Meet Our Team
Meet Our Middle School Team
Our middle school teachers enjoy teaching and are excited to make this a great year for your student!
Administration
Angie Kreitzer | K–8 Principal
Mrs. Kreitzer earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Utah State University. She is a former fourth grade teacher where she innovatively integrated technology into her classroom. Mrs. Kreitzer joined the UTVA team in 2008. She brings experience as a teacher, lead teacher, and title family and student engagement coordinator. She possesses a strong appreciation for school choice and enthusiasm for partnering with parents to facilitate enjoyable, effective schooling for children here in Utah.
Lacey Robinson | K–8 Admin & Lead Teacher
Mrs. Robinson joined the UTVA team in 2013. She has experience as a mentor, 3rd grade math teacher, math interventionist, and 5th grade language arts teacher. She earned a bachelor ‘s degree in elementary education, with a minor in English as a second language from Dixie State University. Mrs. Robinson is passionate about helping other teachers become the very best so they, in turn, can focus on supporting students. She was an amateur boxer in college!
Jessica Brown | K–8 Admin & Lead Teacher
Mrs. Brown joined the UTVA team in 2012. She earned a bachelor ‘s degree in elementary education with an emphasis on early childhood. She loves the connections she makes with the students and parent learning coaches at UTVA and sees the value online education provides students. Mrs. Brown believes every individual student is unique and can benefit significantly from the online learning environment.
Mentors
Amy Shaw | 8th Grade Mentor
Ms. Shaw joined the UTVA team in 2018. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Saint Petersburg College and is planning to graduate with a master’s degree in special education in two years. She loves to travel. Some of her favorite trips have been to Aruba where she helped provide supplies and facilitated activities with orphaned children
Amy Bartlett | Middle School Mentor
Ms. Bartlett joined the UTVA team in 2013. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and holds an ESL endorsement. She has more than 20 years of experience teaching second and third grades, a private kindergarten class, and as a reading interventionist. She has also spent many hours in service to her local school PTAs. Ms. Bartlett is especially proud this year of the many relationships she has built with students, and how well she has gotten to know them.
Grade 6
Kendra Ellis | 6th Grade ELA teacher
Ms. Ellis joined the K12 team in 2015. She has been teaching for eight years in the middle school and elementary settings. Ms. Ellis graduated from Utah State University with of bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She is a currently attending Southern Utah University to complete a master’s degree in education with an endorsement in educational technology.
Jaci Patterson | 6th Grade Math Special Education Teacher
Ms. Patterson joined the UTVA team in 2014. She has teaching experience in pre-k settings, elementary resources classrooms, and middle school. Ms. Patterson received her dual bachelor’s degree in early childhood education/special education from Utah State University in 2009. She loves to use technology to help students practice skills and learn content in many different ways, and being able to communicate more often with parents online and in person.
Sharon Durfey | 6th Grade English as a Second Language (ESL) Special Education Teacher
Ms. Durfey joined the UTVA team in 2015. She has more than 20 years of education experience. She also holds a certificate in special education and an endorsement in ESL. Mrs Durfey is excited to give her students the opportunity to enjoy choices in their education. She believes that students are all individuals and learn in different ways. Ms. Durfey was born in Japan.
Mrs. Bybee | 6th Grade Teacher
Mrs. Bybee joined the K12 team in 2015. She greatly enjoys the ability to teach students from diverse backgrounds. Mrs. Bybee believes online learning allows students the flexibility to pursue extra-curricular activities side by side with academics. Her favorite quote is, “fear is nothing more than a state of mind.”
Grade 7
Stephanie Baxter | 7th Grade Math Special Education Teacher
Ms. Baxter joined the UTVA team in 2009. She graduated from Brigham Young University in 2002. Mrs. Baxter loves the opportunities that online school provides to students and feels fortunate to have this as an educational option.
Sarah Rose | 7th Grade Math Teacher
Mrs. Rose joined UTVA team in 2017. She has six years of experience in education. Mrs. Rose earned a bachelor’s degree from Southern Utah University and a master’s degree from Western Governors University. She also holds certifications which allow her to teach all levels of mathematics. Mrs. Rose loves being able to provide students with a quality education while allowing various levels of flexibility for individual students.
Jennifer Kasameyer | 7th Grade Science Teacher
Ms. Kasameyer joined the UTVA team in 2018. She earned a bachelor’s degree in science education (chemistry) from Western Governors University in 2015 and holds certificates in integrated science and chemistry. She also has experience teaching at the 6–10th grade levels. Ms. Kasameyer believes online learning gives students the opportunity to excel at other passions such as sports, music, etc.
Amber Draper | 7th Grade English Language Arts Special Education Teacher
Mrs. Draper joined the UTVA team in 2013. Her background also includes more than 10 years of teaching in her local school district. Mrs. Draper earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Southern Utah University, and master’s degree in special education from Western Govenors University. She greatly values the relationships that are built in an online environment, and the increased time students have to focus on learning and interacting with others with less focus on social pressures.
