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Cedar Ridge Academy

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Cedar Ridge Academy Boarding School Deans

Welcome to Cedar Ridge Academy Boarding School. We are a caring, long-term staff with extensive experience in working with teenagers. Headed by Christine Haggerty, Dean of Academics, and Wes Nielson, Dean of Students and Residential Life, Cedar Ridge Academy Boarding School in Utah is a modern force in academics.

Christine Haggerty, Dean of Academics

Christine Haggerty
B.S. Secondary Education
Black Belt Shotokan Karate
Cedar Ridge Academy Boarding School
Dean of Academics

Christine Haggerty completed her B.S. in Secondary Education with a major in English Teaching and a minor in History Teaching from Utah State University in 2006. She has taught as a paraprofessional and then full time teacher for fourteen years. Christine teaches college preparatory senior English and Shotokan karate at Cedar Ridge Academy coed boarding school. She loves the martial arts, and spends much of her time as a coach for the Academy's karate team. Her personal hobbies include writing, drawing, and watching the Utah Jazz.

Wes Nielson, Dean of Students

Wes Nielson, LPCI
M.S.
Black Belt Shotokan Karate
Cedar Ridge Academy Boarding School
Dean of Students and Residential Life

Along with Robert Nielson, Wes Nielson is one of the original founders of Cedar Ridge Therapeutic School, a therapeutic boarding school in Utah that has been making a difference in the lives of teens and their families for fifteen years. Maintaining his position as Director of Operations of Cedar Ridge Therapeutic School, Wes is also the Dean of Students and Residential Life for Cedar Ridge Academy Boarding School, ensuring the students' safety and participation.

Wes brings his extensive experience working with teenagers in a therapeutic setting to his position as the Dean of Residential Life. He also has a passion for coaching the boys' basketball team each winter, mentoring students on the traveling softball team, and for making the physical program of Cedar Ridge Academy Boarding School the best in Utah.

Wes also spends time with his family, and enjoys dabbling in saltwater fish.

Sean Haggerty, Dean of Admissions

Sean Haggerty
MSW Candidate
Cedar Ridge Academy Boarding School
Dean of Admissions for Cedar Ridge Academy Boarding School and Cedar Ridge Therapeutic School

Sean Haggerty has been facilitating admissions for Cedar Ridge Therapeutic School for three years. He has been working with the youth of Cedar Ridge Therapeutic School for fourteen years. He is now also the Dean of Admissions for Cedar Ridge Academy Boarding School in Utah, helping parents make the best choice of enrollment for their son or daughter.

Sean is currently in his final semester and internship for his Masters of Social Work at Utah State University, and has a deep understanding of family dynamics and of choices that help set teens up for success.

When he's not in the office, Sean enjoys time with his two sons and his daughter, and he enjoys time outside in the peaceful and scenic Uintah Basin. He also has an interest in autobody and in generally working with his hands.

Cedar Ridge Academy Teaching Staff

Cedar Ridge Academy Boarding School Teaching Staff

Pam Nielson, Cedar Ridge Academy Guidance Counselor

Pam Nielson, Guidance Counselor

Pam Nielson
B.A. English and Secondary Education
M.Ed. Secondary Education
M.Ed. Counseling and Educational Psychology
Cedar Ridge Academy Boarding School Site Administrator and Guidance Counselor

Pam Nielson is one of the founders of Cedar Ridge Therapeutic Boarding School and now Cedar Ridge Academy Coed Boarding School in Utah and has been supporting our academics since 1996.

Jim Munford, Cedar Ridge Academy Guidance Counselor Intern

Jim Munford, Guidance Counselor Intern

James Munford
M.S. Intern for Guidance Counselor
Guidance Counselor and Art Teacher for Cedar Ridge Academy Boarding School

Jim began working with youth at Second Nature Wilderness Program in Duchesne, Utah. He worked as a field staff during summer breaks from Utah State University where he was finishing a degree in Art Education. His degree was put on hold when his National Guard unit was activated for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Jim served a year in Iraq as engineer support to the First Armored Division, after which he returned home and completed his degree with honors. Jim has been a part of the Cedar Ridge Academy boarding school academic team since June 2007. He began as an art teacher and residential staff, and is now in his internship as a Guidance Counselor.

Jim enjoys mentoring students in academic and career choices. He works with each student individually on their school progress and plans.

