Meet Our Staff

Jullie Payne

Jullie Payne is in her sixth year as the principal at North Park Elementary and loves being a North Park Knight.  She feels fortunate to work with the wonderful students, families and the North Park community. 

She earned her BS in Elementary Education from BYU and a M.Ed. in Instructional Technology from USU.  She also earned a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from WGU.  While in Cache District, she has worked as a 3rd and 5th grade teacher, literacy facilitator, and as the district ESL/Migrant Specialist. 

She and her husband live in Providence.  They have a daughter and two sons who are each married, giving her a son-in-law and 2 daughter-in-laws that are her 3 wonderful "bonus" children.  When she’s not at school, Jullie likes to play games with her family, go on walks, read books, and continue to learn new things. 

Favorite Subject in School: Language Arts; I love to read and write!

Where did you go to college to become a teacher: BYU, USU, and WGU

Past Teaching Assignments: Grades 2, 3, 4, & 5; also a literacy facilitator and then an ESL Specialist

Why did you decide to become a teacher:  I really like helping people and working with others. Helping people learn something new is exciting to me.  I am grateful to the people that have taught me (and continue to teach me) new things and I want to do the same for others. 

Favorite Food: french fries; apples; popcorn

Favorite Candy Bar: Symphony bar with toffee or anything caramel, especially with nuts

Favorite Color: many shades of blues and greens

Favorite Book:  I love too many! Favorite Genres are Fantasy, Mystery, and Historical Fiction

Where did you grow up: California

Family: Husband- Matt; Daughter: Elizabeth (and Ryan); Sons: Andrew (and Rachel) and Christian (and Alycia)

Hobbies/Interest: reading; going on walks; doing puzzles; being around people; watching movies

Teresa Kendrick

Position at North Park:  School Support Leader (SSL)

Favorite Subject in School: Math

Where did you go to college to become a teacher?  USU

Past Teaching Assignments: Resource, 3rd grade, 1st grade, Literacy Facilitator, RtI Facilitator

Why did you decide to become a teacher? I had a teacher's aide class in high school and loved it.

Favorite Food: Dessert

Favorite Candy Bar: Almond Joy

Favorite Color:  Red

Favorite Book: Book Thief

Where did you grow up?  Smithfield

Family: Married to Chad, one daughter Alyssa

Hobbies/Interests:  Hiking in the summer, skiing in the winter

Vardee Cole

Favorite Subject in School:  Math & Reading

Why did you decide to work at the school?  Love working with kids and teachers and parents

Favorite Food:  All kinds except sea food

Favorite Candy Bar:  Anything Chocolate usually. Licorice too. Maybe most sweets?

Favorite Color:  Green and Purple

Favorite Book:  Usually what ever I am reading at the time

Where did you grow up? Hawaii

Family:  I have 5 daughters and 15 grand kids.

Hobbies/Interests? 

Dani Gilsdorf

Favorite Subject in School: Math/ Science/ Art/ PE 

Where did you go to college to become a teacher:  Undergraduate- Colorado State University for 2 years and then I graduated from Utah State University! Go AGGIES!!!! I played college softball and was a pitcher. I got my masters in School Counseling at the University of Phoenix. 

Past Teaching Assignments:  I worked in Weber School District for the past 5 years as Special Education Student Support Staff. I helped students with challenging behaviors navigate their school days to the best of their abilities. I was an advocate for students, parents, teachers, and school staff. 

Why did you decide to become a teacher:  I decided to become a school counselor because I love helping others and working with kids. I am here to be a support and advocate to all. 

Favorite Food: Mexican Food/ Ice cream

Favorite Candy Bar:  Symphony bar with almond and toffee/ Dark chocolate- the darker the better!!!

Favorite Color: Maroon, yellow, and bright coral

Favorite Book:  I don't have a favorite book but I enjoy the Alex Cross and Womens Murder Club series by James Patterson.

Where did you grow up: Brighton, CO

Family: I am married and have 3 kiddos. 

