Our Team & Partners – Sage International School

Boise Leadership Team

Kate Hunter
PYP (K-5) Director
kate.hunter@sageintl.org

Kate’s teaching career began in 2003 in Barcelona Spain, where she instructed all levels of English as a new language. Kate has worked in a wide variety of schools, including private, magnet, and traditional public schools, serving as a teacher, IB Coordinator, district-level program administrator, curriculum and instructional specialist, and assistant principal. This is her first year on the Sage team, serving as the Elementary Director. When not at a Sage you can find Kate with her family, ideally enjoying all that the Idaho outdoors has to offer.

Zach Parker
Middle School (6-8) Director
zach.parker@sageintl.org

Zach began teaching secondary English at Caldwell High in 2005. He eventually moved to a small charter school in Nampa where he was the English and Social Studies department for the entire high school. Zach happily ended up at Sage in 2012 as the school aligned with his educational and life philosophy. He taught various levels of English and Social Studies at the secondary level while slowly taking on different leadership roles. In 2016 Zach made the shift to a full time Director of Middle School. When not roaming the halls of Sage, Zach enjoys having a book in one hand and a fly-rod or golf club in the other hand. He also enjoys the finer outdoor experiences of Idaho with his family of four.

Brandy Burkett
High School (9-12) Director
brandy.burkett@sageintl.org

Brandy has been working in the field of education since 2013. She began as an English teacher in the Nampa school district and was offered the amazing opportunity to teach at Sage for the 2017-2018 school year. Throughout her years at Sage, Brandy has served as an English teacher, Personal and Professional Skills teacher, College and Career advisor, and she has spent the last 3 school years serving as a Director in the high school.

Danny Solomon
Campus Support Director
danny.solomon@sageintl.org

Danny started his career in education in West Ada in 2010. He has worked as a paraprofessional, teacher, and administrator across multiple grade-levels and contents. His primary teaching assignments were in English Language Arts, before moving on to his time as an assistant principal. This is the first year Danny has served as dean and campus operations for Sage International. Danny’s values match Sage’s focus on including all students in a demanding education that develops them as local and global citizens. When not at Sage, a satellite communicator may ping his location with family, friends, or somewhere on a mountain, assuming he didn’t forget the device.

Nora Strauch
Primary Years Programme (PYP) Coordinator
nora.strauch@sageintl.org

Nora‘s teaching career began in 2007. She has worked in a variety of schools, including charter schools, overseas international schools, and traditional public schools, before joining the Sage Network in 2019. Nora has worked as both a classroom teacher and a coordinator at IB World Schools since 2012. Nora believes strongly in the inquiry, action, and international-mindedness aspects of the IB framework. When not at Sage, you can find Nora spending time with her family and friends either in the outdoors or taking a trip to explore a new city or landscape.

Lainey McGrady
Middle Years Programme (MYP) Coordinator
lainey.mcgrady@sageintl.org

Lainey started at Sage in the fall of 2020. She has teaching experience ranging from grades 7 to 12 as both a math teacher and as an English teacher. She currently teaches 8th-grade math for the Boise campus. Lainey also has leadership experience leading various committees, teaching professional development classes, and as a Boise State Regional Math Center instructor. Lainey holds the Middle Years Programme leadership role for the Boise campus. Outside of school hours, Lainey enjoys spending time with her husband and children. Their favorite family activities include traveling, gardening, and playing golf.

