North Star Academy Staff

Tana Archer has been the Director at North Star since 2014. Prior to that she taught 3rd grade since the school opened in 2005. She has been teaching for 15 years, nine of which were here at North Star Academy and six were with Jordan School District. She received her BS in Elementary Education from Idaho State University and her MEd from Utah State University. She holds a current Level 2 Teaching License. She and her husband, James, have four children who all had the opportunity to attend NSA. She believes we never stop learning and is passionate about education and traveling.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." by Ghandi is one of her favorite quotes because it reminds us that we all have the power to make our world a little brighter if we just choose to.

Diana Seidel taught 5th grade for 6 years before joining North Star Academy. She has been at North Star Academy for 2 years serving as the Assistant Director and teaching Middle School Math. She received her BA in Elementary Education (K-8) and her Masters in Science Education (5-9) from Western Governors University. She has a Level 2 license and is currently working on completing her Masters in Secondary Math Education which will provide her with a Level 4 Math Endorsement. She loves being a part of the North Star family and is looking forward to another great year. Mrs. Seidel was born in West Virginia but spent most of her adult life in Kentucky. She and her family moved to Utah in 2008. She is married to her junior high school sweetheart and they have 2 kids and a Havanese named Chino. Her daughter, who loves to sing and act, will be a Freshman this year at Utah State University and is studying Aerospace Engineering. Her son, who is a serious gamer, will be in 8th grade at Draper Park Middle School this year.

“When educating the minds of our youth, we must not forget to educate their hearts.”

–Dalai Lama

Mara Sorensen is so excited to join the counseling team at North Star Academy. She comes from a long line of Utah State Aggies! She received her BS in Political Science from Utah State University and is completing her Masters Degree in School Counseling from Utah State University. Mara loves the students and faculty at North Star and is eager to help her students achieve their greatest potential! She and her husband, Austin, have five children. Mara loves running, hiking, pilates, and spending time with her family.

Shana Absey has been teaching for over 24 years. She has taught all elementary grades 1st - 6th grade. She received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Minnesota State University and her master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from University St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has taught all grades,1st -6th, in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Utah. She played an integral part in starting up North Star Academy. She has had many roles at North Star. She taught 2nd and 3rd grade, has been Interim Principal, Curriculum Specialist, lead elementary teacher, and Intervention Specialist. She is currently Elementary Intervention Specialist and Lead Elementary Teacher.

Brittany Dailey

Megan Allen is excited to return to North Star. She previously taught third grade with Mrs. Archer for three years and fifth grade with Mrs. Shaver for four years. In 2021, she served as the librarian when.

Megan graduated from Utah Tech University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and an ESL endorsement.

She enjoys being outdoors, spending time with her two kids, visiting the beach, and hiking in the mountains. Megan believes in the importance of growth and evolving every day. Megan has a K–8 Professional license through USBE.

Sara Swallow has a lifelong love for reading and children. Having 9 children has taught her the beauty of differences and the value it brings to a classroom. Eight of her 9 children have attended North Star Academy. After having many of her children leave the home, she decided to embark on a journey that gave her 25 more kids at NSA (a home away from home). She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Southern Utah University and has a Professional grades K–8 Elementary Education License.

Heather Wartman has a double Bachelor of Science in Sociology as well as Human Development and Family Studies, both from the University of Utah. She has earned her Level 2 grades 1-8 Elementary Education License. Heather has been teaching first grade at North Star Academy since 2007 and for 13 years at a private schoole prior to teaching at NSA.

Lushawn Butterfield graduated from Utah State University with a BS in Family and Consumer Sciences and from Snow College with an AS and an AAS in Child Care Management. She has been teaching since 2000 and has taught Preschool, Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade. She has been at NSA since 2013. Miss Butterfield is licensed to teach second grade with her Elementary Education 1st - 8th grade License issued by the Utah State Board of Education.

Jodi Openshaw

Since I was young I wanted to be a teacher and share my passion for learning with others. I earned a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Information Systems with a minor in Music and Tesol from BYU. After teaching 1st and 3rd grade for a few years I returned to BYU and earned a masters in Public Administration. I then taught 2nd grade for three years. I am excited to begin a new adventure teaching 3rd Grade at North Star Academy. For fun I enjoy playing the piano, hiking, attending plays, watching old movies, traveling, and visiting parks with family and friends.

Hannah Thurgood

Wendy Feotis graduated from Moorhead State University, Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education. Before moving to Utah, she taught 5th grade for 7 years in La Joya, Texas and 4th grade for 5 years in McAllen, Texas. She has been at North Star Academy since it opened in 2005. She taught 4th grade for 2 years before becoming the library media specialist. She also has a Library Media certification.

Felicia Stoker grew up in Idaho and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Elementary Education from BYU-Idaho. She has been teaching at North Star Academy since 2019.

Shelby Shaver has been  teaching at North Star Academy since it opened in 2005. She has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from the University of Utah and has an ESL endorsement. She has taught third, fourth, and sixth grade, but loves the fifth grade curriculum.

Michelle Stewart has been teaching 5th grade  since 2004. She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education from the university of Phoenix.

Ruth Bird-Nulph holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Weber State University. She has a Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from the State of California and has been teaching in the public school system since 2000. Her degree qualifies her to teach all subject areas through the Utah State Office of Education, Return to Licensure Program. She holds a Level 2 teaching license.

Mrs. O’Neil received her Bachelor of Science in Family Studies and Human Services from Kansas State University in 1997. She has been teaching full time since 2012 and is a level 2 licensed teacher qualified to teach K-8.

