Middle School Faculty

aholland@northstarcharter.org

Mrs. Holland LOVES being the school counselor for our amazing middle school students! She strives to have an open door and welcoming space where students feel seen, heard, and valued, as they navigate the fun (and inevitably challenging) middle school years. She also loves the connections she gets to make with the families of our students. It takes a village and she is so thankful to be part of this one.

Mrs. Holland is married to her best friend and together they have three of the best kids ever. When she isn’t running between practices and games, Mrs. Holland lives to adventure outdoors with her family and friends, hiking, camping, and finding spots on the water to cool down in summer.

jhorning@northstarcharter.org

Mr. Horning is starting his 15th year of teaching (14 in the Treasure Valley and 1 in Salem, OR).  He taught primarily at Heritage Middle School in West Ada and Middleton Middle School in Middleton.  He loves science and teaching students through fun, hands-on activities that challenge them to demonstrate their comprehension skills through various ways.  Outside of school, he loves to go to sporting events, like Idaho Vandal football!  He also has a passion for coaching football and basketball. He is excited for this great opportunity to be around such an awesome staff and the students that call North Star home. 

krasmussen@northstarcharter.org

Mrs. Kerri Rasmussen holds a Bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University and has accumulated over a decade of teaching expertise across Washington State, Oregon, and most recently Idaho in 2021. Mrs. Rasmussen is a dedicated educator, excited to join the North Star Charter School community as the 6th grade math teacher.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Mrs. Rasmussen finds great joy in supporting her two sons and daughter as they participate in sports, particularly basketball and football. Her family is her cornerstone, and she values every moment spent traveling, watching sports, running/walking, and simply being together with her husband and children.

Mrs. Rasmussen is excited to contribute her passion for education and her commitment to student development to the North Star Charter School community.

mscott@northstarcharter.org

Mr. Scott has been with Rolling Hills since the school opened in 2005.  He has taught in a variety of positions at Rolling Hills including PE, Science, Computer Lab, and is currently the 8th Grade homeroom teacher.  Mr. Scott is a proud Boise native who graduated from Boise High School before getting his Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of Idaho.

In his free time, you’ll find him hiking, camping, and rock hounding throughout the Northwest with his crazy dog and wife.  He is an avid reader who likes to lose himself in medieval fantasy novels.  With his friends and family, he plays board and role-playing games on the weekend, and is really proud of his collection of games without 50 board/board games in his collection.

bseverns@northstarcharter.org

Mrs. Severns was born and raised in Stockton, California where she spent many summers on the softball diamonds. When she wasn’t playing softball, you could find her crafting, gardening, listening to music, or deep into a great book. After earning her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from CSU Stanislaus, Mrs. Severns began her teaching career in the Stockton Unified School District, while working towards both her special ed and general ed teaching credentials. After 5 years of teaching in Stockton, Mrs. Severns and her husband decided to move their family to Idaho. In the beautiful Treasure Valley, Mrs. Severns and her husband, Michael, found a passion for exploring the outdoors. They enjoy camping, fishing, golfing, and touring the states in their fifth-wheel with their two daughters. In Idaho, Mrs. Severns spent 9 years teaching in the West Ada School District. Along with her daughters, she has found her forever home here at North Star Charter School.

twhitt@northstarcharter.org

The soft blanket of snow that had cascaded gently down the night before now crunched under the early morning footsteps of the Whitt family as they welcomed the newest addition, Tyrel Cole Whitt, to their family. Six siblings, a myriad of sports, and an adventurous outdoor lifestyle led to 18 years of valuable experience and precious memories as Ty grew up in North Pole, Alaska. 

After graduating from Delta Junction High School he traveled to Eugene, Oregon to attend a junior college that had offered him a basketball scholarship, and eventually a baseball scholarship as well. Albertson College, now College of Idaho, recruited Ty as a pitcher, and Ty received his first true taste of the beauty Idaho had to offer. After many college adventures, including meeting his wife and winning a national championship, he graduated from C of I with a degree in elementary education in 1999.

