Barbara Davis

Admissions Coordinator

Barbara Davis, Admissions Coordinator. Please feel free to call anytime to discuss the placement of your son or daughter in any of our Programs!

Logan Roberts, BA

Residential Director

Logan came to Discovery Academy in August of 2011 and has earned a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science and is currently working on his master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. Logan began his career at Discovery Academy as a front line staff and has since worked as a shift supervisor, the boys program coordinator, staff services coordinator and is now the residential director. Logan works closely with the students and program coordinators in making sure the daily program is meeting student’s needs. Logan loves being outside and spending time with his wife and son. Some of Logan’s hobbies include: camping, hiking, boating and snowboarding.

Jen Festi

Girls’ Program Coordinator

Jen worked for five years in a residential treatment program as a mentor and house supervisor before coming to Discovery Academy as the Girl’s Program Coordinator. She enjoys the challenge of working with at-risk youth, especially in the girl’s program. Her greatest reward has been the satisfaction of helping young women find confidence in their talents and abilities, and watching them work towards achieving individual goals. Jen is the mother of three spirited (and sometimes challenging) children of her own. She was born in Virginia, and has had the opportunity to live in many exciting places during her life including, California, Utah, Illinois, North Carolina and Japan (where she taught English conversation classes with a young daughter in tow). Jen likes the outdoor landscape of Utah, camping, film, poetry, art, and collecting family pets.

Marliett Davis, MSW

Therapist

Tara Huber

Student Service Coordinator

Tara has been with Discovery Academy since the summer of 1999. She started as a mentor, served as the Girls Program Coordinator and the Boys Program Coordinator, and is currently the Student Service Coordinator. Tara’s responsibilities include however are not limited to student wardrobe, medical and dental coordination, service projects, and student needs. Prior to her employment at Discovery Academy, Tara worked for 10 years in the medical field primarily with geriatric patients. She is from right here in Utah Valley and enjoys spending time with family & friends, going to the beach, and the theatre.

Monique Hadley, MA

Academic Counselor

Helping Discovery Academy students arrange their schedules and plan for their academic futures keeps Monique busy. The mother of four boys, Monique earned her bachelors degree at the University of Utah. She also holds a masters degree in school guidance counseling from the University of Phoenix. Monique has spent the past 21 years working in education and career counseling. When she’s not at work, Monique enjoys being with her family, traveling, reading and going to the movies.

Mark Edwards, MA

Academic Counselor

Mark first came to Discovery Academy in 1990. Since that time he has held many different positions including mentor, assistant boys’ program director, and art/English/history teacher. He is currently one of our academic counselors. Mark earned his bachelor’s degree in art education from Brigham Young University and has certifications in commercial art and graphic art. He also holds a master’s degree in school guidance counseling. He is married and has two boys. He enjoys the outdoors, photography, and scuba diving.

Tima Rugino, MSW, BA

Math Teacher

Tima joined Discovery Academy as a math teacher in July of 2015. She received her master of social work degree from BYU and a BS in mathematics education with a minor in health education from BYU- Idaho. She has been teaching math for six years (five of those have been at therapeutic boarding schools in Utah). Tima loves being in the outdoors, and enjoys everything from hiking, climbing, rafting, snowboarding and split-boarding in the back country.

Kristi Steimle, BA

Registrar

Kristi came to Discovery Academy in 2000 after earning her bachelor’s degree in history from Brigham Young University. Kristi’s multiple talents have helped her serve our organization in a variety of capacities in educational support over the years. She currently works as the school’s registrar. She loves musical theater and working alongside the students in the drama productions. Kristi enjoys seeing the change that comes over Discovery Academy students as they grow and progress, and feels honored to play a part in their development.

