Connie Day

Connie founded Island Park Charter School in 2019. She was aware of the need for a local elementary school. IPCS officially became a public school in 2020, with authorization from the Fremont County School District #215. Connie is appreciative of the community for helping to create an opportunity for the local kids to grow in their education.

Connie holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree, and a teaching license. She is the schools Title IX Coordinator for K-12.

Connie became an educator in 2006 when her daughter was in kindergarten. She often found herself questioning the effectiveness of traditional educational models. As a teacher in a high-performing charter school in southeast Idaho, she was encouraged to use innovative approaches to help her students succeed. She also had the opportunity to take on several leadership positions in her previous school, including being the curriculum coordinator, a mentor teacher, and the director of an academic coaching program designed to meet individual student needs.

Connie enjoys the challenge of teaching in a multi-grade classroom. She loves to see her students learning new things from each other. Besides teaching, Connie enjoys photographing wildlife in and around Island Park.

Heidi Stutzman

Administrator

Heidi became our administrator in 2020. One of her greatest joys has been helping at the Island Park Charter School, where the entire team is deeply committed to student success. It truly takes a village, and IPCS embodies that spirit of collaboration and care. Heidi loves her work and feels rewarded every day as she watches the dedicated staff make a difference in the lives of our amazing students.

Heidi’s career began in the Jerome School District, where she taught for 22 years and served as an assistant principal for five of those years. Later, she became a Title One Coordinator and Administrator in the Weston County School District in Wyoming. In recent years with the Fremont County School District, she oversaw the District’s math curriculum and professional development for three of the four elementary schools. Heidi also served as the assessment coordinator, among other responsibilities. She retired from the Fremont School District on August 31.

Heidi grew up in Boise, Idaho, but Buhl, Idaho was home for many years before she found my way to St. Anthony, where she now lives and thrives in a wonderful community. Heidi’s 33-year career in education has been an incredible journey, taking on various roles—from teacher to assistant principal, to instructional coach. She proud to come from a family where education runs deep. Her mother was a school psychologist and math professor, grandmother and great-grandmother were both teachers, and her daughter Eva is now the Public Relations Director for the Twin Falls School District. Heidi has been married to Byron for 39 wonderful years, and he recently concluded his career as the Superintendent of Schools in Fremont County and is starting his own business. Their two grandchildren are the light of their lives—who knows, maybe they’ll carry on the family tradition in education!

Grace Lewis

Special and General Education Teacher

Grace joined our team in the 2025-2026 school year. She was excited to be able to teach at IPCS because of the multi-grade classroom. She sees that there are many different learning opportunities when in a multi-grade classroom. She also loves that the students who attend IPCS have a strong desire to learn and the atmosphere is positive and pushes kids to their full potential.

Grace graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2023 with her Special Education degree. She spent two years teaching elementary, middle, and high school students with severe disabilities in Texas. Grace is certified in ESL (English as Second Language), Special Education, and as a General Education Teacher.

Grace was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. She spent most of her summers growing up in Island Park since her aunt and uncle own Anglers Lodge. She fell in love with the beauty and community and made plans to move to Island Park full time. Grace enjoys Island Parks beauty through fly fishing.

Dustin Quick

Paraprofessional

Dustin Quick joined our team in the 2020-2021 school year. Dustin’s favorite part about working at IPCS is seeing the students get excited about learning. He loves to see their “aha” moments when everything finally “clicks”.

He works in the classroom alongside the teacher, helping students to learn and grow. Dustin brings knowledge, life experiences, and enthusiasm about learning that enriches the lives of our students. He worked with kids at the Boys and Girls Club for years and also coached “Pop Warner” football.

His long-term goal is to be a teacher and coach sports. He feels lucky to be instructed in the ways of teaching by someone so good at what she does, Miss Connie!

He has lived in Island Park for several years now and enjoys the community. He believes that having a Charter School makes this area even better and more family friendly.

Emily James

Paraprofessional

Emily joined our team in the 2021-2022 school year. Her favorite part about working at IPCS is creating meaningful relationships with the students. She loves to get to know the kids and help them not only in their education, but to help them discover their talents.

She is working on her teaching degree through Western Governor’s University, and she will major in Elementary Education and Special Education.

Emily started working with preschool classes when she was in high school. She took early childhood education classes in high school and learned to plan fun and engaging lessons for preschoolers. After high school, she worked at a daycare/preschool in Idaho Falls. She enjoys working with children and helping them learn.

She was born and raised in Idaho Falls. She was four weeks old when she came on her first camping trip in Island Park and has enjoyed many years of camping and snowmobiling here. Emily and her husband, Jesse, got married in Island Park. When her husband was getting discharged from the Army, they decided to make Island Park their new home. Emily enjoys being outdoors, whether its camping, fishing, exploring trails, or sitting and listening to the sounds of nature.

Mercedes Cannon

Paraprofessional

Mercedes joined our team in the 2024-2025 school year. Getting to know the kids and their personalities is her favorite part of being at the school.

She is the oldest of five children and has been married to her husband for 14 years. She has three children and was previously foster parents for four years. Life these days revolves around the kids' school, activities and in the spring, baseball & softball. They are super lucky to have a large extended family here in southeast Idaho too. Mercedes really enjoys hiking, paddleboarding, xc skiing, bird watching, plant cataloging and crocheting.

Her husband, Chance, grew up in Island Park. They were married here and have always enjoyed visiting. Chance works in West Yellowstone and after four years of him commuting from Rigby to West every day, something needed to change. They spent the summer of 2024 up here and knew that this is their home. Their quality of life has drastically improved since moving here. Her personal background, parental experience and trauma informed child care training have shaped her into a better care giver.

Mercedes brings patience, love, and care for each student and (and staff member) at IPCS.

Stacey is the Special Education Development Coordinator. Bio Coming soon.

Stacey Barrett

Jessica Gates

Bio coming soon