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Staff

Kindergarten Teacher

Elena Brower

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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.

Kindergarten Teacher

Ashley Schmitt

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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.

Kindergarten Teacher

Aliece Winston

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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.

1st Grade Teacher

Rachael Clarke

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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.

1st Grade Teacher

Madi Greene

1st Grade Teacher

Jenna Halterman

2nd Grade Teacher

Carmen Del Prado

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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!

2nd Grade Teacher

Amanda Henderson

2nd Grade Teacher

Todd Olsen

3rd Grade Teacher

Christina Fritchen

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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?

3rd Grade Teacher

Christina Miller

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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.

3rd Grade Teacher

James Van Leishout

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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.

4th Grade Teacher

Barbara Adams

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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!

 

4th Grade Teacher

Elizabeth Otis

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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.

4th Grade Teacher

Travis Pizinger

5th Grade Teacher

Gayle Black

5th Grade Teacher

Avius Medlock

5th Grade Teacher

Amy Webster

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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.

Student Life Coordinator

Katharine Barfuss

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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.

Elementary SPED Aide

Rachel Batdorff

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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.

Food Service

Holly Berthelson

Title I Aide

Zoanna Billman

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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.

Food Service

Christine Briggs

Food Service

Haley Cushman

Engineering

Katie Hadley

Technology

Alida Harris

Title

Gina Knowles

Music Specialist/Para Professional

Heather Kunz

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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.

Food Service

Elizabeth Nelson

SPED Teacher

Shannon Olsen

Librarian

Mary Oringdulph

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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.

Central Office Staff

Director of Schools and High School Principal

Ron Cote

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I have loved every minute of my more than two decades in education. Starting as a teacher in a private high school in NH where eventually I became department chair then administrator has allowed me to bring a myriad of experiences and ideas that I hope will benefit this very special place - White Pine - that in June of 2021 I began calling home.

With a BA in Fine Arts and certification in Art Education k-12 and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership I am privileged to have worked in both teaching and leadership capacities in the top school in NH and now bring an ambition for excellence and high standards to White Pine where I am fortunate to work with some of the best faculty and staff in East Idaho.

I am brought to East Idaho by my two daughters one of whom permanently resides in Ucon and the other who is living in Utah. With family being the most important facet of my life I am blessed to be near them as they are starting their own adult lives and families.

My free time is enjoyed with my wife as we continue to explore this beautiful area in taking road trips, hiking, camping, and horseback riding in the mountains. We also enjoy traveling back east to see family and friends.

To those in this beloved White Pine community - thank you for being part of something wonderful and for supporting our drive to define 'success for every student' in a partnership with home.

Director of Finance and Operations

Jamie Toop

K-3rd Principal

Alysa Trust

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Hey there, I'm Alysa Trust! My journey in education has been all about staying true to my passion. I've had the joy of teaching in Kindergarten, first grade, and second grade classrooms, and I'm currently in my third year as an administrator. Over the years, I've had the privilege of calling several states home, including Tennessee, Georgia, Nevada, Washington, and my current residence in Idaho. Along the way, I've earned a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood and Special Education, along with a Master's degree in Reading and Literacy, and an additional Master's degree in Educational Leadership. Outside of work, I'm a fan of simple things like Mexican food, getting into the spirit of Halloween, going to the beach, and taking walks with my miniature dachshund, Danny. I've held positions in both business and education, but my absolute favorite workplace has to be White Pine! Go Cougars!

4th-8th Principal

Geoff Stubbs

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Mr. Stubbs has worked with kids in youth programs since he was a teenager. Coming up, he was active in the Treasure Valley YMCA’s youth development department. He is very proud of the 13 years that he both attended and worked at summer camps--citing these as some of the most formative experiences in his early forays into his ultimate career in education. In addition to summer, residence camps, Mr. Stubbs also worked extensively in after-school programs. In the early 2000’s he attended college at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, graduating in 2006 with a BA in English Literature.

After graduating college, Mr. Stubbs worked as a YMCA child care site director and later lived for a little over a year teaching English to business people in the Buenos Aires, Argentina metropolitan area. Upon returning to the States, he enrolled in his alma mater’s (Lewis and Clark) Graduate School for Education and Counseling. Mr. Stubbs has been working in public education since 2011. A bulk of his formal education career to this point has been in secondary education, though the move to elementary administration has not been totally foreign given his extensive background in child development.

Mr. Stubbs lives in Idaho Falls with his wife, four children, and three dogs. He is a bit concerned that Google Docs just tried to autofill “Grandchildren” as he was writing “Dogs” He has no grandkids at this point!

Federal Programs Director

Dr. Adrienne Seamans

District Administrative Assistant

Kristin Attebury

Administrative Assistant

Julianne Humpherys

Administrative Assistant

Christina Warmann

Administrative Assistant

Alexis Benson

Custodian/ Maintenance Manager

Michelle Waters

Director of Food Services

Dareta Georgeson

Community Outreach Coordinator

Heather Smith

Operations Manager

Launie Shelman