Randall Davis

Teacher

A talented teacher and administrator, Randall first joined the Discovery Academy faculty in 1997. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in both English and Spanish and has also earned a master’s degree in secondary education from BYU. Randall has spent the past 35 years teaching in public schools in Utah and Idaho. While he calls Florida home, Randall’s lived in 22 different places from coast to coast over his lifetime. He and his wife are the parents of four grown children. In his spare time, Randall loves spending time with his family and documenting his family history. He also enjoys collecting record albums, cookbooks, traveling and working out.

Coleen Gleason, BA

Teacher

Coleen came to Discovery Academy in 2008. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English/secondary education from Brigham Young University, but she gave up her successful teaching career to raise and mostly home-school her seven children. Later, when most of her children were grown, she found that she enjoyed working with students with special challenges when she taught GED classes for several years. A published author, she especially loves helping students learn to write. Coleen enjoys reading, writing, cooking, alternative health, and camping with her large family. She has been married for over thirty-five years and has twenty grandchildren.

Elaine Layosa, MA

Teacher

Elaine came to Discovery Academy in 1992. After graduating in microbiology and chemistry from Brigham Young University, she moved to southern California and worked as a microbiologist in the food and flavor industry. She later completed a degree in secondary education at California State University and earned her master’s degree in educational counseling in June 2005. Elaine has been a high school teacher since 1985 and has taught biology, chemistry, A.P. chemistry, physics, A.P. physics, principles of technology, and ESL. Elaine enjoys anything that has to do with science, hanging out with her grandchildren, reading, hiking, and going on road trips. Elaine was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Jonathan Montgomery, BS

Teacher

Jonathan joined Discovery Academy in 2012 after obtaining his degree from Western Governors University. He also completed a degree at Snow College. He is a member of Kappa Delta Pi National Education Association. Before Discovery Academy, Jonathan worked for eight years investigating and preventing Internet fraud. He followed his passion for science into the education field where he now encourages critical thinking, exploration, and hands-on activities to help students gain a rich appreciation for the natural world. Jonathan is from Utah, has been a martial arts instructor, and often explores the night sky with his telescope.

Thomas Richards, MA

Teacher

Thomas Richards joined Discovery Academy in 2011 and holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a master’s degree in biochemistry. He’s been teaching in Utah for more than 18 years. When he’s not in the classroom, he enjoys fishing, backpacking and spending time with his family.

Courtney Wikle

Teacher

Courtney came to Discovery Academy in 2012 after graduating with a B.S. in Mathematics Education from Brigham Young University. She has taught Pre-Calculus and Secondary Math 2 at the high school level. Growing up near Portland, Oregon, Courtney has developed a passion for the outdoors. She enjoys camping, hiking, fishing, kayaking, wakeboarding, and almost anything else that can be done outside. She played tennis and volleyball in high school and still tries to play as often as she can. More than anything, however, Courtney loves hanging out with her family. She is the seventh out of eight children and currently has 25 nieces and nephews.

Robert Stoddard, BS

Teacher

Robert came to Discovery Academy in 2005. He earned his associate’s degree from Utah Valley University and his bachelor’s degree from Utah State University. He is currently a master’s candidate at the University of Utah. After high school, Robert spent some time overseas in Portugal and the Cape Verde Islands. Before joining the faculty at Discovery Academy, Robert taught for several years in the public school system. Robert and his wife have been married since 1994 and have four children: two boys and two girls. Robert loves to spend time with his family, reading history books, and playing or coaching sports. He grew up near Seattle, Washington.

Debbie Heselton, BS

Special Education

Deborah came to Discovery Academy in 2012 after working with troubled youth at Discovery Ranch for three years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English and Secondary Education from Utah Valley University, and taught and practiced master aesthetics. She also has experience with teaching students that have special challenges within the public school system, as well as teaching in the private business sector. She raised her five children in Utah and has six grandchildren, who are the light of her life. A New England native from Massachusetts; she’s lived in New York, Idaho, California and Hawaii. Deborah enjoys cooking, reading, photography, hiking and spending time with family.

