Faculty

Mrs. Stephanie Adams has taught for Utah Online since 2019. She grew up in Las Vegas and graduated from UNLV with a dual Bachelor’s in English and Print Journalism. She moved to Utah in 2005, earning a Master’s degree from Southern Utah University in Education with an emphasis in ESL. Mrs. Adams is married to the love of her life and together they have six children. Outside the classroom, her hobbies include binging horror flicks and rescuing lost animals.

For nearly two decades, Matt Anderson has been a passionate educator, igniting a love of learning in students across all ages. His expertise in social sciences (Masters Degree in American History) translates seamlessly, from captivating middle schoolers with US History to instructing college-level courses. When away from the classroom, he is passionate about the outdoors. He loves seeking hidden trails through hiking, backpacking, and trail running.

Ms. Baker has been a PE Teacher at UOS since 2024. She was born and raised in Provo, Utah and still resides there with her family. She recieved her Bachelor's in Physical Education Teaching Education at Utah Valley University. She is married, and has two kids named Rhea and Cassius. Growing up she cherished athletics and valued the team and individual reliance that came with it. She hopes to share life and fitness skills that will apply to students beyond high school, as well as create an environment that allows them to be comfortable with working hard and trying new things.

Mr. Ballantyne has been teaching science since August 2006. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Utah University with a Major in Biology/Zoology and a Minor in Spanish. He graduated with his Masters Degree in Educational Administration from Western Governors University in 2010. He has always loved science. He has always been fascinated with how life works and watching and learning about animals. He started with Utah Online 7-12 when it first started and was called Washington Online in 2012 and taught part-time with Washington Online and full time for Snow Canyon Middle School. In 2013 a full time position opened and he jumped at the opportunity to work full time with students around the state with the newly named Utah Online.

When he is not teaching school, Mr B. loves spending time with his family. They love to camp, hike and dutch oven. One of their very favorite places to visit is Yellowstone National Park. Mr. Ballantyne also loves to cook. He is always looking for new recipes to try and loves to give food his own personal touch.

You can contact him anytime though email. You can also call his Google voice at any time. (435) 319-0983. He respond to emails very quickly. He may not respond as fast on Saturday or Sunday, but he will get back to you as fast as he can. Mr. Ballantyne loves teaching online school and loves working with students and parents to make sure each student is successful and has what they need to complete their courses.

Julianne Beecher loves teaching Family & Consumer Sciences! She graduated with a BA from Utah State University (go Aggies!) and later earned a MA in Education Learning & Technology. She taught at Dixie High School for 7 years before joining Utah Online School in 2018. She loves teaching and sharing her enthusiasm for FCS with students. Outside of teaching, Mrs. Beecher loves to read, bake, play violin in the HV Symphony, take adult tap, sing, and play guitar. She is married and has four amazingly wild children. Together, they love to hike, bike, camp, and explore the great outdoors.

Kay Berry has been working in education for 16+ years. She received her B.S. in English from Dixie State University, now UTU, and her Master's in English from Northern Arizona University. She taught at Dixie High School for a number of years and then at Crimson Cliffs High School. She has 5 grown children and loves to travel or be around her grandkids. She is a published children's author and working on her third book. Other activities are reading, journaling, and being outside, whether it is hiking in beautiful Southern Utah or skiing in the mountains.

Emily Boyle was raised in Arizona, and she earned her bachelor’s in English, with minors in Editing and Music. After working as an editor, she realized teaching was her passion! She then taught in Springville and Heber City before joining UOS. She has earned her master’s in Curriculum & Instruction and endorsements in ELA and Geography. Some of her favorite hobbies are home DIY, yoga, sewing, singing and playing the piano, and spending time with her kids. Mrs. Boyle loves hiking year-round with her family near her home in Southeast Utah, from Canyonlands in winter, to the Abajos in summer.

Mrs. Braquel Brinkerhoff grew up in northern Utah and graduated from Utah State University with her degree in Business Administration and received her MBA from Western Governors University. Prior to teaching at UOS she taught at Bear River High School for nine years. Braquel and her husband, Jason, have two kids; Porter and Reagan. Braquel's hobbies include: playing games with her family, side by side rides in the mountains, and enjoying her season tickets to the Eccles theater in SLC.

Heidi Renouf-Brisco grew up in Southern California which inspired her great love for Disneyland and the beach. She graduated with a BA from BYU, and later earned a MA in Humanities from CSUDH. She has taught lots of different grade levels and subjects, and has always enjoyed working with kids. Heidi has had the unique opportunity to educate her own 6 children at home through Utah Online for the last eleven years; she has a unique perspective as a UOS parent and a UOS teacher. She enjoys running, reading, writing, playing the piano, eating, taking classes, learning, and traveling the world. She is passionate about helping children learn and helping them feel they each bring something important to our world.

