style so that every student is appropriately challenged. Erin
looks forward to building lasting memories with each of her students!
Erin and her husband, Ken, enjoy spending time catching up with their six children, Stephen,
Katelyn, Ryan and Sean (twins), Kevin, and Morgan, over family gatherings. She also has three
grandsons, Asher, Max, and Yukon and three granddaughters, Zoe, Nadia and Kodiak that she
loves spending time with.

Erin’s other passions are cooking, camping, planting flowers, riding her bike, dancing, reading,
doing house projects and watching “chick flicks.”

Personal motto: “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” -Theodore Roosevelt-

tmichel@northstarcharter.org

Mrs. Tamara Michel grew up as a headstrong tomboy in the Central California town of Madera. After graduating high school, Mrs. Michel moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to pursue a career in law enforcement while attending college. Mrs. Michel worked in the field of law enforcement for 14 years.

Mrs. Michel graduated college with a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Studies from California State University, Long Beach and a teaching credential from California State University, Monterey Bay.

Mrs. Michel is married to her amazing husband, Art, and has two fantastic sons, Quinton and Mason. Quinton is a freshman at BSU, and Mason is a junior at Eagle High School. The Michel family’s trio of dogs (two female Boston terriers and a male rescue that strongly resembles Scooby Doo) are a huge part of their lives.

Mrs. Michel made the transition to teaching not long after her sons were born. Although she enjoyed the field of law enforcement, she felt education was a more prolific career to have while raising her children.

This school year will be her sixteenth-year teaching and her fourth year at North Star. Mrs. Michel has taught multiple grades ranging from first to seventh grade. She looks forward to an amazing year getting to know her students and their families! Go Huskies!

mbaker@northstarcharter.org

Born and raised in Boise, Idaho, Mrs. Baker has always had a passion for working with children. She attended Boise State University and graduated in 2013 with an elementary education degree. Miss B had the opportunity to spend her first few years teaching overseas in Southeast Asia before joining the amazing staff at North Star!

Fourth grade is her absolute favorite grade and she loves that every day is a new adventure learning alongside her students.

Outside of school, Mrs. Baker enjoys hiking the foothills trails around town with her family, friends, or faithful hiking buddy, her dog Benji!

mrodeghiero@northstarcharter.org

Mrs. Rodeghiero was born and raised on a ranch in Eastern Montana. She attended Montana State University in Bozeman, MT and moved to Boise, ID with her husband, Mark, in 1995. Mrs. Rodeghiero completed her Elementary education degree at BSU.

For eight years, she taught second, third and finally fifth grade where she successfully team-taught part time with Casey Hawkins, North Star’s Elementary PE teacher. During this time, she also earned a master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Idaho. Mrs. Rodeghiero took a break from teaching to stay at home with her son, Gavin, now seventeen, who is a senior at North Star. She also has twins, Ivy and Royce, who are in 8th grade at North Star.  She team taught third grade for five years with Mrs.Leatherman, now She decided to go back full time once all her kids were in school full time.  It was at this time that she decided to embark upon a new adventure in 4th  grade.  She loves being in the classroom! Her hobbies include spending time with family & friends, camping, scrapbooking and relaxing up North.

mlozoya@northstarcharter.org

Melissa Lozoya was born and raised in a small rural town in Northern California surrounded by a tight knit family. After completing her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies at California State University, Chico, she took a year to travel and perform community service around the world with a global program called UP WITH PEOPLE. Having both the textbook education and the real world international experiences to go along with it uniquely prepared Melissa to work with young students both in and out of a classroom. Before jumping right into her own classroom though, Melissa used her skills at the University level working in the field of student affairs. It was during that time that she worked towards a Master’s Degree in Higher Education. After a few years in that field, she realized that her work schedule was not conducive to having time to raise a family. So she found her way back to elementary education and the classroom.

