Staff

Elena has been with WPCS since 2003. She was the school librarian for 15 years. In 2018, she accepted a position as a teacher. Her favorite pastime is spending time with her family. They enjoy backpacking, camping, hiking and exploring the great outdoors. Elena also enjoys crocheting, sewing, cooking and reading. She loves Italian food, peanut M&Ms, diet Coke, donuts, dark chocolate, and Nacho Doritos. Elena’s favorite part of the job is working with the youngest students at the school and being a positive part of their first school experience. She considers it a privilege to help them build confidence in themselves and their abilities.

Amberly attended BYU Idaho and Idaho State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Before becoming a teacher she worked as a behavioral interventionist. She has taught kindergarten for 5 years and worked for 2 years as a librarian and typing teacher. Amberly enjoys spending time with her family, traveling is one of their favorite things to do together. Amberly’s favorite part of her job is the students! She loves helping her students learn and grow!

Ashley attended BYU Idaho for a Bachelor degree in Child Development. She worked at a Montessori school for four years and received certification in the Early Childhood class (3-6 year olds). She then went to Idaho State University to pursue a degree in Early Childhood and Special Education. She has taught kindergarten for 5 years. 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.

Christina has her Kindergarten through 8th Grade Interim Certification. She has 10 years of experience in early childhood teaching, 1 year as a paraprofessional and 1 year teaching 3rd grade. In her free time, Christina likes to bike and swim. Her favorite food is cheese. Christina’s favorite part of her job is being a small part in the educational growth of her students. She said that it takes a village to help a child learn and grow. She is happy to be a small piece in their educational journey.

Diana is from Cape Town, South Africa and speaks English and Afrikaans fluently. This is her sixth year at White Pine Charter School teaching 3rd grade, prior to that she worked as a behavioral counselor. Diana specializes in teaching math and ELA. She is currently working on her M.A. in English Education. She is an outdoor enthusiast and enjoys camping, hiking, boating, kayaking and fishing. Her favorite "food" is chocolate cake with whipped cream and ice cream! She also loves cheeseburgers. Diana’s favorite part of her job is the students, their parents, and the comradeship she has with her teammates. She is grateful to have a job that she loves at a school with a curriculum that she fully supports.

Elise has her B.A. in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Mathematics. She has been in classrooms helping teach since high school. This is her second year teaching full time at White Pine. In her pastime, Elise enjoys dancing, reading and being with her family. Her favorite food is mandarin chicken. Elise’s favorite part of the job is being with the students. She enjoys getting to know them and watching them grow.

Joel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and another Bachelor of Arts in Education. He enjoys cycling and composing music in his free time. His favorite food is black chocolate. Joel’s favorite part of the job is seeing kids respond to knowledge.

Amanda has been teaching for 18 years. Most of which have been at White Pine in 5th Grade. This year she will also be teaching students about our up and coming Garden Towers! She enjoys gardening, hunting, and fishing and spending time outdoors with her family and two Maltese. Her favorite food is sushi. Amanda’s favorite thing about her job are the awesome families at WPCS.

Amy has an array of teaching experience in pre-school, K-3rd reading intervention, 1st, 5th, 7th, and 8th grades. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and she is a certified Kindergarten through 8th Grade teacher. With her free time, Amy enjoys singing, music and horse-back riding. Her favorite foods are Chinese and Asian. Her favorite part of the job is seeing the growth of the students, especially when they are having fun doing it. Amy strives to make her classroom an environment where all can be comfortable.

Curtis holds his Kindergarten through 8th Grade credential and his reading specialist certification. He has 4 years of experience teaching. Curtis enjoys horseback riding in his free time. His favorite part of the job is watching the kids grow.

Emi has over 25 years of experience in public relations, 20 years in business and 10 years in education. She specializes in math, French, public relations, the gifted and talented program, mastery education and communication. Emi enjoys learning, cooking and spending time with her pets. Her favorite foods are Japanese, middle eastern and salads. Her favorite things about her job are her colleagues, her students and her passion for teaching.

Kari has her M.S. in School Counseling. She specializes in solution-focused and behavioral techniques. Her previous experience includes: working as an intellectual disabilities professional. She wrote and trained others to implement behavioral plans for adults with disabilities. She then came to White Pine and worked as the middle school special education teacher for 2 years. She has been in her current position for 3 years. She loves all things sports and enjoys watching and playing them. She also enjoys making cards in her pastime. Kari’s favorite part of the job is working with the students and helping them learn how to advocate for their needs and navigate new social situations.

Melony holds her Bachelor of Arts degree in Special Education. She also has another Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration. She has been teaching and working in public schools for 23 years. She has been a SPED teacher for 21 years and a General Education teacher for 2. Melony enjoys sewing, painting and flipping houses in her pastime. Her favorite foods are fruits, chocolate and especially chocolates with fruit. Her favorite part of the job is working with students and witnessing their “lightbulb” moments.

Ingrid has an associate’s degree along with a lifetime of experience teaching children. She enjoys teaching math and reading. Ingrid taught her own kids how to read by the age of 4 and decided to help out at the school. With her free time, she enjoys going to the beach or lake with her family. Her favorite food is grilled chicken salad with guacamole and all the fixings a salad deserves. Ingrid’s favorite part of her job is helping the kids grow toward their full potential.

Michelle has been with White Pine for a long time and she knows the ins and out of the school. She has done an amazing job at keeping the schools functioning and running well. She is a hard worker, organized and efficient. Michelle’s favorite pastimes are golf and football. Tacos are her favorite food. Her favorite part of her job is being able to help out.