The teachers at Liahona are some of the finest to be found in any educational system. Our teachers are passionate about including gospel truth along with their academic subjects. They are excited about learning and impart that attitude to their students. They believe that learning can be fun as well as educational, and at Liahona, it is!
Brent DeGraff:
History
Brother DeGraff teaches the Junior High and High School classes. He is passionate about history and the principles of freedom! His credentials include: Instructor for the Church Education System, International Director of Schools for the Center for Educational Restoration, and Operations Director and Distance Learning Coordinator for the Center for Alternative Education. Brother DeGraff creates a learning atmosphere which touches a student's heart and helps them understand the importance of the role they play in our country's future.
Tracy Willburn:
English
Sister Willburn has a gift for making grammar understandable and her Freshman and Senior students leave her classes extremely well prepared for college! She is dyslexic and dysgraphic and has great empathy for those who struggle with English. Despite those challenges, she graduated with honors from BYU in English and Classic Literature. She has her MA in Comparative Literature and received her Doctorate from the University of Utah. She has taught at BYU and currently teaches at Utah Valley State College. She has published several professional articles and speaks five languages.
Maridee Killian:
Science
Sister Killian was raised in the Air Force and traveled quite extensively when she was young, living in many parts of the US, Europe and Asia. (She moved 13 times in 14 years!) She studied in Israel on a scholarship through BYU in 1978. In 1982 she served a mission in Vienna, Austria. A BYU graduate, she earned her BS in Elementary Education with a minor in Biology. After teaching school for two years, she married and temporarily withdrew from school teaching and opted for homeschooling her six children. Now, with three children still at home, Sister Killian and her daughters have joined the ranks of Liahona Preparatory Academy.
Heather Hall:
Science
Sister Heather Hall comes very qualified with several science degrees (Bachelors of Integrated studies, Health Education, and Bachelors of Science in Nursing) and background in chemistry, Biology, Zoology, Anatomy, physiology, and histology. She loves science and has been waiting patiently for the opportunity and right time for her family to teach. With her youngest starting Kindergarten, things fell into place. Instead of attending medical school, she chose to be a Mother. She and her husband are the parents of 8 children ages 21-5, whom she has home-schooled at different times over 8 years. She loves learning and looks forward to helping to instill the love of science to all the high school students at Liahona Academy. She loves traveling, hiking, and photography. In her free time she works as an Emergency Room Nurse.
Julie Bouché:
Intermediate English
Sister Bouché has a Bachelors degree in English from Brigham Young University and she has a masters degree in curriculum and an instruction emphasis from Capella University. She comes to us from Cascade Mountain High School and Pleasant Grove High School. She is looking forward to the unique atmosphere that Liahona Academy offers and we are excited to welcome her into our ranks.
Administration:
Our friendly office staff is knowledgeable about education and home school issues. They are happy to assist you in any way possible.
Jim Drake:
Questions about Liahona? Questions about report cards? Want to visit the school? Wondering if you are on track for graduation? Call Brother Drake. Accreditation issues, Grades and Accreditation Counseling appointments are among his many duties. He is also the Girls Basketball coach and the Cross Country coach.
Patty Taylor:
Sister Taylor heads up Liahona's Finance Department. Contact her regarding tuition payments or other financial issues.
Amy Hartley:
This is Sister Hartley's third year at Liahona. You might recognize her from the science department over the last two years. She has moved to the office staff and is excited to get to know all of the students here. She will be answering the phones and any questions you may have.
Kolleen DeGraff:
Sister DeGraff is Liahona's administrator. She has a Bachelors degree in Communications, has taught at Salt Lake Community College and co-authored several books including "When Together Forever Doesn't Last", "Threads of Liberty", the "Wisemen Raised Up" series, and other Liahona text books.