Layne Southam, Cedar Ridge Academy Math Teacher

Layne Southam, Math Teacher

Layne Southam
B.S. Math teaching with a minor in Business Education
Teaches algebra through calculus at Cedar Ridge Academy Boarding School

Layne Southam has eleven years teaching all levels of high school math. He is Level II certified through the Utah Office of Education in math and A+ Computer Certified, with endorsements in Math Level IV and Computer Literacy. Layne began teaching at Cedar Ridge Academy Boarding School in 2001, and is the senior teacher on staff. He enjoys tinkering with computer technology and experimenting with changing oil into bio-diesel in his garage. Layne has five children and spends much of his time with them; playing house with the five-year-old, wrestling with the seven- and eleven-year-olds, and helping the fifteen- and eighteen-year-olds with homework and life crises. Layne works to adapt the concepts in math to all kinds of learners and is a strong mentor as a teacher advisor.

Michael Caudle, Cedar Ridge Acadey Art and English Teacher

Michael Caudle, Art and English Teacher

Michael Caudle
M.S. Art Education
B.S. English Education
Teaches English, Art History, and Visual Arts at Cedar Ridge Academy Boarding School

Mike Caudle holds his B.S. and M.S. in Art Education from South Connecticut State University and completed his English degree at the University of Michigan. With over 20 years experience teaching in both public and private schools, Mike reaches a variety of learners through patience and high expectations. Having a unique background in stained glass, Mike built Cedar Ridge Academy's art program beginning in 2004. He has helped many of his students build strong art portfolios and mentored many into art programs at renowned universities.

Chad Hamblin, Cedar Ridge Academy Science Teacher

Chad Hamblin, Science Teacher

Chad Hamblin
B.A. Biology Major with Spanish, Chemistry, and Anthropology Minors
B.S. Biology Lfe Sciences Teaching Composite
Teaches all sciences at Cedar Ridge Academy Boarding School

Chad has a long career in science and its applications. He works with a passion that is contagious, and his students pick it up as they learn about biology, the environment, and chemistry. When Chad's not teaching school he spends time at his numerous pastimes and hobbies. He enjoys hiking, camping, cross-country skiing, and spending time with his pets--including two dogs he rescued from shelters, and three donkeys. Chad also enjoys gardening. Other hobbies involve playing the trombone in the community symphony, blacksmithing as a member of a blacksmithing club, photography, and art. Chad enjoys working with the Boy Scouts in Utah and has been a Scoutmaster for many years. Chad is a member of the Bigfoot Field Research Organization and participates in expeditions and researches reported sightings.

Chad Hamblin has been teaching at Cedar Ridge Academy Boarding School since 2004.

Kimberly Hawks, Cedar Ridge Academy History and English Teacher

Kimberly Hawks, History and English Teacher

Kimberly Hawks
B.A. History Teaching with minors in Political Science and English
Teaches history and English at Cedar Ridge Academy Boarding School

Kimberly Hawks graduated from Brigham Young University with University Honors and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History Teaching with minors in Political Science Teaching and English Teaching. During her time in Provo, Kimberly taught at a variety of schools throughout the area ending her experience with a half a year at Pleasant Grove High School before coming to Cedar Ridge. Kimberly enjoys reading, watching movies, and knitting in her spare time. Kimberly serves as the history teacher at Cedar Ridge because she wants to pass the passion that she has for social studies on to her students. She likes being able to work with a student one-on-one to find out what they understood and what did not make sense to them, and add to the student's understanding.

Kimberly is the most recent addition to the Cedar Ridge Academy boarding school teaching staff, beginning in June 2010. She teaches with a great personal investment in her students' achievement.

Jennifer Guzel
Math Professional at Cedar Ridge Academy Boarding School

Jen Guzel holds a B.A. in Mathematics from UCLA and a degree in Cross-Cultural Language Acquisition and Development from UC Santa Barbara. Jen has taught math in grades 7-12 for over thirty years, including two years in the Peace Corps in Liberia, West Africa. Jen earned the title of Los Angeles County Office of Education Math Specialist, and she is also a formal teaching coach for beginning math teachers.

Jen moved to Utah from California to enjoy the serenity of rural life near the mountains. She joined the Cedar Ridge Academy team in Fall 2010 and has a gift for making math concepts 'stick.' The students at our boarding school enjoy working with Jen and many seek her out for independent help.

Diannah Killian
English and History Paraprofessional at Cedar Ridge Academy Boarding School

Tania Nielsen
Adminstrative Assistant and Registrar