Hobbies/Interests:  I played softball in college- I pitched all four years. I continue to play with slow pitch now, but I'll still play fastpitch every once in a while. I coach and teach private pitching lessons. I love hiking and the outdoors, playing with my dogs, crafts, Drag racing, anything fall, going to Bear Lake, Hanging out with my family! 

Shannon Shuman

Favorite Subject in School: Science

Where did you go to college to become a teacher?  Utah State University (Go Aggies!) 

Past Teaching Assignments: Tutor, Pre-K director/teacher, 2nd grade teacher, 5th grade teacher, 7th grade English teacher, Facilitator

Why did you decide to become a teacher? I wanted to help students become the best they can be, and help them love school as much as I did!

Favorite Food: Crab and/or Mexican

Favorite Candy Bar:  Weird fact: I don't like chocolate or bacon... so maybe Funyuns, cashews, or salt and vinegar chips.

Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Book: Oh there are TOO many!

Where did you grow up?  All over Utah, but I live in Preston. Idaho

Family: My hubby, 5 children (4 married to the family children), and 6+ grandkids

Hobbies/Interests:  Making someone's day, traveling, scuba diving, reading, cooking, playing games and just enjoying the outdoors! Work hard, PLAY HARD!

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Camille Taylor

Favorite Subject in School: English

Where did you go to college to become a teacher:  I got my undergrad from Utah State University and am currently pursuing a Master's of Education in School Counseling from USU as well! Go Aggies!

Past Teaching Assignments:  I worked as a School Counseling Intern at Fremont High School for 1 year, and am in my first year teaching at North Park.

Why did you decide to become a teacher:  I decided to be a teacher and study School Counseling because I love education and more importantly I am passionate about helping students achieve their fullest potential. I want to support them all and help them accomplish their dreams!

Favorite Food: Thai food

Favorite Candy Bar:  Reese's Take 5 or any seasonal Reese's (pumpkins, Christmas trees, hearts)

Favorite Color: Pink, royal/cobalt blue, and emerald green

Favorite Book:  Anything historical fiction or regency romance!

Where did you grow up: Hooper, UT

Family: I am the oldest of 5 siblings and live with 5 roommates who I love so much!

Hobbies/Interests:  I love boating with my family in the summer and all watersports behind the boat, singing/playing the piano, being outdoors, hiking, and running.

Erin Mikkelsen

PE Specialist

Hannah Israelsen

Favorite Subject in School: Art, reading, writing, and social studies 

Where did you go to college to become a teacher: USU (Go Aggies!)  

Past Teaching Assignments: From 2014-2016 I was the Art Specialist at Greenville Elementary. It is so fun that now I currently teach the younger siblings of some of my former students from Greenville!

Why did you decide to become a teacher: I always wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember. There are many teachers in my family—my mom, my grandpa, both of my grandmas—and I was inspired by them and also the incredible teachers I had in elementary school. They made school so much fun and I loved learning! My 5th grade teacher, Sandy Wallentine, made a big impact on me too. While I was in her class, my dad lost his job and was out of work for several months, so that brought a lot of worry and uncertainty into my life, and I was also navigating the changing dynamics of friendships that sometimes make that age tricky. Mrs. Wallentine was so kind to me and always made me feel so special and smart and loved. I absolutely loved school and learned so much from her, and the hard things in that year were overshadowed by so many good and joyful things that she brought into my days at school. Even though Mrs. Wallentine was diagnosed with cancer later in that school year, it didn’t stop her from being exactly the kind of teacher we needed as her students because of the way she cared about us individually whenever she was able to be with us, and we adored her for it. After she passed away, I felt even more committed to becoming a teacher because I wanted to be like Mrs. Wallentine when I grew up, I wanted to help students the way she helped me.

Favorite Food: Costa Vida sweet pork salad

Favorite Candy Bar: Reese’s Pieces

Favorite Color: I’m an artist so I can’t pick a favorite color! I love them all!!

Favorite Book: I have soooo many favorite books but if I really had to choose just one it would be The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White

Where did you grow up: I grew up in Logan and North Logan! I went to Woodruff for K-2 grades and then my family moved to North Logan. I went to Greenville for 3-5 grades back when it was split K-2 at North Park and 3-5 at Greenville. So I wasn’t a North Park Knight as a kid but all my younger siblings were. 