Scout Sorcic
Career Programme (CP) Coordinator
scout.sorcic@sageintl.org

Faith Hansen
Diploma Programme (DP) Coordinator
faith.hansen@sageintl.org

Boise Support Team

Katie Ashby
Registrar
katie.ashby@sageintl.org

Robyn Olnes
K-5 (Everest) Front Desk
robyn.olnes@sageintl.org

Sarah Brown
6-10 (Everest) Front Desk
sarah.brown@sageintl.org

Jo Lynn Somero
11-12 (Summit) Front Desk
jolynn.somero@sageintl.org

Taylor Steele
K-7 Counselor
taylor.steele@sageintl.org

Brittany Meduna
8-12 Counselor
brittany.meduna@sageintl.org

Danielle Konkol
Library Specialist
danielle.konkol@sageintl.org

Thomas Divis
Facilities Manager
thomas.divis@sageintl.org

Natalie Emmerling
K – 12th Nurse
natalie.emmerling@sageintl.org

Boise Staff

Elementary
KATE HUNTER	Elementary Director	kate.hunter@sageintl.org
NORA STRAUCH	PYP Coordinator	nora.strauch@sageintl.org
KARLIE BRASETH	Kindergarten Teacher	karlie.braseth@sageintl.org
HANNA DAUM	Kindergarten Teacher	hanna.daum@sageintl.org
MALIA PIPER	Kindergarten Teacher	malia.piper@sageintl.org
INGRID RAPALA	Kindergarten Teacher	ingrid.rapala@sageintl.org
EMMA AUSTIN	1st Grade Elementary Teacher	emma.austin@sageintl.org
JEN HAMBLIN	1st Grade Elementary Teacher	jen.hamblin@sageintl.org
BREKKE JACOBSON	1st Grade Elementary Teacher	brekke.jacobson@sageintl.org
BRITTANY WAYT	1st Grade Elementary Teacher	brittany.wayt@sageintl.org
JOEL HUETTIG	2nd Grade Elementary Teacher	joel.huettig@sageintl.org
ANN TAN	2nd Grade Elementary Teacher	ann.tan@sageintl.org
STEPHANIE VANORSOW	2nd Grade Elementary Teacher	stephanie.vanorsow@sageintl.org
KATE BAUER	3rd Grade Elementary Teacher	katelyn.bauer@sageintl.org
BRITT THORPE	3rd Grade Elementary Teacher	britt.thorpe@sageintl.org
LISE WELCH	3rd Grade Elementary Teacher	lise.welch@sageintl.org
BRETT LYONS	4th Grade Elementary Teacher	brett.lyons@sageintl.org
AMANDA PEARCY	4th Grade Elementary Teacher	amanda.pearcy@sageintl.org
JILL ADKINS	4th Grade Elementary Teacher	jill.adkins@sageintl.org
JULYNN DILLARD	5th Grade Elementary Teacher	julynn.dillard@sageintl.org
ZOEY HEIMBACK	5th Grade Elementary Teacher	zoey.heimback@sageintl.org
ASHLEY LEVIN	5th Grade Elementary Teacher	ashley.levin@sageintl.org
ALYSSA STADTLANDER	K – 1st Grade Performing Arts Teacher	alyssa.stadtlander@sageintl.org
KERITH TELESTAI	2nd – 5th Grade Performing Arts Teacher	kerith.telestai@sageintl.org
NORMA STARK	K – 5th Grade French Teacher	norma.stark@sageintl.org
DANIEL MARKOW	K – 5th Grade PE Teacher	daniel.markow@sageintl.org
MONICA COOK	K- 5th Grade Visual Arts Teacher	monica.cook@sageintl.org
KARMA PAGENKOPF	RTI Teacher	karma.pagenkopf@sageintl.org
STEPHANIE OLD	RTI Teacher	stephanie.old@sageintl.org
AMY SLEE	RTI Teacher – Math	amy.slee@sageintl.org
SIDNEY POLZIN	K-5 Instructional Aide	sidney.polzin@sageintl.org

Middle School
ZACH PARKER	Middle School Director	zach.parker@sageintl.org
TIFFANY ECHANIS	6th – 7th Grade Design Teacher	tiffany.echanis@sageintl.org
JENNIFER COFFEY	6th Grade Math Teacher	jennifer.coffey@sageintl.org
LANA MOSS	6th – 7th Grade PE & Health Teacher	lana.moss@sageintl.org
LINDSAY T MACMILLAN	6th -7th Grade I & S Teacher	lindsay.macmillan@sageintl.org
MICHAEL TETRAULT	6th- 7th Grade Science Teacher	michael.tetrault@sageintl.org
EMILY DUERR	6th- 7th Grade Visual Arts Teacher	emily.duerr@sageintl.org
AMY TUCCI-WEBERT	6th Grade English Teacher	amy.tucciwebert@sageintl.org
JESSICA PASCO	6th Grade French Teacher	jessica.pasco@sageintl.org
SUZANNE KROMER	7th – 8th Grade Design Teacher	suzanne.kromer@sageintl.org
JORDAN SIMS	7th – 8th Grade I & S Teacher	jordan.sims@sageintl.org
CARI WOODRUFF	7th – 8th Grade PE & Health Teacher	cari.woodruff@sageintl.org
RYAN FREERS	7th – 8th Grade Science Teacher	ryan.freers@sageintl.org
MIMI TREVINO	7th – 8th Grade Visual Arts Teacher	mimi.trevino@sageintl.org
LAURIE HOOPES	7th Grade French Teacher	laurie.hoopes@sageintl.org
DAVID KELLY	7th Grade Math Teacher	david.kelly@sageintl.org
ERIN GATFIELD	8th Grade English Teacher	erin.gatfield@sageintl.org
RACHEL ROBERTS	8th Grade French Teacher	rachel.roberts@sageintl.org
LAINEY MCGRADY	8th Grade Math Teacher/ MYP Coordinator	lainey.mcgrady@sageintl.org