Melissa taught in both a Kinder and 4th grade general education setting before going back to school for a second certification and a different Master’s Degree, this time, in Special Education. For 8 years, Melissa worked as an education specialist serving students with special needs in grades Kinder – 8th. When not in the classroom working with children, Melissa taught night classes at the Teachers College of San Joaquin where she was able to use her experiences and knowledge to help new educators work towards the completion of their teaching credential for the state of CA. 

By far her most favorite aspect of this chosen profession called teaching is the lasting relationships built with students and families. Melissa works diligently to create a family atmosphere in her classroom with her students and their families. Receiving graduation announcements for high school and college, wedding invitations, and birth announcements from former students are truly her greatest joy!

Mrs. Lozoya is overjoyed to be starting her 6th year as part of the North Star team. Melissa brings energy, enthusiasm, and a little bit of silliness to the classroom. She also brings her love of coffee, crafts, 70’s music, and two kiddos along with her to the North Star family. 

When not at North Star, Melissa can be found spending time with her family enjoying the beautiful outdoors of Idaho on bike or by kayak, coaching/watching her kids sporting events, teaching women simple makeup tips, or embroidering  up in her craft room. If you see Mrs. Lozoya around town, feel free to stop and introduce yourself…she wholeheartedly believes in being part of a true “village”!

aloos@northstarcharter.org

Ashley Loos (Low-se) has taught fifth grade for twelve years and this will be her ninth year at North Star.  Mrs. Loos attended Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho for both undergraduate and graduate school, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction.

She desires to make a difference in the lives of her students, to help them grow in their education, and push them to be successful citizens. She believes that student relationships are key and it is her ultimate desire that students trust her as a person and as their educator. Mrs. Loos is excited and looks forward to another year of teaching at North Star Charter!

Mrs. Loos, her husband Steve, her son Brantley (18 months), and their Rhodesian Ridgeback Autzen Avalon (3), love spending time at their lake cabin in Northern Idaho on the Pend Oreille River. Their favorite summertime activity is boating and picnicking where they play a competitive game of Sequence. Mrs. Loos especially loves to wakesurf and slalom ski, but anything to do with water or sunshine, she is there. Her passions include discovering new places through travel, cheerleading, football, and spending time with family and friends.

cmoats@northstarcharter.org

Carin Moats grew up in Pennsylvania, Hawaii, and Idaho City. She graduated from Boise High exactly 75 years after her great grandfather and 50 years after her grandfather. Go Braves! After graduating from Boise High, Carin attended Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. During her studies in child psychology, she completed an internship at an elementary school and confirmed her true love…teaching! She graduated with a BA in Child Psychology. One week later, she began her graduate studies at Lewis and Clark College and fifteen months later received her Master’s degree in Elementary Education.

This is Carin’s 30th year teaching. Carin taught in North Bend, Washington and she has worked at several charter schools in Idaho either as an employee or a volunteer. For the last thirteen years, she has taught at North Star.  She loves teaching math which is a true passion of hers and wants all students to be just as enthusiastic about math as she is. Carin loves the energy and excitement of the staff and families at charter schools. She is so happy to have found the most amazing school of all at North Star Charter School! She feels very blessed to work with the incredible children who attend this school.

When she is not teaching, she can be found spending time with her three children, Connor (24), Hannah (20), and Emma (18). She enjoys skiing, spending time with friends, cooking, traveling, and reading.

dholladay@northstarcharter.org

Danica was born and raised in Spokane, WA. She grew up playing soccer and riding horses. She had a love for school and learning which guided her into the field of education. In 2012 she received a B.S. from Eastern Washington University in Applied Developmental Psychology. She then returned to Spokane and attended Gonzaga University where she received a Masters in School Counseling in 2014.

Since moving to Boise in 2015 life has been full of fun for Danica. In August 2015 she joined the North Star Team. In 2016 she met Trevor and in October 2018 they got engaged. In May 2019 she graduated with her second Masters in Educational Leadership. Then on July 6th, 2019, she married Trevor and became Danica Holladay! Most recently in June 2020 they bought 7 acres and look forward to making this slice of heaven into their forever home!

