Miranda Rick
Kindergarten Teacher
[email protected]

Ms. Rick earned her associates degree from College of Western Idaho and a bachelor's degree from College of Idaho. She is certified in Elementary Education (K-8). Ms. Rick has been the Kindergarten teacher at Project Impact STEM Academy since the Spring of 2019.

In her free time Ms. Rick loves spending time with her son playing outside especially in the summertime. Ms. Rick enjoys being outdoors especially when she is hiking with friends.

Arie Sparkman
1st-3rd Grade Team Teacher (Math Specialist)
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Mrs. Sparkman has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education Interdisciplinary Studies from Liberty University. Her education classes focused on teaching math and reading. She was a substitute teacher for 17 years in the West Ada School district where spent most of her time at Summerwind STEM School in the West Ada School District. She has always enjoyed teaching the primary grades. Mrs. Sparkman is passionate about both math and reading.  For fun, she enjoys reading and working through algebra problems.  She has books in every room in her house, including a collection of over 1,000 children’s books.  Her goal is to teach children to love math and reading as much as she does. She has two grandsons who are in the second and fourth grades.  She tries to be the kind of teacher that they would want to have.

Taiana Carvalho
1st-3rd Grade Team Teacher (Science Specialist)
tcarvalho@pistem.org

Ms. Carvalho earned her BS degree in Animal Science from the University of Minnesota. She spent a decade working in wildlife conservation in her roles as a zookeeper at the Fort Worth Zoo, as well as a propagation specialist working for The Peregrine Fund in conjunction with the federally managed California Condor Recovery Program.  Ms. Carvalho then transitioned into education and earned her K-8 Elementary certification, as well as a K-12 Literary endorsement.  She started her teaching career in the Boise School District, and is excited to join the Pi STEM community!

Ms. Carvalho is originally from Brazil, and is a mom to a lovely 7 year old daughter. They enjoy spending time outdoors, reading, gardening, and traveling together!

Callie Archer
1st-3rd Team Teacher (ELA Specialist)
carcher@pistem.org

Miss Archer graduated from Olivet Nazarene University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. She also received her Science of Reading certification in 2024. Prior to teaching at Pi STEM Academy, Miss Archer taught second grade in North Carolina, worked in Special Education in Texas, and taught third and fourth grade in South Carolina.

Miss Archer grew up all over the United States in a military family. She recently moved to Idaho and is very excited to be here! She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, baking, and doing crafts.

Miss Archer is excited to get to know the wonderful students and families of Pi STEM Academy this year!

Jacquie Gogan
K-6 Music Teacher
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Mrs. Gogan grew up in Idaho and lives in Kuna with her husband and two kids.  She has served in the Navy and enjoys international travel, sewing, spending time with her family, and watching movies.  She has substituted for all grades since PiSTEM began six years ago. This is her third year as a Paraprofessional for the primary grades and she is very excited to be returning!

Crystal Myers
K-12 Visual Art
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Mrs. Myers is a native to Idaho and she received her BA degree from Boise State University in Art Education. She is certified in K-12 Art. She spent the last ten years teaching at a rural middle and senior high school where she built and expanded the art program. She enjoys traveling with students abroad and introducing them to the arts and cultures of other countries.

Mrs. Myers is excited to teach the younger grades and looks forward to being able to instill confidence and creativity, while teaching appreciation and awareness of the visual arts inside and outside of the classroom.

Mrs Myers and her husband have two sons (18 and 14) and one daughter (10). She enjoys spending most of her time outdoors going on horse pack trips with her family, “plein air” painting, working in the garden, and reading in her hammock.

Tolga M. Turkan
1st-12th grade Physical Education/Health Teacher
tturkkan@pistem.org

Mr. Turkkan was born and grew up in Istanbul, TURKIYE. He graduated from Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho, in 2021 with an Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership and Building Administration. He also has a Bachelor's Degree in Sports Coaching from Marmara University in Istanbul, TURKIYE, in 2003. He completed his Master of Arts degree in Physical Education and Sports Teaching in 2011 at Marmara University in Istanbul, TURKIYE.
He started teaching 2003 as an athletic director/PE teacher at an International School in Istanbul. After his first teaching year, he joined the Turkish Army. After one year in the military, he returned to teaching as a Head of Department/PE Teacher at a British International school in Istanbul.
Mr. Turkkan's desire to broaden his teaching experience led him to Abu Dhabi, UAE. There, he worked as the Head of Boys' PE & Sports and PE teacher at two different international schools for more than five years, showcasing his adaptability and global perspective. 
He moved to Cairo. EGYPT in 2016 for another teaching opportunity at an American international school as an Elementary PE Teacher. He has also worked as an Athletic Director/Middle and High School PE teacher in Guangzhou, China. After the Chinese borders opened in 2021, he moved back to the U.S., completed his Educational Leadership and Building Administrator degree, and started teaching PE in Idaho. 
Mr. Turkkan likes to work out at the gym and walk with his lovely two dogs, Cleo (Rottweiler) and Ginger (Black Labrador).
With an athletic scholarship, Mr. Turkkan was a three-sport student-athlete in university (football, hammer throw, and team handball). After graduating from university, he played one year of semi-professional football (tight end and linebacker) and three years of professional team handball.
Mr. Turkkan also coached soccer, basketball, volleyball, cross country, track and field, and swimming at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

Mr. Turkkan's excitement about joining the Project Impact STEM Academy is palpable. His commitment to making this the best STEM program in the Treasure Valley, coupled with his enthusiasm and dedication, is sure to inspire and motivate his students, parents, and colleagues.

Catherine Keesee
K-6 Special Education Teacher
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Mrs. Keesee graduated from Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. She received her teacher certification in Special Education and Elementary Education through the American Board. Prior to joining PiSTEM Academy, Mrs. Keesee worked in several areas of education and child advocacy. She began her journey as a Court Appointed Child Advocate for the state of Iowa. Additionally,she taught preschool in Iowa for 5 years before realizing her true calling...Special Education. She then worked as a Special Education  Paraprofessional for 4 years in Iowa and spent another 4 years as a Special Education Paraprofessional at North Star Charter School in Eagle, Idaho.

Mrs. Keesee is married with three daughters, Madeline (20), and twins, Allison and Amelia (16). She also has three fur babies, a dog (Ernie), and two cats (Lucy and Autzen). In her free time, you can almost always find Mrs. Keesee hiking somewhere in the Idaho foothills with her husband, Scott.