Our Faculty and Staff

Sister DeGraff has her master’s degree in Education Policy and Leadership from University of Utah. She 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 textbooks. When you are new to Liahona, getting to meet and talk with Sister DeGraff personally will be one of the best things about coming here. She loves Liahona and the students and families who attend here, and she works diligently to make it the great place that it is.

Brother Long holds a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in Child and Human Development with emphasized study in History and Theatre Arts. While at BYU, Jordan toured with the Young Theatre Company and has performed, directed, and produced in theatre at the community, college, and semi-professional level his entire life. Jordan has been an administrator at Liahona since 2014 where his true passion is to help students realize the true potential of a Restoration Education. Jordan has been teaching Drama at Liahona since 2011 and believes that theatre is crucial in helping change people’s lives. He is a Liahona alumnus and served as Student Body President his senior year. Married to Aubrey Johnson, also a former Liahona student, they are the happy parents two beautiful children. He loves his family, his students, and Liahona.

Breanne Dedrickson attended Utah State University, where she majored in English Teaching and minored in English as a Second Language (ESL). She graduated from USU with a Bachelor of Science Degree and then received a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah. Breanne taught high school English for six years and was an assistant principal for two years before joining Liahona Preparatory Academy. Breanne loves to learn and recently earned a K-12 Reading Endorsement through Southern Utah University. In addition to education, Breanne loves chocolate, the outdoors, and most of all her handsome husband, Andrew, and their sweet and adventurous baby girl, Mazie.

Sister Apgood graduated from American Fork High-School and went on to study at Utah State University.  She loves the mountains and going camping, hiking, four-wheeling and boating. She loves history and traveling.  In 2008 she knocked off one of her all time favorite bucket list destinations by traveling to France.  She would love to visit Greece and Jerusalem some day.  She is the oldest of six and does a lot with her family.  She is the proud aunt of 2 nieces and a nephew who she loves to spoil.

Sister Simmons graduated from Dixie College (now Dixie State University) and Murdock Travel School. She has worked as a travel agent for various agencies; most recently, for the LDS Church, arranging travel and visas for missionaries serving in Europe. Sister Simmons loves traveling, gardening, piano, crafts, cooking, and helping others. She has worked in Liahona’€™s front office for almost a year and loves it!

Jeannie attended Weber State College and worked several years at Nest Entertainment (subsidiary of Living Scriptures) as the assistant finance controller and later at Young Electric Sign Company as the billing and payroll manager. Sister Bell has over 20 years experience in bookkeeping/finances.

Sister Jackson achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Teaching with an Editing minor from Brigham Young University. Additionally, Sister Jackson has an Associate of Arts degree from College of Southern Nevada. In addition to English, she enjoys using her editing skills to guide the Yearbook students in creating the school yearbook. Sister Jackson takes into account the real world application of the skills taught in her classes as she strives to pass along her enthusiasm and expertise to the students.

In 2007, Josh Hiatt graduated from BYU’s College of Engineering and Technology with a Bachelor’s in Construction Management and a Business Management Minor. Since then he has worked in diverse industries and capacities from owning his own business to managing large construction projects. The consistent thread throughout his diverse career is his love for people. He enjoys helping others reach outside of themselves to become something more than they thought they could become. He is a husband and father of 7 children. He enjoys doing anything outdoors with his family.

Amy (Sister) Frandsen – I am first and foremost a Mom to 4 kids and a wife to my husband, but I LOVE to be outside and enjoy nature!  I like to camp, hike, paddle board, and garden.  God’s creations are amazing and beautiful to me! I am also a very curious person and I love to explore, ask questions and learn about everything!   I have a Bachelor of Science degree from BYU with a major in Zoology.  I taught at Liahona in the early days from 2000 to 2002 and am thrilled to teach again now!

Jacob (Brother) Dalton is a Liahona graduate of 2010. He holds a Teaching Degree and licensure in Social Science from Brigham Young University. In between Liahona and BYU, Brother Dalton served a mission in Cuernavaca, Mexico. He loves to study history, politics, and any other social subjects you can think of, but above all he is passionate about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Brother Dalton emphasizes engaged learning while helping his students develop critical thinking skills from an LDS perspective.

Sister Rowley received an English Education with Reading Endorsement from BYU. Deborah Rowley taught public school for four years before leaving to raise and occasionally home school her own five children. She has taught at Liahona since 2008.  She loves to teach, read, and write, and is the author of seven books including; White Shirts, White Dresses, and Before They Turn Twelve – Teaching Our Children to Live the Lord’s Standards. In 2013 she accepted the opportunity to create Liahona’s elementary distance education program.  It has been a huge success.  Parents and students tell us she is an exceptionally gifted teacher and even from a distance, every student feels like her favorite student.

A master teacher for 40 years, Brother DeGraff 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, Operations Director and Distance Learning Coordinator for the Center for Alternative Education. As co-founder of Liahona, Brother DeGraff ”s ability to impart Restoration principles along with original source academics 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. He is also a popular speaker at home school and education conferences.

Associate’s degree in Office Management, B.S. in Business Education.

In addition to her degrees, Sister Durfee has a Secondary Math Minor and Utah Standard Certificate in Secondary Education Business and Math Level 3. Sister Durfee cares deeply about her students and works hard to make sure they are solidly prepared. She has a talent for reinforcing gospel principles in her math lessons.

Rochelle Rudd attended Liahona Preparatory Academy for 2 years before graduating in 2009.  In the year after graduating, she was a TA and substitute teacher at Liahona Academy and discovered her love for teaching.  After attending Southern Utah University, Sis. Rudd graduated in 2014 with honors and earned a degree and licensure in Secondary English Education.  She served a mission in the Philippines and finally returned to her home at Liahona, where she combines her passions for English and the gospel.  Sis. Rudd worked as a Writing Center tutor during college and loves helping people learn how to write and present their ideas well.  She speaks Tagalog and Spanish and enjoys making fun of English’s quirks.  

Although students have a difficult time understanding that I detested math as a young girl, they seem to appreciate that I am here to assist them in succeeding in learning mathematical concepts. For me, I enjoy seeing a boy or girl understand and have that feeling of accomplishment when an assignment or test is understood and finished. I feel that my Bachelor’s of Science in Business and Masters in Education are put to good use daily!