Specialists

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.

kmahaffey@northstarcharter.org

Kristin Mahaffey is excited to continue serving the students and families of North Star as the K–8 School Counselor. In this role, she works closely with students, staff, and families to support the social, emotional, and academic growth of every learner. Partnering with our secondary counselor, she is committed to fostering a safe, supportive, and inclusive school environment where students feel valued, connected, and empowered to succeed.

Helping students build resilience, develop healthy relationships, and navigate challenges is at the heart of her work. She believes that every child has unique strengths and is passionate about helping students discover their potential while cultivating kindness, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.

Outside of school, Kristin is the proud mother of two children and has been married to her husband for over twenty years. She is also pursuing licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) to further expand her ability to support children and families. Since joining North Star in 2018 as a paraprofessional, she has had the privilege of serving the school community in a variety of roles and is honored to continue supporting students in her role as school counselor.

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!

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!

pbrown@northstarcharter.org

Born in Rockland, Massachusetts Patrick J. 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 Sports fan for his home team Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins. With strong family values instilled by his Father and Mother, Patrick is extremely loving and loyal to his family and close friends.

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

During the two years after college, Patrick taught and coached wrestling in his hometown before heading to Sydney, Australia to play rugby for the UNSW Rugby team. Patrick loved his experience playing rugby with the Australians and traveling. Upon returning to the States, Patrick moved to sunny Los Angeles to make movies at Sony Pictures with four of his friends from college. After working 2 years at Sony, Patrick married his wife Kristen and decided to move back to Marshfield, MA to pursue his passion for teaching, coaching wrestling and raising a family. After coaching and teaching for 7 years in Massachusetts, Patrick and his family of four (two sons) moved to the Treasure Valley.

Since 2009, Patrick and Kristen have made the Treasure Valley their home. Patrick has been a teacher here in Idaho for the past 9 years. In 2010, Patrick and Kristen’s love for fitness turned into their business when they opened CrossFit E3 in Eagle, Idaho. Their family also expanded, they had a third son and a daughter. Patrick has served in the Idaho Air National Guard as TACP since 2012.

With over 18 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, has been Patrick’s mantra to his students. Throughout the years, Patrick has developed life long friendships with his students. With his passion for physical activity, kinesiology, fitness and sports he has been blessed with the opportunity to share his love to his students on a daily basis

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.

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 and married his wife Danica shortly after.

Last year was Trevor’s fifth year at North Star and he looks forward to meeting new students and families throughout the year.

jstanciu@northstarcharter.org

Jasmine Stanciu (Stan-choo) is a born-and-raised Idahoan, science educator, outdoor expedition leader, and lifelong adventurer with a passion for experiential education and the natural world. She earned her BS in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Secondary Education. She spent six years teaching middle and high school science within the Sage International Network in Boise and Middleton.

Beyond the classroom, Mrs. Stanciu has led outdoor expeditions, student international travel, and built her own outdoor educational business, combining her love for science, travel, and adventure. Whether snowboarding, backpacking, or exploring new places alongside her incredible husband and their adventure-loving Australian Shepherd, she believes some of the best learning happens outside.

dneufeld@northstarcharter.org

Dede Neufeld grew up in Southern California, where her passion for education began early through tutoring and working with children in her community. She earned a degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Education and a minor in History from the University of Arizona Global Campus.

When her son, Lucas, was in fourth grade and her daughter, Allison, was entering kindergarten, Mrs. Neufeld and her husband, Jason, relocated their family to Idaho to be closer to relatives. She soon began working as a substitute teacher in the West Ada School District. One of her first long-term assignments was at Rocky Mountain High School, where she supported students in several special education programs. Through experiences like these, she discovered a passion for special education and student support services. She later served as a paraprofessional at Andrus Elementary and Heritage Middle School, where she worked alongside exceptional special education teams and further strengthened her commitment to helping students with diverse learning needs succeed.

In 2023, Mrs. Neufeld accepted a Resource Teacher position at Star Elementary School, where she supported students in reading, writing, and math. Ready for a new chapter in her career, she was excited to discover an opportunity at North Star Charter School. She is thrilled to be joining the North Star community in Fall 2026 and looks forward to helping students build confidence, independence, and academic success.

sdawson@northstarcharter.org

For as long as she can remember, Sarah Dawson knew she wanted to work with children—although for many years she also considered becoming a grocery checker. Thanks to self-checkout, she jokes that she now gets to live both dreams.

Ms. Dawson has worked in education for nearly 20 years in a variety of roles, including preschool, kindergarten, fifth grade, and special education. While she has loved every opportunity to work with students, her true passion has always been special education. She is thrilled to be serving as the K–8 Extended Resource Room teacher and values the opportunity to support students across a wide range of ages and learning needs.

Ms. Dawson strongly believes that all students are capable of learning and growing when they feel supported, valued, and understood. She is passionate about helping students build confidence both academically and socially while creating a positive and supportive learning environment for every student.

cbaron@northstarcharter.org

Christine Baron joins the North Star Charter family having been a high school educator for over 17 years in Vermont. She started her career as a high school English teacher in 1989. She spent several years in social services as a case manager before returning to the classroom with a master’s degree in special education. Hired out of her internship at South Burlington High School (Vermont) she ran the supported study program. A pattern of student disengagement in an educational landscape that, despite technological and cultural advancements, hadn’t significantly changed since its founding drew her to become an advisor in Big Picture. Big Picture emphasizes real world learning, learning through internships, and empowers students to integrate content learning into self designed projects. In her role, Christine supported seniors in completing a required capstone project. According to Christine: “Students’ most significant academic and personal growth came from the internships and major projects. It was incredibly rewarding to see students discover their personal agency- their power to affect change!” In an order to bring these opportunities to a wider range of students, she was asked to step into the role of Career Development Coordinator for South Burlington High School. There she developed and taught an internship course that required each student to log 40 hours of field experience in local businesses. Additionally she ran a community service club, vetted and managed students community service hours, and advised a student team in producing an annual Job and Career Fair. The fair regularly had upwards of 70 participating companies interfacing with the entire student body.

Christine is excited to bring her networking, project management, coaching, and professional skills to the students at North Star as the Venture Capstone Coordinator. She moved to Idaho last year from Vermont, and is looking to build a network of collaborators. If you have a business, or know of someone who does, she would love to connect with you.

Christine moved to Idaho to be closer to her daughter and family- including a first grandchild! She is enjoying everything living in the West has to offer- hiking, river floats, camping, biking and traveling around another side of the country. In her free time she practices Yoga and is a certified Zumba instructor.

svanzanten@northstarcharter.org

Susan grew up in Pasadena, California before moving to San Diego to attend Point Loma Nazarene University. There she received her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. During those years, She was a member of the women’s tennis team and an avid beach volleyball player. Several years later she met and married her husband Dan in Del Mar, California where they raised their 2 boys Hayden and Griffin. She was later drawn back to teaching and decided to return to school for higher education. At Azusa Pacific University, she received her Masters along with an Education Specialist Teaching Credential. Since that time Susan has been teaching students with diverse learning styles in both California and now Idaho since relocating 2 years ago. In her free time, Susan enjoys snow skiing in the winter and pickleball in the summer along with gardening and cooking at home. She is excited to join the team at North Star Charter and feels blessed to be given the opportunity to help students achieve their full potential.