As a lifelong explorer, Ms. Crystal has developed a passion for the visual arts, sciences, and creativity. While unlocking students’ love for learning over two decades Ms. Crystal has developed a wide variety of educational techniques and curriculum. Making art, science and history come alive in her students is a passion of Ms. Crystal's. Through partnerships with local education and community organizations, Ms. Crystal has developed a style of excellence and unique creativity. Ms. Crystal has also enjoyed illustrating her own children’s books with her best friend, Ms. Mandee.

As a passionate teacher and mentor, Ms. Mandee has affected the lives of thousands of children throughout the Treasure Valley. By partnering with the City of Boise, City of Meridian, Boise State University and other organizations, Miss Mandee has created and implemented lasting, enriching events and outreaches for the many youth and refugee children in the area. She is always striving to create new, fun hands-on curriculum and activities for students. Miss Mandee is enjoying her newly found passion of writing children’s books with her best friend, Ms. Crystal.

Meet the Lane Family – Daniel, Sara, and Elian – the down-to-earth crew behind Building Steam! Get ready to hop aboard the Block & Roll Bus, the quirkiest mobile LEGO classroom in town. Back in 2018, Daniel and Sara stumbled into this journey when they couldn't find any LEGO STEM classes nearby. So, they decided to start an FLL (First Lego League) for their homeschooling buddies, and guess what? Teaching with LEGO bricks totally won them over! Join this fun-loving family on their quest to share the joy of learning, one LEGO brick at a time – they're just regular folks, having a blast along the way!

Jessica Harling has been teaching children for over 20 years, mostly in the homeschool community for the last ten. Her educational background is in early childhood development, but her teaching experience has encompassed preschool to 12th grade. Mrs. Jessica also taught on Outschool for a few years, usually covering natural science topics with kids k-8th. Her Outschool parent review score was 4.9 out of 5 stars.

Jessica has been homeschooling her own kids for the last 12 years, and in that time has a taught at three different co-ops across the Treasure Valley. Mrs. Jessica has taught topics including history, geography, science, literature, speech, and debate. Jessica believes learning should be hands-on, engaging, and fun, and she tries to create that sort of learning environment when teaching. It’s important to her that the classroom is a place where kids can ask questions, try new things, and feel safe to participate. Mrs. Jessica joined the Meridian Pod School for the Spring semester of 2024 and is excited to expand her class offering for us this fall!

Daena Nelson-Redford has been an educator for over 17 years. Most of her experience is from the classroom, teaching Kindergarten and first grade. Daena’s combined interest in early childhood education and affinity with helping others led to pursuing her Bachelors degree in human development and teaching credential. She lovingly perseveres in developing foundational skills of young learners and makes lasting connections with families that are built on communication, trust, and compassion. She utilizes a whole child approach and believes that social emotional learning is a vital contributor to life success. Daena fosters a love of learning and promotes an environment that incorporates deeper levels of understanding, confidence building, comfort in asking questions, and hands on learning experiences. Mrs. Daena is over the moon to be joining the Meridian Pod School in Fall 2024!

For over 15 years, Erin Murphy has been teaching in both traditional classroom settings as well as remote, one-on-one, and home schooling environments. She loves to let her creative side shine and hopes you would like to as well. From a young age, she has always enjoyed using her imagination to create arts and crafts from craft shows to an Etsy shop or for pure enjoyment, she is always making handmade items. With extensive experience and a creative drive, she looks forward to guiding others on their own path of creativity.

Inviting curiosity for numbers comes simply to her, therefore she's eager to awaken your imagination while strengthening your critical Math skills. She hopes to nurture numbers-mindset through intriguing hands-on activities and games. She can’t wait to meet you and be a part of the Meridian pod school!

Carrie grew up with a love for art at a young age. She joined arts and culture clubs in high school and furthered her education and received her BA in Fine Arts and Fashion Design at Otis College of Art and Design. She spent ten years professionally as a fashion designer, designing for large and small companies across the U.S. Through her design career she had the opportunity to travel the world, which further inspired her love for art and culture. In 2015 Carrie moved back home and transitioned her career towards interior design for 7 years while teaching the arts part time at art studios, charter schools and one on one art lessons. Carrie's art and design has been featured in multiple magazines, she's won awards and her designs and paintings have been featured in store fronts and galleys across the US. Her painting styles range from realistic detailed artwork to abstract expressionism and designs are a combination of function, comfort and nature inspired with a contemporary twist. With a love for people, creativity and teaching, students will thrive in a caring environment led by 20 years of expertise in design and the arts!

Amy has homeschooled her kiddos who range in ages from 9-18 for nearly 15 years and has led many co-ops and classes as well as developed several curriculum.

Amy and her husband have been married 20 years and as a family love rugby, surfing and mountain biking. In her free time, Amy teaches women’s nutrition and fitness as well as helps her husband run their CPR business. Their family motto is, “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be broken.”

Christine is a passionate performer and instructor with years of experience both on stage and in the studio. She has performed with local bands including Chronology, Epic Union, and Falkons, and continues to share her love of music through live shows, original recordings, and teaching.

In her group ukulele class, Christine offers a fun and approachable way for students to explore music, learn rhythm, and develop foundational skills that support a lifelong love of playing.

Beyond music, Christine is also a digital artist with a degree in Games, Interactive Media, and Mobile Design and a background in the graphic design industry. In her digital design class, students learn to bring their ideas to life through creative projects that teach the fundamentals of drawing, design, and digital art tools.

Mr. Dylan Wright is a Certified GSHIM Taekwondo Instructor with Legacy Martial Arts. Mr. Wright has a 4th Degree Black Belt and is Chief Instructor at Legacy Martial Arts. Mr. Wright has 17 plus years of experience in taekwondo.

Natalie Gallegos is the founder of Onyx Dance & Arts Studios and the Owner and Director of

Boise Cotillion. For over 26 years, she has been passionate about teaching children and adults

confidence, kindness, and connection through dance, social etiquette, yoga, fitness, and

meditation.

Natalie has taught throughout Idaho in preschools, elementary schools, junior highs, high

schools, colleges, and as a full-time dance instructor at Idaho Arts Charter School. She teaches

a wide variety of styles including Salsa, Swing, Tango, Foxtrot, Cha-Cha, theatre dance,

wedding dance choreography, yoga, and fitness classes, and has directed youth dance camps

& now works with TRICA summer camps!

Natalie loves creating uplifting spaces where adults & children can move, grow in confidence,

and experience the joy of dance and movement. 󰙑󰩓✨