Mr. Bruin graduated from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah with a Bachelors Of Biological Science in Secondary Education. He has been teaching Biology, Earth Science and Integrated Science for over 20 years. He began teaching at Kearns Jr High and moved to Southern Utah with his wife and two kids in 2007 where he has taught at Desert Hills and Crimson Cliffs Middle Schools. He enjoys hiking, camping, mountain biking, pickleball and triathlons. Mr. Bruin is excited to help you succeed in Science.

Mrs. Bundy graduated from Dixie State University in 2006 with a degree in Elementary Education and has since earned an additional professional educator license in Secondary Education. She completed endorsements in both Middle School Math and ESL. She began her teaching career in 2013 and joined the Utah Online team in 2019. She has loved working with the amazing staff and students here!

Mrs. Bundy and her husband have 3 wonderful children: 2 boys and 1 girl. They live in St. George, UT and love all things outdoors!

Mrs. Jodi Butler was born and raised in Delta, UT. She graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in Education. Prior to teaching for Utah Online she spent time teaching in both Jordan School District and Washington County School District. Jodi is married to David Butler and together they have 4 amazing kids, Packer, Bentlee, Crew and Case. When she is not teaching she enjoys running, spending time at the lake and chasing their kids around in all of their sports and activities. She is thrilled to be a part of Utah Online.

Amanda Campos has been teaching Art in Utah since 2009. She grew up in Bountiful, Utah, and graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in both Design and Art. While maintaining her degree, Ms. Campos taught in China for several months. While in China she fell in love with teaching. Ms. Campos obtained her Masters in Arts of Teaching from Westminster College. Ms. Campos has a wonderful family who she loves dearly. When she is not teaching, her hobbies include baking, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors.

Ms. Chappell loves being a part of the UOS family, where she enjoys working with Utah students to meet their unique needs. In 2014, she graduated from Idaho State University with a secondary education degree, with an emphasis in English and political science, and she has been teaching ever since. Ms. Chappell grew up in Southeast Idaho, where she developed a love for horses and the great outdoors. She enjoys spending time with her family at Lake Powell, mountain camping, and hiking in beautiful Southern Utah.

Mrs. Kara Chastain is a Southern Utah native who grew up knowing she wanted to teach. She graduated from Dixie State University (Utah Tech) in 2018 with her English Education degree. She taught at Desert Hills Middle School for several years until her and her family moved to Northern Utah and has been teaching at Utah Online since 2024. She is married to her best friend Ricky and they are the lucky parents to four beautiful (and wild) children. When she is not teaching she loves to go to events such as concerts, stand up comedy shows, plays, etc. Mrs. Chastain is also an avid reader and traveler. She is looking forward to another year of helping students be successful in their academic pursuits!

Mrs. Cummings grew up in New England and the Midwest and then came to Utah State University where she got a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master’s degree in Second Language Teaching. She’s had experience as a Teacher of the Deaf, an ASL interpreter, and an ASL instructor at a college. She loves teaching ASL for Utah Online School. She lives in northern Utah with her amazing husband and 5 awesome kids. Mrs. Cummings loves to laugh, read, hang out with her family, sing, dance, and play the piano.

Mrs. Traquel Dayley was raised in Idaho graduated from Utah State University in Business Education. Prior to teaching at UOS, she served an LDS mission and taught at Millcreek High School, and worked as a Financial Literacy consultant for the Utah State Office of Education for many years. Traquel married her high school sweetheart, Dustin, and they love being parents to their amazing children, Kelbie, Daxton and Dawson. Mrs. Dayley loves running, football (Go Cougs!), hiking, hot air balloon festivals, kayaking, whale watching, and spending time with her family.

Dr. Angie Frabasilio, Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from Utah State University, joined Utah Online in 2024 after 20 years of teaching in Washington County. She's committed to guiding students to success. Beyond work, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, and drawing with her family in Southern Utah.

Coriann was born and raised on a farm in Basin City, Washington. She graduated from Connell High School where she played basketball, soccer, and track. She went on to play collegiate basketball at Brigham Young University where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education Teaching and Coaching. After playing, she went on to coach and loved her two years as Head Coach at Connell High School.

Coriann still enjoys playing all sports, especially basketball and pickleball. She also loves camping, hiking, and going to the beach. Above all, she loves spending time with her husband and four kids.

Ms. Fred has been teaching English Language Arts classes since 2014 and loves everything about being a teacher. She first attended Utah State University (Go Aggies!), where she studied English and Spanish Teaching. She then went on to earn her MA degree from BYU in Rhetoric and Composition and her ESL endorsement from SUU. Besides teaching, Ms. Fred loves white water rafting, running, skiing, gardening, bee keeping, camping, cooking, and spending time with family (including her dog, Leia).