Entering her 6th year at North Star she will continue her role as the elementary school counselor, as well as the IB coordinator for the juniors and seniors! She loves the opportunity to work with such a range of students!

When she is not at North Star you will find her and Trevor doing almost anything in the outdoors. Some of their favorite things are fishing, hunting, camping, and being with their animals! She is SOOOO excited for this new year with the best school community there is!

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prex@northstarcharter.org

Patrice Rex was born and raised primarily in Utah, with a few summer excursions to Virginia where she worked as a full-time nanny. She spent her teenage years playing lots of basketball, volleyball, softball and running track, and particularly loved basketball and high jump. She has always been curious about the way things work and natural processes, especially human physiology and life sciences. Mrs. Rex believes her love of science can be traced back to the times that she spent accompanying her grandfather on his Forest Service rounds throughout Utah and Idaho. She attended Brigham Young University on an academic scholarship and graduated with honors in 1998 with a degree in Zoology and a minor in Biochemistry. Mrs. Rex has taught and tutored science and math in Utah, Nevada and Idaho.

After her first child was born, she was a stay at home mom and part-time tutor for 10 years. She returned to teaching in 2009. She holds Secondary Teaching Endorsements in Biological Science and Natural Science. She also has an Elementary Teaching Certificate. Mrs. Rex is extremely excited to be teaching science at the elementary level and getting kids excited about science at a young age. She loves to do lots of “hands-on” lab work and watch students make discoveries.

Mrs. Rex loves to spend time with her husband of 26 years and her two kids (ages 20 and 16). Some of their favorite activities include traveling, camping, hiking, biking, swimming, playing games and doing puzzles. She also loves to read, play sports, watch college football, garden and take naps. She has been an Idaho resident since 2006 and loves living here.

jmolina@northstarcharter.org

Jillian received her Bachelor of Science from California Polytechnic State University in 2014 and went on to get her credential and Master’s in Education at UC Davis from 2014-2016. She worked as a 7th & 8th grade Science teacher for two years and then taught one year as a 4th grade teacher. In 2018, after she had her first daughter, she chose to stay home doing part-time work to spend more time as a mom. She started teaching part-time for Tech Trep Academy in 2020 when she and her family moved to Idaho. She is very excited to be able to work with students in person at NSCS as a science teacher again. Being able to teach science part-time and to have extra time with her two little girls is a dream come true.

cbenton@northstarcharter.org

Growing up, Carrie was fortunate enough to have lived all over the United States and overseas. After graduating from high school in Idaho, she attended Boise State University. With a degree in psychology and a new husband, she decided to make Boise/Eagle her new home.

Carrie was excited to take on the role as North Star’s librarian in 2004. She loved the close-knit community and high achievement focus found at the school. A move to Tokyo, Japan with her family in 2009 necessitated her departure.

She continued her work in the library at the American School in Japan while she lived in Tokyo. The experience was life-changing and rewarding. After returning to Eagle in 2015, she was grateful to assume the role of North Star librarian once again.

Carrie has a daughter in school at The University of Texas and a son at Boise State. When her son graduates, all members of her family will have graduated from Boise State University. Go Broncos

cclemente@northstarcharter.org

Cherilyn Clemente loved growing up in historic Virginia with her 5 siblings. This past summer she had the opportunity to show her husband and family her old stomping grounds as well as Washington, D.C. They had some awesome experiences touring our nation’s capital! Ask her about it!

So how did Mrs. Clemente get into teaching? In elementary school she was asked to help read with a new student who only spoke Spanish. At the time, Mrs. Clemente spoke only English! She took an after school Spanish class, fell in love with the language and with helping people, and eventually continued her education at Brigham Young University where she graduated with a BS in Elementary Education. She worked on her Spanish teaching minor while studying in Chile, student taught at a bilingual elementary school in Utah, and met her amazing husband, who is from Spain, while at college. Mrs. Clemente loves culture and people! Upon graduation they moved to the Boise area where her husband works with robotics as a Test Engineer Supervisor. Their married son and two daughters all live, work and attend school in UT and all are excited for the first grandbaby to arrive this fall!

