Voting will take place in the Phoenix Room (secondary campus) during the regularly scheduled board meeting, which begins at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 18. Please note that you must be present to vote, and you must be a parent of a student currently enrolled at IACS in order to receive a ballot. Below is the information on the candidates.

Josh Bittle

My name is Josh Bittle, and my connection to Idaho Arts runs deep through my family. Next school year, I will have three children attending—one senior, one freshman, and one 7th grader. My wife has also been part of the Idaho Arts community, which has made this school an important part of our lives for many years.

When my daughter first joined Idaho Arts, I found my own way to contribute by showing up on the first day of school dressed as Uncle Sam, welcoming families with a sign that read “Parental Freedom Day.” That simple act turned into a tradition. I was later invited to dress as Frosty for Christmas and as Olaf on the last day of school. I continued these traditions until my youngest moved on to middle school. These moments reflect not just participation, but a genuine joy in being part of this community.

Our family holds the highest respect for Idaho Arts—especially the dedicated teachers and staff who make it such a special place for students to grow and thrive. Because of the impact this school has had on my children and my family, I am committed to supporting its future. I would be honored to serve on the board and contribute to continuing the strong tradition and success of Idaho Arts for years to come.

Leslie Frederiksen

My husband and I are both 4th generation Idahoans that grew up in small agricultural towns in southern Idaho. Even though we landed in Nampa, IACS allowed us to create a small-town community of friends and family-like friends reminiscent of our own school years. Both of our children have attended IACS since kindergarten and we currently have one at each campus. Our children find this school engaging, stimulating and truly love school. I attended CSI in Twin Falls and then BSU, graduating with a BA in art with a photography emphasis. I worked for 8 years at a surveying and construction supplier before spending some time as a stay-at-home Mom. In December of 2017, my husband and I became the owners of the business he had built his career in. We are the third owners in 50 years+ of Milt Sparks Holsters in Garden City. We hand build leather products using as many American products as possible. My role in our company lends me flexibility to spend time volunteering at school and being involved in our children’s school communities.

Kristin Hicks

My name is Kristin Hicks, and I am reaching out to express my interest in serving on the Idaho Arts Charter School Board. As a mother of four and a parent of an IACS student since 2020, I have seen firsthand the transformative impact this school has on students academically, creatively, and emotionally.

Professionally, I have spent my career advocating for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and underserved populations. I am passionate about ensuring that children have strong support systems, both academically and psycho‑socially, and I believe deeply in the role that arts and culture play in helping students thrive.

I would be honored to contribute my experience in healthcare leadership, managed care contracting, community advocacy, and youth development to support the continued success of the IACS community. I have attached my full bio for your review and would welcome the opportunity to discuss how I might serve the board and support the school’s mission.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to the possibility of contributing to the future of Idaho Arts Charter School.

Geriann Markwell

My name is Geriann Markwell, and I have been married to my husband Bob since 2012. We have three children—one has attended IACS since 2018, and two more will be joining in the fall of 2026. I am a potter, passionate about art and creativity in all its forms. Together with my husband, we also run a sourdough business (Sourdough Bob), and you can find us Saturdays at the Nampa Farmers Market.

For two decades, I have worked at Bank of America in various roles, currently in Governance and Controls. As the local market's Community Volunteer Committee Co-Chair, I lead and coordinate volunteer activities and serve as our local foundation voting member. My dedication to volunteering and building community runs deep. Additionally, I sit on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Idaho, where I champion mentoring initiatives for children and help the organization thrive. Giving back and fostering connections through service is a passion that drives much of what I do, whether through art, food, or community engagement.

Sasha Rasmussen

Sasha has worked for the good of children, teenagers, families and communities in different initiatives throughout his career as a youth pastor in Argentina for 14 years, and now as a lead pastor at True Hope Church Nampa. From substitute teaching and values education in the public schools, to counseling, community outreach, and religious training at church, Sasha understands the importance of strong family relationships, robust and healthy institutions (especially schools), and interconnected collaboration between different community organizations. Sasha and his wife have a special love for IACS having been able to experience the wonderful team of educators and community leaders with both of his daughters attending the school for the last 4 years, starting at the primary and now in middle school. Sasha believes that IACS is truly a special school, achieving a powerful combination of educational rigor, a passion for the arts, and a culture of community. This fully orbed approach to education has had a positive impact on his daughters and on the community of Nampa, and Sasha desires to preserve and enhance these attributes if elected to the Board of Education.

Elmer Williams

My family has been involved with IACS for three and a half years, starting when our son, Logan, transferred from New Horizons Dual Language School between kindergarten and 1st grade. We sought out an ideal learning environment that would come alongside our son and help him to recognize his potential while navigating the education journey with ADHD. Now he is in the fourth grade succeeding through the RISE program and his sister, Mylo, is enjoying the full experience of Kindergarten at IACS. The teachers at IAC have won our hearts with their support and advocacy for our children. From my interactions with each teacher, I can tell they genuinely love every child and aren't just teaching out of obligation. My wife, Stephanie, and I graduated from NNU in 2013, and we both currently work there. Stephanie works in the business office on accounting and payroll related tasks while I am the Director of the University Fund in the University Advancement (Fundraising) department. If given the opportunity to serve IAC as part of the Board of Education, I believe my experience in planning and executing projects with the City of Nampa, professional business experience in various sales organizations, and current fundraising endeavors could serve IAC well.