Meet the ones that make lodestar possible

Justine has spent over two decades working with kids. As a late-diagnosed neurodivergent adult and the parent of two neurodivergent teens, she brings both lived experience and real-world perspective to everything she does.

Moving across the country with her husband during his military career, she saw the same pattern everywhere: bright, capable kids being overlooked simply because they learned differently. That inspired her to create a place specifically made for these kids. That’s how Lodestar was born.

Justine’s approach blends structure with flexibility, academic growth with social-emotional support, and high expectations with genuine compassion. When she’s not running the day-to-day chaos (lovingly), she enjoys reading, crafting, and caring for her many animals—though “free time” is mostly theoretical.

Amber brings a thoughtful, grounded perspective to Lodestar, shaped by her experience as a homeschool parent and her deep commitment to social justice and community advocacy. With a background in psychology, she has a natural gift for helping students see situations from new angles and develop a deeper understanding of themselves and others.

An artist at heart and an animal lover, Amber blends creativity, empathy, and real-world awareness into everything she teaches. She’s our go-to for meaningful conversations about current events, guiding students to think critically while staying compassionate.

In addition to her work at Lodestar, Amber is also a founder of a national advocacy group, reflecting her passion for creating positive change both inside and outside the classroom.

 Amy brings heart, creativity, and lived experience to Lodestar. Diagnosed as neurodivergent later in life, she always knew she learned differently. Getting that diagnosis didn’t change who she was; it just helped everything finally make sense. It’s a perspective she shares with our students every day: there’s nothing “wrong,” just different ways of learning and thinking.

Amy is also a mom, a wife, and a true jack-of-all-trades. She’s the creative force behind much of the warmth and personality throughout the school—if something is cute, cozy, or thoughtfully designed, there’s a good chance Amy had a hand in it. From decorating spaces to bringing drama, theater, music, and hands-on creativity into the classroom, she adds a little magic to everything she touches.

 Kyle is a retired, disabled veteran who now works in the corporate world, but his real superpower is being the calm, steady presence behind the scenes at Lodestar. As Justine’s husband and balance to her chaos, he brings patience, humor, and a grounded perspective that both staff and students rely on.

Officially, Kyle serves as Lodestar’s Treasurer- in reality, he does a little bit of everything. A self-proclaimed nerd and tabletop RPG enthusiast, he’s a natural storyteller who connects with students in a way that feels genuine and engaging. He regularly steps in to support the school when needed, going out of his way to make people’s day a little better. Whether he’s helping students learn practical life skills like driving or knot tying, or just offering a steady presence, Kyle is an important part of the Lodestar community.

Carter takes pride in being involved and helping bring student perspectives forward. He is so passionate about student voices being heard that he even attends all of our board meetings, including the really long boring ones. If you’ve ever seen Lodestar at an event, chances are you’ve met Carter and seen his bright smile and his signature purple hair.  Keep an eye on this Star folks. He'll be doing even more amazing things after graduation. 

Zee is a student at Lodestar and the brain behind our website.  We use a made-up name and photo because he is a bit shy.  
He is an essential part of the team, though, so we couldn't just leave him off the list.
This kid is not only our go-to for all tech questions, but he also has a wicked sense of humor and is one of the kindest people you will ever meet.  Zee is a perfect example of what it means to be a Star, a student who has not only grown into their own strengths but  uses those strengths to lift others up along the way. 

 Before joining our crew, Dino was a stray outside the school. He got picked on a lot by bigger cats. Not because anything was wrong with him, but because he was different. Sound familiar? Two of our Stars gained his trust by feeding him dino nuggies. 

Dino now spends his days providing emotional support, conducting highly questionable “inspections” and puffing his tail dramaticly  during playtime. His mama takes him home to spoil each night but during the day he takes his job very seriously--- kinda.

Jax is Lodestar’s resident ball python and reigning queen of calm vibes. 

Officially, Jax holds the title of Director of Thermal Affairs (formerly known as Director of Warm Rocks), and she takes her job very seriously. She spends most of her time lounging, observing, and graciously accepting attention from students, who love holding her and chatting with her while she quietly judges… lovingly.

While she’s typically sweet and relaxed, Jax does have a bit of diva energy—especially when she’s hungry. She’s also known (by reputation) as a bit of an escape artist, so her enclosure stays securely locked… just in case she decides to test her limits.

Big, beautiful, and surprisingly gentle, Jax brings a unique kind of calm to the Lodestar community—proving that sometimes the quietest members make the biggest impact.

 Peaches is the Lodestar dragon and official Director of Grumpy Days (because not every day is sunshine, and that’s okay). A  little old lady with a big personality, Peaches may be a little slower these days, but she is still very much a force to be reckoned with.

She has very clear preferences: bugs and dandelions are acceptable offerings, purple leaves are a personal offense, and cats should always be mildly intimidated. She is loved for her unapologetic attitude and the quiet reminder she represents-sometimes you’re grumpy, sometimes you’re tired, and you still matter anyway.

Peaches proves that you don’t have to feel cheerful to show up. You can grumble, glare, and still give it your best shot.

We couldn’t forget the heart of everything we do. OUR STARS! We call our students “Stars” because each one brings their own light, their own strengths, and their own way of seeing the world. Without them, Lodestar wouldn’t exist. They don’t simply attend a school; they help shape it, build it, and keep it going.

Every day, they remind us that there isn’t just one way to learn, grow, or succeed. Just by showing up as their own authentic selves--even on the hard days---they give hope to others like them and prove that when students are truly supported, they don’t just get by… they shine.

They are thinkers, creators, and future changemakers. The future of the world isn’t somewhere far away—it’s right here at Lodestar.