The next five years were an epic saga of life changing experience as Ty worked as a hotshot firefighter in 12 different states and traveled internationally to 3 different continents. He was fortunate enough to marry his gorgeously brilliant and talented wife Heather in 2004, the same year he began his teaching career. Ty now has two beautiful and precocious daughters, Zinnia and Poppy, who are 14 and 10 years old respectively, and both attend North Star. An aspiring author, he happily spends his free time reading, writing, playing games, and making artistic glass mosaics for his and his wife’s art business, R.A.D. Mosaics. With over twenty years of time spent encouraging junior high students to understand, value, and wield the power of language with respect and careful thought, it is his honor to teach at North Star with an enthusiastic attitude and high expectations. Every day is a learning opportunity as we read, write, laugh, and reflect.

kdillon@northstarcharter.org

Kelly Dillon was raised in Las Vegas, NV and received a bachelors in K-12 Music Education from Western State College (now Western Colorado University). After starting her teaching career back in 2006 in the elementary music classroom, she moved to Pocatello, ID. With the scarcity of music positions at the time, she decided to take on a new challenge and get certified to teach K-8 math. She was hired at Hawthorne Middle School in Pocatello, Idaho as a 6th grade math teacher and stayed from 2009 – 2016. She then made a decision to move to Boise in 2016 with her husband and was hired into the North Star family to teach 7th grade and has taught math for the past 8 years. Since her time at North Star, she has completed a Masters in Curriculum Development with Emphasis in 6-8 Middle School Mathematics. In addition to teaching, Kelly is a 2nd Lieutenant in the Idaho National Guard for a Field Artillery unit in Burley, Idaho where she trains once a month and for a period during the summer. For the upcoming school year, Kelly will be moving away from teaching math and transitioning into 7th grade Social Studies and Financial Literacy in order to help balance her classroom teaching and military service obligations. 

She is passionate about teaching because of the constant challenge and the ability to be creative on a daily basis. No day is ever the same which makes teaching all the more exciting. She takes teaching seriously and works hard to give each student the opportunity to have a successful year. In addition to teaching in the classroom at North Star, Kelly has been the 6-12 head coach for the Cross Country Program for the past 6 years and has worked alongside Mr. Davidsen (6-12 music director) to get the North Star Mountain Biking team up and running back in 2022. Kelly also co-developed and coached the MathCounts program for the past 6 years. MathCounts is a combination of a Math Club and a competitive team for any students in 6-8th grade. North Star has placed in the top 5 in the state of Idaho the last 4 years.

Her other hobbies include settling down with a good book/podcast and exploring new places. She loves staying active and enjoys getting outdoors to run, hike, bike, and glamping in her trailer when the weather is good. She also enjoys concerts and playing guitar and clarinet

prex@northstarcharter.org

Mrs. Rex has been teaching science at North Star since 2009 in both elementary and middle school. She loves getting kids excited about science at a young age. She loves to do lots of “hands-on” lab work and watch students make discoveries.

Patrice Rex was raised primarily in Utah, with a few summers in Virginia where she worked as a full-time nanny. She spent her teenage years playing lots of basketball, volleyball, softball, running track and competing in 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 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 with a degree in Zoology and a minor in Biochemistry. She also holds a Master’s in Science and Science Education from Montana State University. She has been able to complete several field study programs – including in the Galapagos Islands, Iceland and Yellowstone.

Mrs. Rex loves to spend time with her husband and two adult children. 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.

dshubert@northstarcharter.org

        Mr. Shubert was born in Missouri and moved to Idaho in 1991 by way of Oklahoma, Alaska, and Tennessee. He immediately fell in love with Idaho and has been here ever since. Married for almost 30 years and raising 4 awesome children (2 boys and 2 girls) has been the greatest joy of his life. When not teaching, you might find Mr. Shubert making big divots in the fairway of a golf course or losing lures in a river or lake somewhere in the great outdoors of this wonderful state. He also enjoys working with his hands, being a handyman, fixing cars or anything that can be taken apart and repaired, and figuring out how things work. 