Mrs. Frei received her training in Family and Consumer Science Education at Southern Utah University. She has taught both middle and high school students in Washington and Iron County. Her favorite subjects are Foods and Nutrition, but enjoys teaching any FCS course. She loves sharing her home with her husband, two daughters, two dogs, two cats and two horses (whom live outside). She enjoys many outdoor activities with family and hopes one day to take a trip down the Colorado River.

Mr. Fry started teaching in the 2015-2016 school year. He started teaching at UOS in 2024-2025. Mr. Fry graduated from Western Governor's University in 2015 with a Bachelor's in Mathematics Education. He grew up in St. George and graduated from Pine View High School. He has lived the majority of his life in the southern Utah area.
Mr. Fry has been married to his wonderful wife since Spring of 2010 and they have three wonderful children, one boy and two girls, born in 2011, 2014 and 2017. He and his family love water and theme parks! They love to vacation and explore something new.

Meghan graduated from BYU in Social Studies Education and began teaching at Utah Online School in 2020. She believes that education in the social studies discipline is critical in becoming a good citizen of the world. (Bonus: the various subjects are just so interesting!) Meghan loves to read, knit, WIN board games, and spend time outside with her family. She loves being a part of Utah Online!

Mrs. Heidi Garn studied at Southern Utah University and Weber State. She earned her bachelor degree in Biological Science and earned her Environmental Science, Biotechnology, Health Science, Medical Forensics, and Medical Anatomy and Physiology endorsements. Mrs. Garn has taught 2 years in a brick and mortar high school teaching Environmental Science and Biology and has been teaching with Utah Online since 2013. She is passionate about teaching as well as learning and is delighted to have the opportunity to work with Utah Online students.

Heidi is the mother to 4 children and 4 stepchildren and resides in Farmington. When not teaching she enjoys traveling, hiking, and being with her family.

Catherine Renouf Gute is excited to teach English at Utah Online School. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Psychology and is working on her Master’s degree in English Education. She enjoys all aspects of Language Arts! She loves helping students learn new skills and realize their potential. Catherine keeps busy as a mother of five children. She loves to play tennis and pickleball, play the piano and flute, bake, spend time with her family, plan family parties, travel, and take trips to the beach and Disneyland. Catherine is eager to support and help students succeed at UOS!

Shaleah Hansen has worked in the field of Special Education for several years and has loved building and discovering strategies to nurture the strengths of her students. She earned a Master’s Degree in Special Education in 2022. She loves staying busy with her 5 children and their diverse activities. Outside of school and kids, you might find her fishing, hiking, gardening, or golfing.

I started with UOS in 2020 and LOVE it! I was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV and moved to go to college in 1984 at Dixie State and have made St. George my home ever since. My parents were teachers so it sparked my passion for education. I graduated from DSU, SUU, and received a Masters in Education with an emphasis in Special Education. I started teaching in 1989, then took time off to raise 4 children and came back to teach in 2009. I love to travel anywhere there is a beach and ocean. I love working at UOS and with students, and especially being at their graduation ceremony every May.

Chelsea Haslam grew up in Hurricane, Utah. She attended college at Utah State University, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a Level 2 Math Endorsement. After completing college, she began her career teaching 4th grade. She taught for 5 years, then took a little break to be home with her children. In 2020, she began teaching Math 7 for UOS. She loves her job and feels so much fulfillment from helping her students learn and grow.

Mrs. Nicole Heath is a Utah native who grew up in St. George and received her Bachelor's degree in Biology from Dixie State University. She is a St. George Native but lives in Utah County with her husband and 4 children. In her spare time, she likes to soak up the sunshine poolside or at the lake, do crafts, go shopping, decorate, plan parties, bake, organize, travel, teach awesome Science classes, and try new things.

Mrs. Heikkila (pronounced Hay - kee - la It's a Finnish name) was born in Evanston, Wyoming. Her love of music began when she started piano at the age of 5 and continued lessons into college.
Mrs. Heikkila received a Bachelor's Degree in Theater and Speech from BYU, a Music Degree from Dixie State University and a Masters Degree in Learning and Technology from Western Governors University.
Linda received the 2023-24 Washington Area Chamber of Commerce “Teacher of the Year” award, Her high school and middle school choirs have consistently received superior ratings at various festivals throughout the county, She has been teaching music in the schools since 2011.
Mrs. Heikkila loves doing activities with her husband and 6 children. She enjoys running marathons, cycling, triathlons and especially loves water-skiing at Lake Powell.