The Clementes love to travel and experience the culture and beauty of other countries, as well as camp and hike in the beautiful mountains of Idaho. In quiet moments, Mrs. Clemente also enjoys reading, playing piano, and visiting with all those around her. She is motivated by each to reach just a little higher. She believes, “There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”

Mrs. Clemente loves to learn, and one of the best ways to learn is to teach! She has had a variety of pre-school and elementary bilingual teaching and translating experiences. She has also worked with children with special needs. Right before coming to North Star, Mrs. Clemente had taught Computers, Reading and Math groups for 6 years.

Mrs. Clemente is focusing her continuing education on instructional technology, PBL– project-based learning and STEM thinking. She focuses herself and her K-5 students on problem-solving, being creative and learning by doing. Her Computer & Computer Science class is very hands-on, and she strives to instill a love of learning and the thrill of “getting it” in all her students. She is so excited to begin her fourth year with this amazing North Star community! She is especially looking forward to learning more about and from her STAR students as they explore the digital world together.

chawkins@northstarcharter.org

Mrs. Hawkins grew up in a rural town, Mariposa, CA, just outside of Yosemite National Park. She has always been actively involved in sports and anything that has to do with the outdoors. Her love of children and passion for teaching have been with her since she was a young girl.

After graduating on the Dean’s List with a Bachelor’s degree from Sacramento State and earning a teaching credential from Chapman University, Casey moved to Grandview, ID, in October of 1995. Midyear, after three months of subbing, she was offered a fulltime second grade position at Mountain Home AFB. She spent the summers of 1996 and 1997 teaching Spanish speaking migrant ed. preschoolers. In 1997, she moved to Eagle, ID and taught in the Meridian School District for the next eight years. She has also spent twenty-four summers tutoring students in math. Every position she has filled with passion and excitement.

When her boys arrived into this awesome world, it was apparent that she needed to be at home more; however, as much as she loved being home, she also needed to keep her feet in the classroom. While getting her Master’s degree in Administration, she also shared a fifth grade teaching contract for three years with Mrs. Mariah Rodeghiero, one of North Star’s amazing fourth grade teachers. This was an incredible opportunity that she thought she would enjoy until retirement…until she stepped foot into her first charter school.

Upon viewing what charter schools could offer students, immediately she knew it was part of her next phase of life. She was impressed and excited about working with a group of teachers that were all grounded in the same beliefs. She has spent the past fifteenteen years successfully teaching with some of her greatest friends at a charter school; her students’ enthusiasm towards learning and their ISAT scores prove that the method North Star has to offer is exceptional.

Casey has been married for twenty years to her best friend, Dan Hawkins, Asst. Fire Chief at Mt. Home AFB. They have three adorable lil’ men (ages 19, 17 1/2 and 16), so life is incredibly busy attending sporting events and enjoying quality family time. Together they enjoy biking, snow skiing, waterskiing, camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, swimming, jet-skiing, and spending time with family and friends.

Casey looks forward to her first year teaching K-5 PE and her 26th year as a teacher. She can’t wait to meet and develop working relationships with her upcoming K-5 students and their families.

aschwin@northstarcharter.org

Abbie Schwin grew up in Kuna, ID. She graduated from Nampa Christian High School and went on to double major in K-12 Music Education and Applied Voice at Northwest Nazarene University. She graduated college in the Fall of 2022, and will be launching her teacher career her at North Star!

In July, Mrs. Schwin married the love of her life, Ryan. They live in Nampa and enjoy the outdoors together.  In their free time, they go hiking, camping, swimming, skiing, and love to spend time with their friends and family. Mrs. Schwin also loves to play guitar, singing and listening to music. Her favorite genre to sing is jazz and she occasionally has gigs throughout the Treasure Valley area. Mrs. Schwin is very excited to share her love for music with her students at North Star!

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