Returning to school after a 20-year break in 2006, Mr. Shubert graduated from Boise State in 2009 with a degree in Elementary Education. He then started his teaching career at Rolling Hills Charter School and has been there the last 16 years. He enjoys teaching Middle School Science and Math and being a positive influence on the students that he teaches every day. Seeing students investigating and learning new things is something that is very satisfying and motivating. He is very excited about taking on the role of STEM teacher because it gives him a chance to let the students do hands-on activities that allows them to think outside the box and develop critical thinking skills.

mfriedman@northstarcharter.org

My name is Michael Friedman and I spent my early years in New Jersey and Pennsylvania before moving through Washington, California, and eventually settling in Idaho nearly 15 years ago. Each place has shaped who I am, but Idaho is where I’ve built my home, my career, and my family.

I am thrilled to be teaching Financial Literacy and Career Exploration at North Star Charter. Before this role, I taught middle school Social Studies and Rolling Hills Public Charter School, and previously spent several years as a special education teacher. I am passionate about watching students grow into confident, capable young adults finding success through hard work.

I earned my bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from the University of Southern California, where I also had the opportunity to play collegiate baseball as a pitcher. Currently, I’m finishing up my master’s degree from Colorado State University Global in Teaching and Learning with a specialization in Strategic Innovation and Change Management.

I believe in the value of hard work, real-world learning, and strong relationships. My goal is to equip students with practical skills they can carry into high school, college, and beyond.

Outside of school, I love spending time with my wife, Lauren, and our two amazing kids, 3-year-old Estella and 6-month-old Jack. You can often find me hiking, biking, running with our dogs, or just enjoying gardening time outside.

gmorris@northstarcharter.org

Mrs. Morris earned a bachelors and master’s degree from the University of Idaho- Go Vandals! She was raised in Meridian but lived in several places before settling back in the valley to raise her family. She has five years of experience in public education and several years beyond that as a preschool and college educator. She loves teaching middle school and all of the challenges and quirkiness that comes with it. This is her second year here at North Star and is so excited to be a part of this community of fellow teachers, students, and their families.

Outside of school, Mrs. Morris stays busy and well entertained by her three young boys. From after school pick up, to soccer, baseball, and basketball, and supporting her husband’s high school sports teams too, there is always something going on in the Morris house! In a family full of educators, they value their summers and spend them outside or traveling as much as they can.

She believes that students can overcome mathematical and life challenges if they know how to be a critical thinker and problem solver. She enjoys finding ways to bring out the strengths every student has to find their inner mathematician and to become more confident in the classroom.

krose@northstarcharter.org

Mrs. Kristine Rose was born and raised in Southern California. However, she spent her summers as a child camping, fishing, and exploring old mining camps in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area where her parents bought property and eventually retired in Stanley. Kristine, her husband Erik, and their three dogs moved to Idaho in the summer or 2018. She spends her free time skiing and snowmobiling in the winter, while in the summer she enjoys hiking, fishing, boating, and exploring abandoned ghost-towns via ATV or in their 1974 Bronco! She raised her two children in Chino, Ca. and her youngest son David, age 23, graduated with his BS in Aeronautical Science in December 2019 from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ. He is employed as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) in Scottsdale, AZ finishing up his flight hours to become a commercial airline pilot. Her daughter Miranda, age 25 is going to school to earn a degree in physical therapy, while also working full-time. In addition, Kristine has two grown step-children ages 27 and 32 who have successful full time careers.

Kristine attended CSUSB and obtained a Liberal Studies degree in 1995, The University of Redlands for her teaching credential in 1997, finally obtaining a masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Chapman University in 2003. She is starting her 24th year of teaching and this is her third year at North Star, teaching 7th/8th grade Social Studies. Her teaching career started in 1998 at Van Buren Elementary in the Placentia Yorba Linda Unified School District, where she stayed for 20 years. She taught all subjects at the 6th grade level for many years and taught 3rd grade for a few years in between. She got hired for a 7th grade English position at the middle school level in 2018, in the West Ada School District, and this solidified her love of teaching middle school. Kristine’s favorite subject is social studies and is absolutely thrilled to be a part of such an amazing middle school team here at North Star!

dstelzner@northstarcharter.org

Hello! I’m Darci Stelzner and I’m so excited to be back with the North Star community as the 8th grade science teacher.  A 20+ year veteran of education, my professional career has focused on public education in both traditional and charter schools as a teacher at all levels K-9, instructional coach, MYP/DP Coordinator with the IB, and Head of School.  I am incredibly excited to be back in the classroom helping students learn, discover their passions, and become future world changers.