Stacie Heiner was born in Colorado and raised in Salt Lake City Utah. She moved to Cedar city to attend SUU which is where she met her husband Patrick. Stacie loves Southern Utah! When she is not teaching or creating art she is hiking, jeeping, or camping. Mrs. Heiner has taught art from kindergarten to college, and has also worked with students as a camp counselor. She has a Bachelors in secondary art education, minor in elementary education and a Masters of education! She is so excited to be part of the Utah Online team and help students find their creative side.

Christina Herron has degrees in secondary English education, elementary education, and a Master’s degree as a K-12 reading specialist. Ms. Herron has taught in three states and has been with the Washington County School District since moving to St. George. In her free time, Christina is most often found spending time with her family, traveling to see new things, and learning any new information that she can. Ms. Herron is excited for the upcoming school year and for the opportunity to teach with Utah Online!

Kelli Hicks is an English teacher with experience teaching in Utah since 2006. She has been teaching online since 2011. Kelli has a passion for all literature, but especially British Literature (especially Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). In her free time, Kelli loves to spend time with her husband and four girls watching movies, playing Virtual Reality and iPad games, playing the piano, and going for walks.

I have been teaching now for 18 years. I taught 12 years in elementary school grades three through five and six years teaching ninth grade math. Before I was a teacher, I worked in film and television production, so I love making videos and working with technology.

Mrs. Holmgren has a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in math and ELL and a master's degree in Learning and Technology. She has been teaching in different capacities since 2011 and joined UOS in 2020. She enjoys running, skiing, and spending time with her family. She loves teaching and is excited for another great year at UOS!

Shelbee Hunt enjoys teaching Business & Marketing with UOS. She grew up in St. George and continues to live there with her family. Her and her husband enjoy raising their 3 girls. Shelbee received her Bachelor of Science in Business & Marketing Education from UVU. After several years of teaching, she earned her Master of Business Administration from SUU. Shelbee also has her Real Estate license and is currently a realtor on the side. Some of her favorite hobbies include traveling, scuba diving, going to the movies, baking, and spending time with her family.

Mrs. Jack was born and raised in little old Blanding, Utah. She grew up on an open range cattle ranch with her parents and three younger siblings. Her lifestyle created her passion for agriculture, which led her to Utah State University where she got her degree in Agriculture and Applied Sciences. Mrs. Jack never thought about being a teacher as she grew up, but one thing led to another and she was lucky enough to become the Agriculture Science teacher in her hometown at San Juan High School in 2021. There she taught alongside her highschool teachers and she was able to teach her brother, many cousins and family friends. However, ALL of her students became her pride and joy and she was able to teach within her community for three years before she joined UOS.

Mrs. Jack is married to her elementary sweetheart and they have two children that they adore. When she isn’t teaching she is ranching with her family, playing volleyball, hunting or laughing with friends.

Karli Jenson was born and raised in Cedar City Utah. She attended Cedar High school where she competed in soccer, basketball and softball. Following her passion for Softball, she was able to play at UVU and SUU. She enjoyed every minute of it! Karli double majored in Athletic Training, PE teaching/coaching and health.

Mrs Jenson spends most of her time coaching and helping her 4 kids develop their many talents. She loves spending time at Lake Powell and doing anything outdoors.

Mrs. King grew up in Logan, Utah and attended Utah State University, graduating with her bachelors degree in Family & Consumer Sciences and Math Education. Nine years later, she earned her Masters of Education in Learning and Technology. She loves using technology to solve problems and help students. Mrs. King loves to learn and has taken classes to earn additional teaching credentials in Financial Literacy, Educational Technology, and Computer Science. In her free time, she loves to read, sew, and spend time with her family.

"Mrs. Kung holds a bachelor's degree in Chinese Language and Literature and a master's degree in Education, both earned in Hong Kong. Her teaching journey has taken her from Hong Kong to the UK, and since 2015, she's been sharing her love for Chinese language and culture in St. George, Utah, at the Washington County School District.

Mrs. Kung is happily married and the proud mother of two children. In her free time, she cherishes moments with her family. She feels incredibly grateful for the opportunity to teach at Utah Online School, where she can wholeheartedly pursue her passion for teaching."

Dr. April Larsen completed her Bachelors and Masters degrees from SUU and her Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from American College of Education. She also has certifications in personal training and sports massage therapy. After working for 12 years as a massage therapist for local and world class athletes, Dr. Larsen returned to teaching, her true passion. She spent 6 years in the classroom before transitioning to Utah Online in 2018, where she loves to help students understand the importance of lifelong health and exercise habits and guiding them to reach their personal, academic, and fitness goals.