High School
BRANDY BURKETT	High School Director	brandy.fitzwater@sageintl.org
VIVIANA AGUILERA	9th – 10th Grade Science Teacher	viviana.aguilera@sageintl.org
JEANNINE ALLEY	9th – 10th Grade Math Teacher	jeannine.alley@sageintl.org
DANYELLE DAVIS	9th – 10th Grade French Teacher	danyelle.davis@sageintl.org
KATE MORGAN	9th – 10th Grade Language Arts Teacher	kate.morgan@sageintl.org
COLIN FALCONER	9th – 10th Grade Computer Science & Design Teacher	colin.falconer@sageintl.org
DREW LUNT	9th – 10th Grade History & Government Teacher	drew.lunt@sageintl.org
KARELIA DUBKOWSKI	9th – 12th Grade Visual Arts Teacher	karelia.dubkowski@sageintl.org
EMILY FLORES	9th – 12th Grade PE & Health Teacher	emily.flores@sageintl.org
AMBER REYNOLDS-SMITH	9th – 12th Grade Speech & Ecnommics Teacher	amber.reynoldssmith@sageintl.org
MATTHEW FRALEY	11th -12th Grade French Teacher	matthew.fraley@sageintl.org
FAITH HANSEN	11th – 12th Grade DP Language Arts	faith.hansen@sageintl.org
ASHLEY HENDERSON	11th – 12th Grade Math Teacher & DP Coordinator	ashley.henderson@sageintl.org
BRYCE MERCER	11th – 12th Grade Biology Teacher	bryce.mercer@sageintl.org
SCOUT SORCIC	11th – 12th Grade CP Teacher & Coordinator	scout.sorcic@sageintl.org
REBECCA TRAVIS	11th – 12th Grade Language Arts Teacher	rebecca.travis@sageintl.org
MELISSA A WEBSTER	11th – 12th Grade Econ & History Teacher	melissa.webster@sageintl.org
AUSTIN WEEKS	11th – 12th Grade TOK, DP Core Teacher	austin.weeks@sageintl.org

Special Education
CHRISTINE MCMILLEN	Special Education & Federal Programs Director	christine.mcmillen@sageintl.org
BRIAN CAVANAGH	K – 12th Grade – Speech & Language Pathologist	brian.cavanagh@sageintl.org
MELISSA THAYER	K- 5th Grade Special Education Teacher	melissa.thayer@sageintl.org
ANDREW WOODDRUFF	K- 5th Grade Special Education Teacher	andrew.woodroof@sageintl.org
LAUREN KLOKKEVOLD	6th – 8th Grage Special Education Teacher	lauren.klokkevold@sageintl.org
JACOB PETERSON	9th – 12th Grade Special Education Teacher	jacob.peterson@sageintl.org

Operations & Support
DANIEL SOLOMON	Student Services & Campus Operations Director	danny.solomon@sageintl.org
ROBYN OLNES	K – 5th Grade Front Desk Admin	robyn.olnes@sageintl.org
SARAH BROWN	6th – 8th Grade Front Desk Admin	sarah.brown@sageintl.org
JOLYNN SOMERO	9th – 12th Grade Front Desk Admin	jolynn.somero@sageintl.org
KATIE ASHBY	School Resigtrar	katie.ashby@sageintl.org
TAYLOR STEELE	K – 7th Grade School Counselor	taylor.steele@sageintl.org
ANNE SNYDER	K – 1st Grade Counselor	anne.snyder@sageintl.org
BRITTANY MEDUNA	8th -12th Grade School Counselor	brittany.meduna@sageintl.org
NATALIE EMMERLING	K – 12th Nurse	natalie.emmerling@sageintl.org
DANIELLE KONKOL	K – 12th Media Specialist	danielle.konkol@sageintl.org
MEGAN FINK	K – 5th Grade Educational Assistant	megan.fink@sageintl.org
ADRIAN HICKENBOTTOM	K – 5th Grade Educational Assistant/ Literacy Lab	adrian.hickenbottom@sageintl.org
OLIVIA AYDIN	Esage Program Lead	olivia.aydin@sageintl.org
THOMAS DIVIS	School Facilities Manager	thomas.divis@sageintl.org

Network
EMILY DOWNEY	Executive Director	emily.downey@sageintl.org
JOSH NOTEBOOM	Chief Academic Officer	josh.noteboom@sageintl.org
BRIAN BAVA	Sage Fellow	brian.bava@sageintl.org
MATTHEW PETERSON	Psychologist	matthew.peterson@sageintl.org
JANNA MITCHELL	English Language (EL) Teacher	janna.mitchell@sageintl.org
ARRON WALTON	Enrichment Director	arron.walton@sageintl.org
MIA RUSSELL	Esage Coordinator	mia.russell@sageintl.org
MEGAN FUROIS	Outdoor Coordinator	megan.furois@sageintl.org
DANI ZWOLFER	IB Programs, Title IX Coordinator, Board Clerk	dani.zwolfer@sageintl.org
HEIDI HAGMAN	Marketing & Communications Director	heidi.hagman@sageintl.org
BOB BRIXEY	Facilities Director	bob.brixey@sageintl.org
RACHEL WILSON	Human Resources & School-Based Medicaid Manager	rachel.wilson@sageintl.org
VALERIE ROBERTS	Payroll & HR Coordinator	valerie.roberts@sageintl.org
JOHNNY WATKINS	IT Director	johnny.watkins@sageintl.org
KRISS GRIMALDO	IT Specialist	kriss.grimaldo@sageintl.org
SHELBY LUSBY	IT Support Specialist	shelby.lusby@sageintl.org