My name is Amanda Alger. I am excited to be teaching at North Star Academy as a Middle School Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher. I earned an Associate Degree as a Medical Laboratory Technician from the Community College of Beaver County in Pennsylvania in 1997. In 2002 I graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Family and Human Development from Utah State University. Once my youngest babe was school-age, I started to substitute teach at North Star. I then worked as a TA and I am now working with the APPEL program to earn a teaching degree for secondary education. I am looking forward to sharing my passions with the next generation. I love being with my 6 kids, learning new things, and traveling.

Aaron majored in English from Regent University and received his Master's degree in Teaching and English Education from Western Governors University. In his free time, Aaron loves to hike the Wasatch, chase his kids around the house, and explore the fictional worlds of authors like Tolkien, Lewis, Rowling, and many, many others.

I am very excited to be teaching 8th grade Language Arts, 9th grade World Geography, and 9th grade AP Human Geography this year. This is my twelfth year teaching, but this is my nineteenth year working at North Star Academy. I love sports and enjoy being outside and exploring nature with my family and my dog. I graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in Political Science. I have been married to my wonderful husband for fifteen years and we are the parents of a very precocious six-year-old daughter. She is a delight and we are enjoying every moment!

I have taught at North Star Academy since 2006. Before that, I worked at Excel Academy in Denver, CO. I received a BA in English with an emphasis on secondary education at BYU and an MEd in Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences at USU. Mr. Fernley currently holds a professional teaching license.

Mrs. Leslie Ginn started teaching Spanish in 2004 at St. Agnes Academy in Memphis, TN and taught for 10 years. After taking a few years off to raise a few little ones, she has returned to teaching in the classroom! Mrs. Ginn holds a B.A. in Spanish and a Master of Arts Degree in Teaching, both from the University of Memphis. Mrs. Ginn and her husband relocated their family to Utah in the Summer of 2020 and have happily exchanged the humidity of the Deep South for the Mountains of the West.

I have five daughters and nine grandchildren who have each inspired me in their unique ways to pursue my lifelong dream to teach. I earned my BS in Secondary Education-Chemistry from Oklahoma State University (2014) and a AS in Criminal Justice from Salt Lake Community College (2010). It is very exciting to have this opportunity to share scientific exploration with our students. My goal is to inspire them with a desire to explore our world in new ways, guide them to find ways to apply the principles of discovery, and provide engaging opportunities for learning and exploring science.

Angela Peterson graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree and is certified in Orff Schulwerk. She holds a Utah State Office of Education Level 2 license for Secondary Education with a Secondary Theatre Endorsement and a K-12 endorsement.

Carson Quinn received a BS in elementary education with endorsements in mathematics and coaching. He recently graduated from Iowa State University and received an Iowa teaching license. He is currently seeking a Utah Teaching License through the Out of State application process. He is originally from Naperville, Illinois, but just moved to Utah with his 1-year-old puppy named Kobe! He could not be more excited to start his first year at North Star Academy.

Ms.Ruggeri earned her Bachelor Degree in Science of Sociology from the University La Sapienza of Rome, Italy, where she is from, and a Master in Early Childhood Education from the Cortivo Institute of Padua, Italy.

She earned a Certification in Modern and Contemporary Art from MoMa (Museum of Modern Art of NY), a certification in Healing with the Arts from the University of Florida, and she is currently enrolled in a Photography course at the University of Michigan. She is a member of the NAEA (National Art Educators Association) and currently pursuing a master in Art Education through NAEA and Chico College of California.

Here in the U.S, she has been teaching art to elementary and middle school students for the past six years, four in North Carolina and two in Brooklyn, NY. Previously she taught pre-school and kindergarten grades in Italy and in Miami, FL.

She is seeking an associate teaching license in Utah through the APPEL teaching process.

Mrs. Story graduated from the University of Utah with degrees in English Teaching and Biology Teaching and also has a Masters of Education from the U. She has a level 2 teaching license and enjoys reading, fishing, camping, and doing triathlons when not teaching.

Miss. Sweet graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelors of Science degree in History Education. She currently holds an All Social Science Endorsement with her Iowa teaching license and will be seeking a Utah Teaching License through the Out of State application process. When Miss. Sweet is not in the classroom she is most likely outdoors either hiking or camping!

I have followed a non-traditional path to teaching. After earning a bachelor’s in Business and, later, a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Utah, I found myself pulled by degrees into teaching math. It began with my love of volunteering here at North Star, followed by substitute teaching, working part time as a teacher’s aide, and finally working full-time as a math teacher. I currently attend SLCC where I am working on my teaching certification through the State of Utah's APPEL program.

Hello My name is Eric Verdi (or coach if you're my student). I am originally from Long Island, New York! Sportscenter is consistently on in the background at my house. Safe to say, my life revolves around sports. I have lived in Utah for the last 2018 years with my wife and our dog. I got my degree in strategic communication from the University of Utah (GO UTES).  I have been teaching since 2023. I got my teaching start at St. Olaf Catholic School in Bountiful Utah. I am currently enrolled in the APPEL course to finish up my teaching license. Once the North Star Academy job presented itself, I knew I had to take it. I'm super excited to meet all of you parents and students when school starts back up!

My Door is always open!

Echo Cunningham

Jamie VanLeuven graduated from the University of Utah with a BS in Elementary Education. She has a level 1 teaching license issued by the Utah State Board of Education. Mrs. VanLeuven is currently continuing her education by participating in the Special Eduction Alternative Route to Licensure Program. She joined the North Star community in 2008, teaching elementary music, and eventually serving on the Board of Trustees for 4 years. Currently, she is teaching elementary special education and is the SEM specialist for middle school. She can often be found hiking the mountains of Herriman with her dog, spending time with her husband and 2 children or serving in the community.