Jessica Larsen’s journey as an educator began in South Jordan, Utah, where she taught dance and Language Arts for the first decade of her teaching career. In 2014, Jessica relocated to St. George, Utah where she continued teaching middle school Language Arts in WCSD. She earned her Master's degree in education from Southern Utah University in 2021, along with endorsements in technology and Instructional Coaching. Jessica started at UOS in 2024. When not teaching, you can find her reading books of various genres, enjoying leisurely strolls while tuning in to podcasts, and cherishing precious moments with her husband and son.

Mr. Lewis is from northern Utah, from a town called Plain City, but currently resides in Southern Utah. He taught science in a brick and mortar classroom for 5 years, 2 at Sand Ridge Jr. High in Roy, and then 3 years at Tonaquint Intermediate in St. George. He loves sports, especially football, and played at SUU for 4 years. He really enjoys watching football, baseball, and golf. He currently plays A LOT of softball, loves getting outside and hiking, hunting, or fishing, and enjoys losing himself in a video game once in awhile. Mr. Lewis got his degree in Biology from SUU, he loves science, especially biology, and is excited to teach and learn with all of you!

Mr. Lind loves languages and has been teaching Spanish since 2018. He learned Spanish by living in and visiting Mexico and Peru. He earned his BA in International Business, minoring in Spanish, and completed a Masters in Second Language Teaching at Utah State University. Mr. Lind loves to travel and experience diverse cultures. Aside from Mexico and Peru he has also visited Germany and Portugal.

Alexa Mansfield graduated from Dixie State University with a Bachelors of Science in Biology with an Emphasis in Education. She then went on to get her Masters in Online Teaching, Special Education, and Library Media from SUU. She taught in Southern Utah for 5 years before beginning at Utah Online. She loves being outside, spending time with family, and reading good books!

Mrs. Mecham grew up in Northern Utah. She enjoys running, ping pong, and being outside with her family. Mrs. Mecham attended Utah State University. She graduated in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Math and Spanish. She served a mission for her church in Guatemala. Mrs. Mecham taught 3rd grade in a brick and mortar school and then went on to teach online elementary math for Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth. Mrs. Mecham loves working with students at Utah Online!
Troy enjoys family time, running, baking, sports, and going on vacations. She also loves teaching for Utah Online!

Krystle Molyneux graduated from Utah State University with a History Teaching major and a Chemistry teaching Minor. She has had experience teaching History, Chemistry, and Spanish in Utah Schools. She is passionate about helping students succeed in whatever endeavor they are pursuing. Krystle loves to travel! She has visited 43/50 states and lived on 3/7 continents. Hopefully, she can visit the rest soon! She enjoys reading, anything to do with Broadway, and being outdoors exploring with her husband and 4 children.

Rebecca Muhlestein graduated with her Social Studies Education degree from Brigham Young University in 2019. She taught in the Davis School District for 3 years before transitioning to online teaching so she and her husband could fulfill their dream of living in Manhattan - where they took advantage of seeing as many musicals and museums as they could manage! She now lives in St. George and is very excited to be a part of Utah Online!

Rebecca loves to travel the world and has visited over 17 countries. She also loves baking, sewing, paddleboarding, and spending time with friends and family.

Mr. Murdock loves teaching French, English, and anything to do with physical education. He’s wanted to be a teacher since his high-school days at Alta and Pine View. He taught French at BYU for two years while he was completing his MA in French Studies and has been teaching in St. George since 2010 and with Utah Online since 2013. He earned his BA from SUU in French and English Education. His interests include spending time with his kids, biking, playing football, rollerblading at the skatepark, volleyball and weight-lifting.

A Utah Online graduate, Sailor earned her degree in Education from UTU. She worked UOS as a mentor, and is thrilled to have joined the Social Studies team as a teacher! She is passionate about baking, traveling, and social media.

Tiffany Nelsen graduated from Dixie State University in 2020 with a Bachelors in English with an emphasis in secondary education. She later graduated with her Masters in English Language Learning from Western Governors University in 2023.

She loves reading, watching reality television and Diet Coke. She spends most days with her husband of 8 years and her two sons.

Janna Neville has had the pleasure of being a Secondary ELA teacher for many years. She was also the ELA Coordinator, New Teacher Coordinator, and CTE Coordinator for the Washington County School District. She now works from her small farm as an online LA teacher for Utah Online School. She has a B.A. from the University of Washington, Tacoma; a Secondary Teaching License from DSU; an M. Ed. from SUU; and an Administrative Certificate, also from SUU.

Kenya Nielson graduated with her Social Studies Education degree from Utah Valley University in 2020 and taught in San Juan School District for two years before joining Utah Online High School. She loves teaching social studies because she believes that learning about the past is not only super interesting, but is key to understanding the present and making a better future for our global society.