Network Leadership Team

Emily Downey
Director of Finance & Operations
emily.downey@sageintl.org

Emily joined Sage in 2014 as a parent of 3 boys, each of who have graduated with the full DP diploma. She enjoyed volunteering in a variety of ways at both of our schools, including as a member of the School Board, and in 2021 became the network’s CFO/COO. Emily is an experienced financial and operational leader as a CPA with over 20 years in the private sector with responsibilities spanning budgeting, forecasting, financial and operational goal setting, personnel management, market strategy, business consulting, corporate taxation and auditing.

Emily loves exploring the outdoors with her family and dogs, traveling the world and tucking up with a good book.

Josh Noteboom
Chief Academic Officer
josh.noteboom@sageintl.org

Josh brings over 16 years of experience in public education. He previously led federal programs for the Idaho State Department of Education, advancing equity and access for Idaho students statewide. Josh has held a range of roles, including teacher and assistant principal in the Kuna School District, principal of Bruneau Elementary, and founding school leader of Village Leadership Academy, a Boise charter school focused on project-based learning.

A lifelong Idahoan and Kuna High graduate, Josh earned degrees from Northwest Nazarene University and Boise State. He is the proud father of two children—one a high school graduate and the other a current senior. Outside of education, Josh is passionate about Idaho’s natural beauty and enjoys hunting, camping, and paddle boarding.

Christine McMillen
Special Education Director & Federal Programs Manager
christine.mcmillen@sageintl.org

Christine moved to Boise in 1998 and worked as a special education teacher in West Ada and then most recently as principal of Canyon Springs High School in Caldwell. She is also the proud mother of three grown daughters and two stepsons and enjoys spending as much time as possible visiting them in Colorado and Montana. She is passionate about student success and learning and looks forward to working with the great team at Sage.

Bob Brixey
Network Facilities Director
bob.brixey@sageintl.org

Bob is an Idaho native that grew up in Parma. Bob started working for Sage in the summer of 2016. Prior to that, for twenty years, he was the Facilities Manager for a large church in Indiana. Bob served as a youth pastor in Colorado for five years while he attended Denver Baptist Bible College. He has three children and five grandchildren. Bob enjoys camping with his wife Gayle, entertaining his grandchildren, hiking, driving his hot rod, and working on his miniature railroad.

Heidi Hagman
Marketing & Communications Director
heidi.hagman@sageintl.org

Heidi started at Sage in Boise as a kindergarten parent in 2010 and enjoyed time volunteering while having her own photography business. She officially joined the team in 2019 working at the front desk, and now enjoys using her photography skills and previous years of experience working in IT to market to our community and communicate with families about our wonderful schools! She enjoys traveling and taking outdoor adventures with her husband Mike and their two teenagers.

Lisa Lechner
Network Business Manager/ISEE Coordinator
lisa@sageintl.org

Lisa has been with the Sage International network since it began in 2010, and was the first paid employee. She has served in a variety of roles in her time here, mostly accounting and finance-related. Lisa has a deep love and history in performing arts and is instrumental in bringing in a variety of local artists to share with our students and the performing arts program.

Arron Walton
Enrichment Director
arron.walton@sageintl.org

Arron started at Sage Boise as a parent when the school opened in 2010, and started working at Sage in 2014 as the ESage Director. She is now also Enrichment Director and oversees extracurricular programs at both Boise and Middleton campuses. She previously worked at the YMCA for 13 years in the Child Development Branch in a variety of roles working with infants through school age children. In her spare time, Arron enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hiking, camping, kayaking and gardening.

Dani Zwolfer
IB/Curriculum/Assessment Director
dani.zwolfer@sageintl.org

Dani started at Sage in Boise when we opened our doors in 2010. She has held a variety of roles at Sage including elementary teacher, PYP Coordinator, and PYP Director. Dani is also an IB Workshop Leader and has enjoyed supporting colleagues at other educational institutions to develop their understanding of the IB. Before her career in education, Dani spent 19 years at an international market research company as a data analyst. When not on campus, she enjoys spending time with her husband exploring all the corners of Idaho and beyond or hanging out at a local coffee shop playing a board game with family.

Brian Bava
Sage Fellow
brian.bava@ageintl.org