Staff

Mrs. Brower has been with White Pine since it opened in 2003. She worked in the school's library until she graduated with her BA from BYU-Idaho in 2017 and accepted a teaching position at White Pine in 2018. Mrs. Brower loves teaching kindergarten and helping the youngest students have a positive first experience with school. She enjoys spending time with her family, exploring the outdoors, crocheting, and reading.

Ashley attended BYU Idaho for a Bachelor degree in Child Development. She worked at a Montessori school for seven years and received certification in the Early Childhood class (3-6 year olds). She also went to Idaho State University to pursue a degree in Early Childhood and Special Education during this time. She has taught kindergarten since 2017. Ashley loves spending time with her two nieces and nephew. She enjoys paddle boarding, camping and four wheeling with family. Ashley’s favorite part of her job is being in the classroom with her students! She loves seeing their progress and growth as the year progresses.

Mrs. Winston attended Carroll College where she received a B.A. After experiencing different places, she has moved back home to Idaho Falls where she has been teaching Kindergarten since 2019. She loves teaching Kindergarten and getting to know all her students each year. Mrs. Winston loves spending time with her family, watching her two kids grow, learn, and explore. Her favorite hobbies are soccer, biking (mostly around town and mountains), and swimming.

Miss Clarke is a long time resident of Idaho and loves the outdoors. She grew up in Southern California and misses the beaches, although the mountains and rivers here make up for it. This is her second year teaching at White Pine, and she loves first grade! She previously taught preschool and worked in childcare before coming to White Pine. She loves reading, math, science, and history. She also loves to paint, write, and rock climb. In elementary school, her favorite books were Junie B. Jones, Harry Potter, and The Great Brain.

I graduated from Washington State University with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. I am currently working on my master's degree in Mathematical Education for grades K-6 through Western Governors University. I have been married to my husband John for 25 years. We have two grown daughters. I miss the days when our children were young and we had big family gatherings and feasts for the holidays and special occasions. We are now empty nesters. In our spare time, we enjoy the great outdoors and visiting our beautiful national parks. When we moved to Idaho, I worked as a paraprofessional for Federal Programs in District 93 while I worked for and earned my teacher's certificate in Elementary Education K-8. This is my third year at White Pine as a 2nd Grade teacher. I love making events special for the kids at White Pine. 2nd Grade did party rotations last year and the kids loved it! My favorite foods are Chinese food and Mexican food!

Jana Johnston was created in Canada, born in Louisiana, and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah.
She has always loved learning and being in school. But, she didn't want to be a teacher! She was always involved in church, sports and music as a kid. And after high school attended what is now BYUI on a vocal music and academics scholarship. She found her niche in musical theater and met her husband in choir. She attended Utah State University and started studying Elementary Education. She loved all the ways music and theater could help her as a teacher. She graduated from Idaho State University in 1990 and began teaching in the fall of 1991. She has taught K,1,2, & 3rd grade classrooms. She taught a combination of music and PE for 8 years before having her son. Retired until her son started Kindergarten at WPCS. She returned to teaching and spent 8 years teaching AM Kindergarten and PE to K-8 grades. This is her second year teaching in the 2nd grade at White Pine!

I have worked in the field of education since 2010. I have worked as a third grade teacher here at White Pine since 2020. I enjoy biking, swimming, and playing with my dog. You might find me at the river walk playing ping pong outside! Here's a couple of interesting facts about me; I never waste a single day of sunshine sitting indoors! I do not enjoy listening to music....weird right?

I recently graduated from the Grand Canyon University with my masters in Elementary Education. I received my bachelors from University of Arizona. Before becoming a teacher, I did a variety of things and moved a lot around the country. I was active duty in the United States Navy, spent many years as an army wife, and at one time was a CNA with a Hospice company.
This is my fourth year teaching, I have taught fourth grade for two and a half years and 2nd grade for half a year. This is my second year teaching third grade. My favorite part of teaching is the “ah” moment, when the students finally understand.

Hello, I'm Mr. Van Leishout but its a hard name, so everyone calls me Mr. Van. I have been working at white pine for a few years and before that I worked with special needs children. I am an avid reader. I love Sci-fi, action, adventure, and fantasy most.

I grew up in Sun Valley Idaho. I love the outdoors and spending time with my family. I have two amazing kids and devote all my free time to them. I have worked in education for 20 years in different capacities. I have been a teacher for the past 6 years. I love being apart of White Pine!

Hello, My name is Elizabeth Otis I have been teaching full time for the last almost 7 years. I came to White Pine two years ago after moving to Idaho from California. For the last two years I have been running the Drama Club and last year I started the Student Council for the Elementary School. I love seeing students giving their best efforts in these two different clubs. It allows me to get to know different students or different sides of students that I already know. One of the reasons I like working for White Pine is the school culture that the staff has for each other. I feel very comfortable talking to anyone in the staff that I need to and I feel as though everyone has a mutual respect for each other. I really enjoy working here and hope to be here for years to come.

Went to College at UAA, ISU, and UOP. I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. I have 2 adult kids, and 1 16-year old. At White Pine I taught 1 year at STEM, and this is my 3rd year at the elementary as a 5th grade teacher. I love teaching 5th grade because I get to know my students' fun personalities. Favorite hobbies are being outdoors with family, biking, walking or canoeing, and singing with the radio.

I graduated from Utah State University and have experience in School Social Work. I love working with students and families at White Pine. This is my dream job! In addition to anticipating my hours here at school each day, I love Science Fiction and Fantasy, hiking, swimming, playing games, holidays and anything cozy.

I am a recent graduate from BYUI. I am new to White Pine, but have been assisting teachers in various ways and school roles for over a decade. I have a big family and have lived in many different places. I love to crochet, read and sing.

I'm excited to be back with White Pine for the 3rd school year. This is my 1st year teaching art, which I'm very excited about. I have an associates in Fine Arts and a bachelor's in Communication. I love art and hiking and warm weather.

Hello, my name is ZoAnna Billman. I love Idaho, and I love the White Pine Charter School community that says “We are family!” I joy in assisting students to gain the life-long love of learning. My family and I are a Founder Family at White Pine, the first charter school in Idaho Falls, which began 20 years ago. I am pleased to share that five of my seven children have attended White Pine. I received my BA from BYU-I, and currently assist in Kindergarten and the Library. I especially enjoy assembling 1000 piece-puzzles, crocheting baby afghans, playing outdoors, and painting watercolor, but most of all I love spending time with family.

I graduated from Boise State with a degree in supporting education. I have only been at White Pine for one year but love the community and the kids at our school. I enjoy spending time with my husband and our friends. We play video games together and love to host friends at our house. I also love reading and roller skating. My favorite thing about working at White Pine is building relationships with all the students and learning about them!

I really enjoy teaching at White Pine! My 4 children have all attended White Pine, when we first came more than 16 years ago. I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Music Education. I have taught privately, at church, in public and private schools, and at White Pine. Amongst my favorite things to do are hiking, reading, and traveling with my family. I love to cook and garden. My family and I sing and perform together, and we all play at least 1 instrument. My husband is my favorite accompanist. I speak and have taught Portuguese, having served a mission for my church to Portugal. I love being a part of a school that values the children and staff.

Mrs. Romberg hails from Colorado originally and loves living here in Idaho. She enjoys reading, sewing and going on adventures outdoors. She also loves spending time with her husband and extended family. She is the oldest of 8 siblings and has always enjoyed being around young children. She is committed to making families and healthy, capable children a central part of our community.