Kenya enjoys traveling around the world, she has been to 5 different countries, visited more than half of the states, and plans to visit many more excited places with her family which includes her husband and new baby girl. She also loves exploring in her own backyard of San Juan County where the natural beauty of several state and national parks and monuments can be enjoyed within an hour's drive in any direction with plentiful hikes, side by side trails, and awesome camping sites to enjoy.

Morgan Palmer graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in Social Science and a minor in Special Education and has been teaching Social Studies since 2021. She has taught everything from World History to Speech and Debate. She is so happy to be at Utah Online where she can continue to instruct students and help them make sense of the world around them! She loves dogs, to travel, Mario Kart, and above all her husband and son.

Mrs. Parr loves being part of the CTE team at UOS. She has been teaching Business Education since 2002 with the WCSD. She loves working with the students at Utah Online! She wouldn't want to have a career in anything other than education. She comes from a family of educators. She enjoys spending time with her family and grandchildren. All 4 of her children (& spouses) are college graduates. She loves spending time outdoors, whether camping, hiking, mountain biking, boating, or soaking up the sunshine. She will organize anything and everything.

Mr. Peacock graduated from Snow College and Southern Utah University with an Associate of Arts Degree in Spanish with Minors in Physical Education and Geology. He has taught many different subjects at East Carbon, North Sanpete and Cedar High Schools, including Drivers Ed, PE, Weightlifting, Spanish and Earth Science. He is now teaching Driver Education and Physical Skills at Utah Online High School.

Mr. Peacock has an Incredible wife and five wonderful children as well as several grandchildren. He is very grateful for all of them!
Todd's passion is his family. He met and married his wife while teaching and coaching at North Sanpete. They have been married for over 28 years and have five incredible children, Dorothy, Christian, Hannah, Sean and Melanie.

Paige Pedersen is thrilled to be a teacher for Utah Online School. Paige received a Bachelor of Science Education Degree from Southern Utah University. She spent a few years teaching in the classroom for Washington County School District and has been with Utah Online since 2022.

Paige was born and raised in sunny St. George, a true local! Paige is a mom of two, enjoys being outside in the sun, and could spend the rest of her days sitting seaside. Paige is passionate about education and helping students succeed, UOS is the place to be!
I love vacationing with my husband and family as well as being outside in the sun. The beach and Disneyland are my happy places! I am passionate about education and helping students succeed. I love being a mentor, UOS is the place to be!

Amy has been a special education teacher since January 2004, and has taught all grades Pre-k to 12th. She completed both her Elementary and Secondary Special Education Math endorsement. Her favorite part of teaching is helping students understand and gain any skill they had previously thought too difficult. Outside of teaching, Amy enjoys spending time with her husband and three sons. She likes to read, crochet, quilt, and garden.

Chelsea Penney hails from the small town of Richfield, Utah. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, with a minor in Physical Education, from Southern Utah University. Over the years, she has added a professional educator license in Secondary Education and endorsements in Educational Technology, Health, and Physical Education. She is on track to complete her Masters of Education in December 2024.

Chelsea began her teaching career as a 3rd-grade teacher at Santa Clara Elementary. She has also taught in Iron and Sevier Counties and with UTVA. Since joining Utah Online School in 2013, she has continued to grow in her profession.

Chelsea is the proud mother of three children, who are her greatest joy. In her free time, she loves camping, hiking, mountain biking, boating, traveling, and reading with her family. Her personal motto is, “I can do hard things.”

Justine Peterson received her B.S. in Art and English Education from Brigham Young University-Idaho. She loves teaching art, painting, and writing poetry. Her favorite media are charcoal and watercolor.

Mrs. Peterson, when not teaching, takes her art beyond the classroom. She enjoys creating her own artwork and creating chalk murals alongside her art-teaching husband. Her real joy in life is to spend time with her three sons, who are consequently named after famous artists, Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Raphael.

Mrs. Ashlee Reeder graduated from Utah State University, with a BS Degree in English Education, a minor in Speech, and a leadership endorsement. After graduating with her degree, she taught English Language Arts (ELA) at Utah Virtual Academy for five years and taught an additional four years in a “brick and mortar” setting prior to teaching online. She’s taught ELA to students ranging from 9th-12th grade. Mrs. Reeder is married with two children (two boys and one girl) and lives on a 1,000-acre family farm. When she isn’t teaching, Mrs. Reeder loves biking, gardening, and hiking to new places.

Mrs. Richins originally grew up in Texas which will hopefully explain the “yall’s” you are bound to see in her emails. Since graduating from BYU in 2000, she’s taught a wide range of grades and courses in the Language Arts Department (and loved them all!). She completed her Masters, Reading Endorsement and Administrative License at SUU in 2011. Since 2007, she’s been part of Utah Online School and loves interacting with her students and colleagues. Kellie, and her husband, Mark, have four amazing kiddos and the world’s best DIL! In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her family, exercising, beach-bumming, crossing books off her reading list, traveling, and following college football!

