Teachers
Kimberley Brown,
Jennifer Fluney,
Corrie Leismeister,
Kandi Permann,
Gonam Raju,
Patricia Spenst,
Alana Toews,
Susan Sampson,
Teresa Learmont,
Tom Devries,
Sheila McIlwain
Marci Penner
Kimberley Brown
Principal
Subjects: Administration, CTS, Social 7
Teaching Experience: 12 years teaching experience in grades 1-12 in a wide range of courses,
teaching with NorthStar since 2001
Education: B. Ed. From
Canadian University College
Certification: Province of Alberta
Miss Kandi Permann
Subjects: Science 5, 6, 7 & 8 and Digital Photography
Teaching Experience: Teaching since 1996 with experience in grades 1-12 with classes in computers, science, language arts, math, Bible, drama, art, and newsletters/web pages, and with home schooling programs
Education: B.Ed from University of Calgary and an Associate of Arts in Religion from N.A.B. College
Certification: Province of Alberta
Kandi Permann has been teaching for NorthStar since 2001. She has been working with children for over twenty years and has taught a wide variety of grades and subjects in several rural schools. She teaches grade 5, 6, 7, & 8 Science and Digital Photography.
Kandi lives in Calgary, AB. She loves arts and crafts of all kinds and is an avid scrapbooker. She also enjoys reading, swimming, photography, gardening, traveling, and spending time with family.
Corrie Leismeister
Subjects: SS9-12
Teaching Experience: Three years with Yellowhead Koinonia Christian School and 5 years with NSA-C
Education: B.Ed from University of Calgary
Certification: Alberta permanent certificate
Corrie is from Red Deer Alberta where she lives with
her husband and four children. She is passionate about responsible
leadership in Canada and encouraging students to make a difference in their
communities and nation. In her rare, spare time, she enjoys sewing, reading
and being outside (in nice weather). Her dream holiday would be Christmas in
Barbados, although she would also love to have the opportunity to travel
across Canada to gain a greater understanding of what she teaches.
Patricia Spenst
Patricia has been working for NorthStar Academy since 2002 as the school Secretary.
Previous to this position, she worked at a Koinonia school for 5 years as a Career Advisor. Patricia is married with two daughters and a new son-in-law! Patricia homeschooled their two daughter's for four years, so it is easy for her to relate to the homeschool mom's out there. They live on an acreage with a dog and several cats. She enjoys hikes in the mountains and mostly outside activities where you can marvel at God's creation!
Jennifer Fluney
Subjects: Bible 5/6, Science 9, 14, 24, Math 5-9, 14, 24, Biology, PE 5-8 and 10, Community Health, Foods
Teaching Experience: Teaching since 2003 and with NorthStar since 2004 with experience in a variety of grades and courses. I taught at Koinonia Christian School Red Deer for five years. Four of those years I was also with NorthStar.
Education: B.Ed from University of Alberta
Certification: Alberta permanent certificate
Jennifer was born in England and enjoys reading, playing games, camping, swimming, travelling, music, cooking and entertaining and spending time with my husband, family and friends. She has a passion for math and science and loves teaching these subjects.
Gonam Raju
Subjects: Religious Studies
35, Financial Management
Teaching Experience: 13
years in South Africa; 5 years in High Prairie; 21 years at the Alberta
Distance Learning Centre; 6 years with NorthStar Academy Canada, 3 years at
Vanguard College in Edmonton
Education: BA (Hons); BEd;
BCom; (University of South Africa); MEd (University of Alberta)
Certification: Province of
Alberta
Hi, my name is Mr. Gonam Raju and I live in Barrhead, Alberta, Canada. My wife Kannah and I have two sons and five grandchildren. We attend the Bethel Pentecostal Church in Barrhead where my wife and I teach Sunday School. At present I am the Registrar at Vanguard College in Edmonton. I also teach English Literature and Philosophical Foundations at the College.
Susan Sampson
Subjects: Social 5, 6, and
8; LA 5, 7, and 8; Bible 7, 8, and 9, CALM 20
Teaching Experience: 12
years teaching experience (10 years with Chinook’s Edge School Division, 2
years with NorthStar Academy)
Education: Bachelor of
Education, University of Calgary
Certification: Province of
Alberta
This is Susan's fourth year teaching for Northstar Academy. Before Northstar, she taught for 10 years in a small rural community in Alberta. Susan loves the subjects that she teaches for NorthStar and enjoys the relationships that are built with NorthStar students and families. Susan lives in Red Deer with her husband and five children (ages 10, 7, 4, and 1-year old twins). In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, reading, exercising, and spending time with family.
Teresa Learmont
Subjects: Applied Math 10,
20, 30; Information Processing; Physics 20
Teaching Experience: 7
years teaching
Education: B.Ed.
Certification: Province of
Alberta, Canada
Teresa lives in Three Hills, Alberta, with her husband, Craig and two girls, Lynae (9 years old) and Alison (2 year old). Three Hills is a small town so we bike or walk almost everywhere. I enjoy reading, and baking and taking roads trips as a family.
Tom Devries 
Subjects: Math 7, 8, 9, Math 10C, Pure Math 20, 30 and Math 31
Experience: 28 years
teaching experience, mostly
math, with some other courses from time to time. 2 years teaching overseas in Hungary. 1 year
as a home schooling facilitator and the past several years teaching in online
schools
Tom Devries has been teaching for NorthStar since 2008. He enjoys hiking and cross country skiing, being outdoors in general. He enjoys music and reading and yes, he actually does think math is pretty cool.
My wife and I live in Sherwood Park, AB, we have two married children and 1 grandchild.
Sheila
McIlwain
Subjects: Language Arts 6, 9 and English 10, 20, 30 and PE 10, 20, 30
Teaching Experience: 20 years teaching experience in grades
6-12 with classes in Language Arts, English, Science, Biology, Bible, Drama,
PE, Life Skills, and Health; teaching with NorthStar since 2001
Education: B.Ed from University of Alberta and Christian Educators Certificate from Mountain View Bible College
Certification: Province of Alberta
Sheila McIlwain been working with children for over twenty years and has taught a wide variety of grades and subjects. She enjoys reading, walking, hiking, traveling, studying, learning, laughing, being outside, and spending time with family.
Sheila calls Red Deer, Alberta home, but currently lives with her husband in Poza Rica, Mexico.
Marci Penner
Subjects: PE/Health 5/6 and 7/8, Science 9, Biology 20/30, Physics 20/30
Teaching Experience: 10 years teaching experience, mostly at the elementary level. Had the opportunity to teach pre-service teachers in the B.A. Education and Religious Studies at Prairie Bible College. Teaching with North Star since 2010.
Education: Bachelor of Science majoring in Biochemistry and Bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia
Certification: Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia
Marci Penner currently resides in Three Hills, AB with her husband Brad and two children, Hanah (age 4) and Landen (age 2). Together with her family she likes to play outside, go on long walks and share a picnic lunch with good friends. She also enjoys reading, scrapbooking and playing games.