Join us today as we talk with four NorthStar teachers! Lindsey Hays, Katy Beirne, Melissa Moreno, and Shauna Mingus walk us through the courses they have authored and what they offer for our students. Hear what it’s like to teach and author here at NSA and gain an incredible understanding of what your student will experience as they work through our courses.
Lindsey Hays
I grew up in a Christian home in Austin, TX as the middle of 3 girls. I have wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember and graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in teaching middle school math and science. After graduating, I wanted to do mission work for a few years before teaching. I moved to Moscow to work with the student campus ministry of Cru, and while there helping with an English ministry, I met my husband, Luke, who was from Michigan and teaching at an international Christian school in Moscow. I ended up living in Moscow for five years (2 years doing student ministry and 3 years teaching at the same school as my husband) before moving back to Texas. We now live in Carrollton, TX and have three children, William (7), Emma (6), and Caleb (3). This is my 9th year teaching middle school math at NorthStar. I started out teaching Math 6, Math 7 and Pre-Algebra, but now only teach Math 7 and Pre-Algebra. My husband also teaches math, but at a public high school in our city. Our family enjoys going to parks and walking on trails. We also enjoy activities with our church family and serve as small group leaders at our church.
Katy Beirne
I am a busy mom of three very active boys and a wife to my very entertaining husband Brandon. I grew up in California but now live in Tampa Florida. I have been a teacher for 15 years and I am passionate about science. I earned my undergraduate degree in Biology at UC Santa Cruz and a master degree in Science education. When I am not teaching I love traveling and having adventures with my family, especially road trips. Every summer we hop in the RV and travel around the country for several weeks. being on the road is my favorite place to be! Eventually I want to get to all of the national parks.
Melissa Moreno
I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 30 years come June. We have a daughter who recently got married and who is also a teacher here at NorthStar (Mrs. Cole). We spent most of our marriage active duty in the Navy moving all over the US – Virginia, Hawaii, California, and Florida. I hold a Bachelors of Science degree in Mathematics and a Masters of Science degree in Math Education. I started my teaching career in 1995 at a brick and mortar high school in Hawaii. I took a three year break from teaching in 2003 to work as a Systems Analyst in Naval Weapons Research. While I worked in the Navy, I earned my second Master’s degree in Operations Research entirely online from Florida Tech. I think God was preparing me to be able to connect with our students here at NSA. Even though I did not know what lay ahead, HE DID. Over the years, I have also taught math and statistics at the college level. Then in 2000, I was first introduced to online learning and teaching when I worked as an online tutor. I loved it! Where else can you interact with and teach kids all over the world all in the same day. So when we were preparing to transfer again and I left my job with the Navy, I decided to seek a full time online teaching position. I worked for several online K-12 schools, including the University of California’s online high school, until I joined the staff here at NSA in 2007. I have been with NSA ever since. I love our school and our students, and I love getting to share my passion for God and statistics with my students. I am working on a PhD in Operations Research.
Shauna Mingus
I’m originally from Canada and I’m still a Canadian citizen. I love languages, so I studied French and became a French and English teacher there. I’ve also taught in the U.S., the Dominican Republic and Korea. I have a son and 4 stepdaughters now, which makes NSA perfect for my busy and ever-changing schedule. I teach Culinary Arts, French, and Science 6 at NSA. In the summer, I like to mountain bike and hike with my family here in Colorado, and in the winter I snowboard. I love drawing and painting portraits in my spare time (which doesn’t happen as often as I’d like).
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