Mrs. Schoen has taught English Language Arts since 2017. Mrs. Schoen loves working with young people and learning just as much from them as they do from her. When not teaching, Mrs. Schoen is usually writing, reading, or spending time with her family. She also loves settling down for a good movie and a bowl of popcorn! Mrs. Schoen has a Master of Arts in Teaching and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Westminster University.

Maddie earned her Bachelor of Science from Brigham Young University and her Master of Education from Southern Utah University. Since 2012, she has taught high school and is deeply committed to her role in the Social Studies department at Utah Online School. A native of the Mountain West, she enjoys snow skiing in winter and hiking in summer. Maddie’s interests include reading, music, podcasts, traveling, and exploring culinary delights. She is the mother of three children and married to a veterinarian. Her passion for the Social Sciences enhances her teaching and shapes her worldview.

Mrs. Scholes was born and raised in Southern Utah. She graduated from Dixie High School in 1993, then graduated from Southern Utah University in 1996. Six days after graduating from SUU, she married the love of her life. She taught at Dixie High School for three years then moved to Salt Lake where she taught at Kearns Jr. High for five years. She had her first son and became a stay at home mom. She then had two more boys. When her youngest son was 2 years old, she moved back to Southern Utah. She began teaching again and taught at Dixie Middle School for nine years. She completed a Master of Education degree in Learning and Technology from Western Governors University in 2019. She began teaching for Utah Online in 2020 and has loved the flexibility this school offers. In her spare time she enjoys organizing, crafting, planning parties, traveling and spending time with her family.

Leslie Sjogren loves being part of Utah Online’s CTE team. She grew up in the small town of Parowan, Utah. She graduated from Utah State University. She has been teaching Business with Washington County School District at Dixie, Hurricane, and Snow Canyon since 2011. She loves spending time with her husband and 4 kids on any kind of vacation as well as hiking, and camping. She thrives on a good quote: "Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right."

Mrs. Smith has been teaching since 2022. Before teaching at UOS, she taught at Beaver High School in her home town of Beaver, UT. She graduated from WGU with her Bachelors In Secondary Education with a Biology emphasis. She also holds endorsements in Earth Science, Middle Grades Science, and Health Sciences Introduction. When she’s not teaching, she and her husband are chasing their 3 kids around to all of their many activities. She’s passionate about learning and believes that UOS opens up a world of possibilities for students to pursue their passions and take charge of their own education.

Ms. Mandy Steed has been teaching special education in the Washington County School district since 2015. Prior to special education, Mandy taught pre-school for eight years, and first grade for one year. She received a Bachelor's of Science degree in Marriage, Family and Human Development from Brigham Young University and a Master's Degree in Special Education from the University of South Dakota. Ms. Steed loves meeting new people, and feeling their individual light within. She is fascinated with human development and finding unique learning opportunities to meet the needs of each student. When she is not teaching, she is playing with her six children, reading or listening to a good book, or watching a festive show on Netflix. She loves food and trying new restaurants. To relieve stress, she dances her heart out and takes evening walks. Mandy embraces life and is so excited to learn and grow with you.

Mrs. Jana Stevens holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology Secondary Education from DSU and a Masters of Arts in Science Education Secondary Physics from WGU. With eight years of experience, she has been imparting knowledge in science and STEM subjects at Fossil Ridge Intermediate School. Transitioning to online teaching marks an exhilarating new chapter in her career.

Jana enjoys family time with her spouse and 4 kids. In her free time, Jana loves reading, traveling, hiking, and exploring new cuisines. Excited to share her passion, Jana looks forward to guiding students through the fascinating worlds of physics and astronomy.

Mrs. Stock graduated from Dixie State University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Math Education with her Level 4 Math Endorsement. Mrs. Stock began teaching in 2018. She taught in the classroom for 6 years before transitioning to Utah Online. Mrs. Stock loves seeing her students progress and grow. She believes that anyone can be successful in math, (even if it’s not their favorite subject).

Mrs. Stock loves spending time with her family, exploring new places, and spending warm days in the water be it at the beach, the lake, or the little pool in her backyard.

Michelle Stubbs is a Southern Utah native. She graduated from SUU with a dual major in Elementary Education and Special Education. She later went on to earn her Masters in Education with an emphasis in Special Education. She began teaching high school in Washington County School District in 1999. Michelle is married and has three daughters. She enjoys spending time with her family in the mountains, at the beach, and by the pool. She is passionate about teaching and is very excited about the opportunity to work with students at Utah Online School.

