Meet the Red Rock Canyon School Academic Staff

teen help program

Meet Our Academic Team


Barry Moore

Transition Director

Barry Moore

My first contact with the field of human services came in 1989 when I began working with disabled adults in a sheltered workshop setting in Adel, Iowa. Three years later I returned to school to finish my B.A., graduating in 1993 on the President's List with a degree in religion from Drake University. I began working with adjudicated teens in 1994 as an independent living supervisor, and to my surprise I felt as if I had finally found my professional niche in life. Five years later my family and I moved to southern Utah, where I continued my work with adolescents in various administrative capacities. Although a relative newcomer to Red Rock Canyon School (February 2005), my tenure here so far has been richly satisfying. When Walt Disney was once asked about his vision for Disneyland's future, he said, in effect, that it was only limited by his imagination. If i were asked the same question concerning the Transition Program and what lies ahead for its students, I would say something similar, but I would add, "you still have to go through north Anaheim to get there." But, of course that's reality, and that's our mission-- to teach each student how to "navigate through the grindstones" of life while at the same time reminding them about the North Star, and the influential role it can play in their individual journeys.


Principal

Joel Beckstrand

Credentials: Bachelor of Science - Mathematics Education
Graduate of: Southern Utah University, University of Phoenix
Length of Service at Red Rock: 4 Months
Prior professional experience working with adolescents: 2 years privates school, 7 years residential treatment
Area of expertise and personal interest: Mathematics, American Government
Specialized training or certifications: Italian Language
About You: Two-time St. George Marathon finisher
Hobbies and interests: My 5 kids, running, softball, motorcycles
Which particular set of skills or personal development that students experience at Red Rock do you feel has the greatest impact on their academic success?: Finding the courage to try and attaining the confidence to try again. Building a positive self-image by highlighting successful academic events.
What is the most rewarding aspect of working with youth?: Facilitating the discovery of principle and philosophy. Building positive relationships. Witnessing lasting change. Accepting genuine appreciation for help along an arduous journey.


Brian Bagley

Math/Beehive Unit Teacher

Brian Bagley

Credentials: Bachelor of Philosophy
Graduate of:Brigham Young University
Length of Service at Red Rock: 2 Years
Prior professional experience working with adolescents: 5 years Dixie State College math professor.
Area of expertise and personal interest: Mathematics
Hobbies and interests: Outdoors, hiking, culinary, travel, and film.
Which particular set of skills or personal development that students experience at Red Rock do you feel has the greatest impact on their academic success?: The ability of students to critically reason and make sound decisions based on problem solving.
What is the most rewarding aspect of working with youth?: Being able to inspire students and watch them want to learn rather than made to learn. Students approach math with a fear and anxiety. Helping students free themselves of this mental barrier allows them to succeed.


Michelle Wong

Special Education Teacher

Michelle Wong

Credentials: Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
Graduate of:Southern Utah University
Length of Service at Red Rock: 2 Years
Prior professional experience working with adolescents: 4 years public schools (Special Ed.) Las Vegas, NV. 3 years private school teacher. 5 Years residential treatment.
Area of expertise and personal interest:English, Special Education, Science, Child Development, Life Skills
Hobbies and interests: Bowling, horseback riding, painting, movies and television, superbowl.
Which particular set of skills or personal development that students experience at Red Rock do you feel has the greatest impact on their academic success?: As they travel through their therapy sessions, each student begins to open up and allows them to work on the traumas that have occurred within their young lives. Working through anger, and other mental health issues frees them up to apply themselves in their academic education.
What is the most rewarding aspect of working with youth?: Providing them with a positive safe environment for them to grow, to rekindle their enjoyment for learning and accomplishing their academic and personal goals. Also, empowering students to think for themselves and to develop integrity and honesty. Finally to encourage youth to re-establish connections with loved ones.


Blue Teacher

Bill Mehn

Credentials: B.A. / Anthropology
Graduate of: University of Utah
Length of Service at Red Rock: Over 4 years.
Prior professional experience working with adolescents: Park City Rec Dept, Salt Lake County Rec Dept., Moab Rec Dept., 3 Years with Park City School District, 2 Years Salt Lake City School District, 2 Years Grand county UT School District.
Area of expertise and personal interest: History, Boys & Girls Basketball Coach at Red Rock. I played both High School and College Basketball
Specialized training or certifications: 1 Year American Sign Language, Attended U.U. Archeology Fieldschool, Special Education at Mcpolin Elementary, Currently working on Special Ed. Certification.
About You: Held a state and world fishing record. Utah sucker 6lbs. 6oz.
Hobbies and interests: Recreation & Sports, Fishing, Cubs baseball, Riding my Motorcycle.
Which particular set of skills or personal development that students experience at Red Rock do you feel has the greatest impact on their academic success?: The students don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.
What is the most rewarding aspect of working with youth?: It's not what you got it's what you give. "Keeps me young"


Glenda Kimble

Coral Unit Teacher

Glenda Kimble

Credentials: Bachelor of Arts
Graduate of:Chapman University
Length of Service at Red Rock: 1.5 Years
Prior professional experience working with adolescents: 13.5 years public schools.
Area of expertise and personal interest: Special education and working with adolescents.
About You: I enjoy working with children
Hobbies and interests: Sewing, Reading, and Traveling
Which particular set of skills or personal development that students experience at Red Rock do you feel has the greatest impact on their academic success?: The personal contact that they have with individual staff members enables them to express feelings and emotions at any time.
What is the most rewarding aspect of working with youth?: Helping them to accomplish their goals and actually being there for them in the time of need. Also, to be there and actually witness their successes.

Science/Brick Unit Teacher

Mahauni Fuller

Credentials:Bachelor of Science

Length of Service at Red Rock: Since January 2008
Prior professional experience working with adolescents: 3 yrs. Residential Treatment
Area of expertise and personal interest: Science


Bo Hunt

Steel Unit Teacher

Bo Hunt

Credentials: Bachelor of History - Bachelor of Spanish
Graduate of:Idaho State University
Length of Service at Red Rock: June 2007
Prior professional experience working with adolescents: 9 years residential treatment
Area of expertise and personal interest: History and Spanish
About You: Lived in Chile for a period of time where I learned the Spanish language.
Hobbies and interests: I love to go camping, as well as play and coach sports.
Which particular set of skills or personal development that students experience at Red Rock do you feel has the greatest impact on their academic success?: I feel that the students at Red Rock get the attention they need in an academic setting.
What is the most rewarding aspect of working with youth?: I love to see the change that happens to the students. I tell my students that the only way my job is successful is when they get a High School diploma.


Nancy

Arts Teacher

Nanci Siani

Length of Service at Red Rock: 5 years
Prior professional experience working with adolescents: Food service manager in Elementary, Recreation Center
Area of expertise and personal interest: Art
About You: Mom of 3, Grandmother of 4.
Hobbies and interests: Art, gardening, spending time with my children.
What is the most rewarding aspect of working with youth?: Seeing the students succeed.