Born and raised in Montana, I began my educational journey at Montana State University Northern with a Bachelor’s of Physical Education and an emphasis in coaching.  After moving to the Treasure Valley, I earned a Master’s in Exercise Physiology/Sport Science from Boise State University.  Northwest Nazarene was my final stop as I earned an Educational Specialist degree in Building Administration and was even able to complete my leadership internship hours at North Star!

Outside of the classroom, my family and I enjoy mountain life to the fullest.  Whether it is downhill mountain biking, skiing, hiking, or camping, we live for the mountains!  My husband, Nick, is a mental health professional with an emphasis in sports performance and is a private baseball coach specializing in pitching.  Our son, Tyee, is a freshman in high school and is passionate about playing hockey, science, and Spanish.

I look forward to building strong connections partnering with you to support your child’s success every step of the way.

pbrown@northstarcharter.org

Born in Rockland, Massachusetts Patrick Brown grew up with two older brothers and one younger sister.  Having older brothers involved in sports and a Father who coached, Patrick grew up very active and involved in organized sports at an early age.  He also loved fishing and playing in the woods with his brothers and neighborhood friends.  Growing up South of Boston, Patrick became an extremely passionate Boston Sports fan.

After graduating high school he traveled to Northfield, Vermont to attend our Nation’s oldest private military college, Norwich University. Patrick wrestled and played rugby all 4 years at Norwich.  He was named All-New England for both rugby and wrestling.  Patrick received his degree of Bachelor of Science in Physical Education in 1998.

Patrick taught and coached wrestling in Massachusetts and played rugby. He then was recruited to play rugby in Australia. Patrick loved his experience playing rugby with the Australians and traveling. He then moved to LA to work for Sony Pictures for several years before returning back to the greater Boston area to teach and coach wrestling.

Patrick made the Treasure Valley his home in 2009. Patrick has been a teacher here in Idaho for the past 12 years. He opened a CrossFit gym in 2010 and sold it in 2022. Patrick has 4 children who he loves dearly. Patrick has been serving in the Idaho Air National Guard since 2012. He has been a personal training teams, teens and adults since 2006.

With over 20+ years of experience working with students as a coach and teacher, Patrick has realized there is no better job than teaching and coaching. Motivating students to believe they can accomplish anything they set their mind to, this has been Patrick’s mantra to his students.

Throughout the years, Patrick has developed life long friendships with his students and their families. With his passion for physical activity, kinesiology, fitness, overall health and sports he has been blessed with the opportunity to share his love to his students on a daily basis.

jhodsdon@northstarcharter.org

Janell Hodsdon was born and raised in Idaho. She met her husband, Travis, while attending Northwest Nazarene University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation and later a Master’s degree in Education. Together, they have two boys who keep them on their toes and fuel their active lifestyle. Janell began her teaching career in the McCall-Donnelly School District, where she taught Health and Physical Education and coached track, volleyball, and basketball at various levels. For the past three years, she has served as a middle school athletic director and health teacher. Janell is excited to bring her passion for education and athletics to her new role at North Star, where she looks forward to building strong programs, supporting student growth, and leading with energy, purpose, and dedication.

tholladay@northstarcharter.org

Trevor Holladay grew up in the great outdoors of Northwest Montana. He likes to spend his down time hunting, fishing, hiking, or playing city league sports such as volleyball or basketball. He is originally from Kalispell, Montana where he went to school K-12th grade. Following his passion for being physically active, he moved to Bozeman, Montana and went to Montana State University and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Health Enhancement.

After graduating, Trevor moved to the Treasure Valley and got his Masters in Educational Leadership at BSU and married his wife Danica shortly after.

Last year Trevor welcomed his son Jack to this world while finishing up his seventh year at North Star. He looks forward to meeting new students and families throughout the year.

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.

She took a break to raise two beautiful daughters but came back to North Star in 2019 to resume her Visual Arts teaching in 6-12.  Her younger daughter will be in 6th grade this fall and her older daughter attends their neighborhood junior high in 9th grade this fall.  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.