Mrs. Juan Sun (孙老师) got her bachelor Degree in Chinese Education and then started teaching as a bilingual teacher in China. In 2012, she came to the US and taught in Minnesota. Then she taught Chinese Dual Immersion in Orem Utah for two years. In 2016, she went to the UK and taught Chinese there for six months. After that, she moved to St. George. She is so grateful to be able to teach at Utah Online School. Teaching is her passion!

Mrs. Julie Taylor has a Bachelor's Degree in Math Education from Brigham Young University and a Master's Degree in Learning and Technology from Western Governor's University. She taught math for 5 years in California and Utah before leaving teaching to stay home with her children. She returned to teaching in 2020 to teach at Utah Online School.

Mrs. Taylor loves math, teaching and helping students succeed. She also enjoys reading, traveling, and a good joke that can make her laugh. Her husband and kids keep her busy, and it’s wonderful!

Miss Telles graduated in K-8 Education from Utah Valley University. She is currently teaching US History II. Miss Telles worked as a mentor for UOS and is so excited to be back as a Social Studies teacher! When Miss Telles is not teaching, she solves mysteries via books or TV shows, traveling, or writing. Her goal is to unlock doors that lead to the bright futures of her students.

I was raised in Wyoming and received my Bachelor’s Degree from Sterling College in Kansas where I was on scholarship for Cross Country, Track and Basketball. I served an LDS mission and then moved to Hurricane, Utah to start my teaching career. I earned my Master’s Degree from Southern Utah University. I taught at Hurricane High School for 24 years before transferring to Utah Online. I have taught all levels of Math from Algebra and Geometry to Calculus and College Math. I have also coached Cross Country, Basketball and Track during my teaching career.

My husband, Darin, is also in education as a principal. Our oldest son Matthew is an elementary teacher, he and his wife, Jade, live in St. George. We have a set of triplets that graduated with the quarantined Class of 2020. Our two boys, Bryce and Britton, attend Utah Tech University and our daughter, Brooke is serving a mission in Hong Kong. I enjoy spending time with my family traveling, camping, fishing,hiking, competing in triathlons, running, golfing or just hanging out with them. I love teaching and am excited to be working with students for Utah Online.

Mrs. Tuttle has been teaching social studies since 2012.

She started her teaching career in Las Vegas, NV (go Knights, go!) and recently moved to St. George, Utah.

She received her Bachelor's Degree in Social Studies Education, and Masters Degree in Learning and Technology.

When she isn't teaching, she likes to read biographies, anything on true crime and hang out with her family in the Southern Utah sunshine.

Mrs Tuttle is excited to be at Utah Online High School and teach students about our United States Government!

Heidi graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree with a dual major in Elementary Education and Special Education. She has worked in Special Education for 26 years. She is passionate about education, especially special education. She has four children, and enjoys watching them develop their talents. In her spare time she enjoys being outdoors hiking, skiing, enjoying the mountains, traveling and meeting new people.

Mr. Whetman has been teaching at Utah Online School since 2015. He was born and raised in the booming metropolis of Cedar City, UT. He has also lived in Logan, UT, Lehi, UT, and Madrid Spain. He currently resides in northern Utah.
He loves education and enjoys learning. He received his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mathematics Education at Southern Utah University (SUU) in 2011 and Masters of Education at SUU in 2017.

Ms. Williams has taught at Utah Online School since 2018. She teaches English, creative writing, and secondary reading. Ms. Williams loves working with teenagers and helping them reach their academic goals. When not teaching, Ms. Williams writes fantasy novels. She loves singing, reading, and traveling. Some of her favorite places she's traveled are Wales, Italy, Maine, and Hawaii. Ms. Williams has a Master of Fine Arts in writing from Lindenwood University (2021) and graduated from the University of Utah (2006) with two Bachelor of Arts in English and history.

Mrs. Williams was born and raised in Cedar City, Utah. She graduated from Cedar High School where she played basketball, soccer, and softball. She went on to play collegiate basketball at Dixie State and Southern Utah University where she earned her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Chemistry with a minor in Physical education. She taught Chemistry at Woods Cross and was the Head Women’s basketball coach for 3 years.

Mrs. Williams enjoys being outside, riding her mountain bike, playing all sports, going to the beach and the lake. Mostly she enjoys being a mom to her 4 kids and spending time with her husband camping, hiking, biking, and relaxing.

Brooke Wilson graduated from Dixie State College with her associates degree and Utah State University with a degree in Family Consumer Science Education. Brooke has taught in the Jordan and Wasatch School Districts.
Brooke lives in Midway, Utah on the family farm with her husband and five children. She enjoys sunshine, Diet Coke, and spending time with her family.