STEM Team

Sherawn, a native Idahoan, is the Idaho Workforce Development Council’s Education & Careers Director and also serves as the Program Manager for Idaho LAUNCH. She has been in the field of education for the past 29 years. Her experience spans many different scenarios in education. Her background affords her the experience of working together with education, government, and industry. She is passionate about training and education for all Idahoans that will lead them to a job they too are passionate about. Sherawn is eager to share with others the incredible work of the WDC.

Francine McGrew has worked in state government for over 20 years. Francine earned her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Saint Mary’s College of California and her master’s in public administration with specialties in public personnel policy and budgeting from CSU, Northridge. Prior to joining the STEM Action Center in 2023 and before moving to Idaho, she worked as a Fiscal and Administrative Manager for California’s Desired Results and Desired Results access sponsored federal pass-through programs from California’s Department of Education, Child Development Division coordinating logistics and monitoring the projects multi-million-dollar budget. After moving to Idaho, Francine worked for several different state agencies including: DFM, Industrial Commission, and DHW before taking a break to help with a small, local computer repair company. Feeling the pull back to state service, she finally settled at the Idaho Transportation Department for over 10 years. There she spent a good portion of her time as the Operations Manager for Enterprise Technology Services handling a myriad of duties including asset management, infrastructure and department purchasing, personnel, strategy, and budget.

Francine has been just on the outskirts of the Idaho STEM arena for many years. Her favorite moment was watching her daughter and the rest of the 8th grade team win the State Science Olympiad in 2019 and travel to the National Competition at Cornell University where one of the team’s entries took 6th place among very tough competition. She also supported the building of a STEM wing at Bishop Kelly High School that now houses VEX and First robotics teams made up of BK students as well as many from other area public schools.

Francine is an avid soccer fan and player and serves the Idaho soccer community by coaching both U7 and U17 girls. She is the team manager for the Bishop Kelly Men’s Soccer Team as well as a registrar for a local club. She can be found most days watching her son play at the competitive club level and high school. Her family is also active in the Foreign Exchange Host Cultural Program through the US State Department.

Meliah has developed a deep understanding of community-focused missions over her three years in the public sector, with experience spanning communications and project coordination to fiscal stewardship and grants administration. She graduated from Boise State University in 2023 with a Bachelor’s degree in Music, emphasizing Musicology and Music History, and brings the same attention to detail and appreciation for patterns from her music background into her professional work. As an impact-focused professional, she takes pride in building lasting impact and thrives on collaboration. She enjoys working in innovative environments because they allow her to acquire new knowledge, enhance her skills, and help improve the organizations she supports.

Currently, Meliah works as a Project Coordinator at the Idaho Workforce Development Council, where she focuses on the Educator Externship Program and Communications & Outreach while maintaining organized systems and strong partner relationships. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, being creative through activities like watercolor painting, and getting lost in a good book. She also loves spending time outdoors around Idaho; backpacking, hiking, or exploring near the water with her two labs, Kimber and Sky, and her adventurous cat, Meeko, who often acts like one of the dogs and loves to join in on the fun.

Born and raised in Boise, Idaho, Branzell is a lifelong advocate for expanding educational opportunities across the state. She holds a Master’s in Education from Idaho State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Music from Brigham Young University–Idaho. Currently she is pursuing her Ph.D. in Instructional Design and Technology at Idaho State University. A state-certified K–12 educator, Branzell brings a rich blend of classroom experience, technology integration, and statewide program leadership to her role.

Before joining the STEM team, she served as Director of Digital Literacy at a non-profit in Denver, Colorado, where she led the state’s largest digital navigation program. The program focused on building digital skills, improving device access, and strengthening community learning pathways. Her work reflects a passion for designing innovative educational experiences that help learners thrive in a rapidly changing technological landscape.

Outside of her professional work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and family in Boise, exploring local events, supporting the arts (and playing her French Horn and Piano), and finding new books to read!

Amanda Paterson has worked in education for over 20 years. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Stephen F. Austin State University and has held leadership roles spanning classroom teaching, curriculum development, district-level coordination, and community partnership initiatives.

Before joining the Idaho STEM Action Center, Paterson worked in Texas leading programs, designing curriculum, supporting teacher growth, and creating initiatives that connected schools, students, and communities. Her work consistently focused on innovation in education and on helping every student feel capable, valued, and prepared for the future.

In her role as Computer Science Program Manager, Paterson focuses on expanding computer science and STEM pathways across Idaho, supporting educators with resources and professional development, and strengthening the state’s future workforce pipeline.

Outside of work, Paterson enjoys exploring Idaho with her family, connecting with her community, and celebrating life’s small moments. She believes that the little joys and connections each day create a bigger impact and add up to something truly magical. One principle that has stayed with her from her teaching career is that in STEM, she was not just helping students navigate the day-to-day; she was helping them think for the future. They are our future, and every small moment of curiosity, learning, and discovery contributes to the bigger picture of the world they will shape.