Family: I have a husband and one little girl and I love them so much! We love to play games together, bike around the neighborhood, and go camping and hiking together. Both of them are such a big help and support to me with teaching art, they have spent many hours helping me organize my classroom or get supplies prepared for upcoming art projects.

Hobbies/Interests: Most of the time I am pretty busy juggling teaching and being a mom, I don’t have a whole lot of “spare time” but these are the things I love to do in my spare time when I can, or that I run myself ragged to fit them into my schedule somehow because I love them so much (Pumpkin Walk, I’m looking at you! Haha) Making Pumpkin Walk scenes, reading books, sewing, crafting, and DIY projects, gardening, hiking, camping, and huckleberry picking in the mountains, photography, home improvement projects 

Stacey Wright

Media Specialist

Nicoli Pittman

Music Specialist 

Thomas Chamberlain

Speech Teacher Technician (SLT)

Taylor Hepworth

Speech Language Pathologist (SLP)

Nancy Poulsen

ESL Teacher

Favorite Subject in School: Language Arts

Where did you go to college to become a teacher?  Utah State University (Go Aggies!)

Past Teaching Assignments: 6 years teaching 4th grade at North Park, 3 years as a Literacy Facilitator in Cache District, and 1 year teaching 1st grade at River Heights Elementary.

Why did you decide to become a teacher? Working with kids brings me joy!

Favorite Food: Mexican

Favorite Candy Bar: Hershey's Cookies and Cream

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Book: Poppy

Where did you grow up? Alaska, Idaho and Utah

Family: My husband, Kirt, and I have 4 adult children (Evan, Emily, Kristen and Alan) and 5 super cute grandkids.

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, music, learning, walking, and having fun with family and friends

Jensen Kleven

Position at North Park: Essential Elements Teacher

Favorite Subject in School: Math

Where did you go to college to become a teacher: Utah State University (Go Aggies!)

Past Teaching Assignments: 2nd year at North Park

Why did you decide to become a teacher: I fell in love with working with individuals with disabilities at a young age. Getting to experience them working hard to understand or learn a new skill is my favorite thing. Making a difference, being their advocate, helping them see what they are capable of, are all parts of why I am so passionate about education.

Favorite Food: Mexican food

Favorite Candy Bar: Sour Patch Kids (I know it’s not a bar)

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite Book: Giraffes Can’t Dance

Where did you grow up: Cache Valley

Family: I am married to my best friend & I have the bestest naughtiest dog. I am the middle child of 3 and all of my family is in Cache Valley. I am very blessed to be close to all of them.

Hobbies/Interest: Exercise, boating, traveling, CONCERTS!

Marilee Tueller

Favorite Subject in School: Science

Where did you go to college to become a teacher:  Utah State University (Go Aggies!)

Past Teaching Assignments: Before becoming an SEM specialist, I was a substitute teacher and worked as an aide in Box Elder County while raising a family.

Why did you decide to become a teacher: I have always loved working with children. Additionally, I grew up in a home where my dad was an elementary school principal and my mother was an elementary school teacher. It just seemed like the career for me.

Favorite Food: Mexican

Favorite Candy Bar: Twix

Favorite Color: Red

Favorite Book: Warrior of the Light by Paulo Coelho

Where did you grow up: Salt Lake City

Family: 1 fantastic husband, 5 kids (2 boys, 2 girls)

Hobbies/Interests: Gardening, audio books, traveling, movie watching

Loni Bender

Position at North Park:  Resource Teacher

Favorite Subject in School: History

Where did you go to college to become a teacher:  Western Governors University

Past Teaching Assignments: Resource ELA at Spring Creek Middle School

Why did you decide to become a teacher: I want to make a difference in the lives of students

Favorite Food: Steak

Favorite Candy Bar: Milky Way

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite Book: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Where did you grow up: Davis County

Family: My husband and three daughters

Hobbies/Interest: walks/runs, read books, attend my daughters sporting events, and performances.

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Kjerstin Lind

Position at North Park:  Kitchen Manager