Michelle Bishop, BS

Teacher

Michelle came to Discovery Academy in the summer of 2013 after working with students in a treatment setting for the past three years teaching Geometry and Algebra II . Michelle graduated from Utah State University in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Statistics Secondary Education. She loves teaching and helping students understand and enjoy math. Michelle has lived in Utah her entire life and loves the different seasons that come each year. In the summer she loves to hike, boat and camp. During the winters she loves to go snowshoeing, snowmobiling and sledding. Michelle also loves to travel and hopes to make it to all seven continents one day.

Delicia Barker, BA

Teacher

Delicia joined the team at Discovery Academy in 2014 after graduating from Utah Valley University with her bachelor’s degree in English Education. Before becoming the English and Social Studies teacher at Discovery Academy, Delicia enjoyed teaching beginning and intermediate piano lessons and spent some of her spare time tutoring students in English, history, and other various subjects. When she is not in class, Delicia loves to camp, play classical music on the piano, and practice calligraphy.

Sara Carter, MA

Medcial Services

Sara has been with Discovery Academy since 2004. She was born and raised in Spanish Fork, Utah, married her high school sweetheart of four years, and they are the proud parents of six children. Ever since she was a little girl, Sara dreamed of being a nurse. Her parents had to get her a nurse costume for Halloween for eight years in a row because she refused to be anything else. Sara has earned phlebotomy, MA, CNA, EMT, and PCT titles, and as the medical professional at Discovery Academy, she’s not afraid to give your children a little TLC when they need it.

Luda Antujchow

Food Services Director

Luda Antujchow has been with Discovery Academy since 1994. She received a degree from a culinary college in the Ukraine and spent 15 years as a professional chef in one of the most prominent restaurants in her Ukrainian home town. She is passionate about cooking and adds a little bit of love to every dish she prepares. Luda credits Discovery Academy students (and television) with helping her learn to speak English. She says one of the proudest days of her life was when she received her full American citizenship in 2009.

Oleg Antujchow

Facilities Manager

Oleg Antujchow came to work at the Academy in 1994. He graduated a Ukrainian technical college and left his wife and daughters in the Ukraine to forge a new life for the family in America. He had no way of knowing he would be joining another family – the Discovery Academy family. As facilities manager, Oleg keeps mechanical systems running properly and the grounds and buildings beautifully maintained. He feels it is important for Discovery students to learn basic maintenance and repair skills and he enjoys teaching them. (He also loves accompanying students on fishing trips.) Nine months after joining Discovery Academy, Oleg was able to send for his wife and daughters. He says mastering English and the American culture was difficult but he feels proud to be an American citizen.

Allie Taylor, CSW

Therapist

Allie was born and raised in the south, her enjoyment for the arts, particularly singing and dancing, came at a young age. By the time Allie graduated from high school, she had been in over two dozen musicals and productions. Allie received her BA in psychology and a minor in music at Brigham Young University-Idaho. While there, she learned to teach piano and voice as well as learned a greater love for the arts. Allie then went on to receive her Master’s of social work from Brigham Young University. Before joining the team at Discovery Academy she worked with struggling adolescents and helping families become a cohesive team. She has a passion for finding the positive qualities in others and helping them reach their true potential. Her hobbies include hiking, trips to the dog park, anything in the arts, and cuddling up on the couch with a good book or movie.

Jessica Tanner, LCSW

Therapist

Jessica received her Bachelor’s Degree in social work at Idaho State University. She then worked for a year with children who had behavioral and emotional difficulties. After that Jessica completed her graduate studies at Eastern Washington University where she specialized in Grief and Loss. Since graduate school she worked with the elderly community for several years before returning to her passion in the adolescent population working with teens. Jessica joined the Discovery Academy team with years of experience working with adolescents in a residential setting. She enjoys the challenge of working with teenagers while they are discovering themselves and developing their unique talents. In her spare time Jessica enjoys retail therapy, music, dance, biking riding, and most importantly, time with her family and friends.