Amy Sandbak | 7th Grade English Language Arts Teacher
Ms. Sandbak joined the UTVA team in 2016. She earned a bachelor’s degree in humanities and a certificate of completion for elementary education from Sierra Nevada College, and a certificate of completion for elementary education and a master’s degree in reading curriculum and instruction from Grand Canyon University. Ms. Sandbak believes online learning is a great opportunity for students to have more flexibility such as the asynchronous program, attend small groups, and watch recorded lessons to catch up on missed discussions.
Sophie Seegmiller | 7th and 8th Grade Physical Education and Health Teacher
Mrs. Seegmiller joined the UTVA team in 2018. She has more than 10 years of experience in education as a preschool teacher, teacher’s assistant, and PE teacher. She earned a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies from the University of Utah, a master’s degree in exercise and sports science, and a teaching certificate and PE K–12/health endorsements. Mrs. Seegmiller believes the online learning gives students the opportunity to work independently at their own pace.
Megan Poor | History Teacher
Mrs. Poor joined the UTVA team in 2013. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Brigham Young University. Mrs. Poor teaches 7th grade Utah Studies and 8th grade American History B. Mrs. Poor feels online learning is a great opportunity for students to take ownership of their schoolwork and overall school schedule.
Tiffany Wiberg | Middle School Career and Technical Education Program (CTE) Teacher
Mrs. Wiberg joined the UTVA team in 2018. She earned a bachelor’s degree in family, consumer, and human development with a minor in psychology, and Master of Education in professional school counseling from Utah State University. Her background also includes experience working in the USU Career Services Department, where she gained her true passion for career exploration. Mrs. Wiberg teaches career exploration by enabling students to participate through chat, writing on the whiteboard, and answering questions via polling and playing educational games.
Grade 8
Sophie Seegmiller | 7th and 8th Grade Physical Education and Health Teacher
Mrs. Seegmiller joined the UTVA team in 2018. She has more than 10 years of experience in education as a preschool teacher, teacher’s assistant, and PE teacher. She earned a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies from the University of Utah, a master’s degree in exercise and sports science, and a teaching certificate and PE K–12/health endorsements. Mrs. Seegmiller believes the online learning gives students the opportunity to work independently at their own pace.
Lora Stead | 8th Grade English Language Arts (ELA) Teacher
Mrs. Stead joined the UTVA team in 2018. She has more than nine years of teaching experience in elementary school, middle school, and adult education at the university level. She earned a bachelor’s degree in humanities from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree in second language teaching from Utah State University. Mrs. Stead earned a creative writing certificate from Oxford University during their summer school program abroad, as well as a TESOL certification from LearnTEFL. She enjoys find creative ways to use instructional resources and teaching strategies to meet the needs of her students.
Jodi Goodman | 8th Grade English as a Second Language (ESL) Teacher
Mrs. Goodman joined UTVA in 2017. In her 10 years of teaching, she has taught in Utah and Washington, DC. She earned her degree in English education from BYU. Mrs. Goodman loves traveling the world. She has been to Hawaii, France, Holland, UK, and China in the last year!
Tiffany Wiberg | Middle School Career and Technical Education Program (CTE) Teacher
Mrs. Wiberg joined the UTVA team in 2018. She earned a bachelor’s degree in family, consumer, and human development with a minor in psychology, and Master of Education in professional school counseling from Utah State University. Her background also includes experience working in the USU Career Services Department, where she gained her true passion for career exploration. Mrs. Wiberg teaches career exploration by enabling students to participate through chat, writing on the whiteboard, and answering questions via polling and playing educational games.
Rachel Wilson | 8th Grade Science Teacher
Mrs. Wilson joined the UTVA team in 2018. She graduated from Utah Valley University in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in biology education. She has taught middle school science for four years. Mrs. Wilson enjoys the interaction with the diverse group of students in the online environment.
Carol Olson | K–8 Severe Special Education Math Teacher
Ms. Olson joined the UTVA team in 2014. She has more than 10 years of experience in education and community service. She earned a bachelor ‘s degree in K–12 special education from Weber State University with an emphasis in ESL. Mrs. Olson likes teaching students with various learning styles and individualizing their learning experience in a non-threatening environment. She maintains a sanctuary in her house for exotic animals.
Debbie Barton | 8th Grade Math Teacher
Ms. Barton joined the UTVA team in 2017. She has 20 years of experience teaching middle school math. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in secondary mathematics from the University of Wyoming. Mrs. Barton loves being able to work closely with students and parents for the best possible educational experience and believes online learning provides students with a learning environment suited to their individual needs.
Advanced Learner Program
Holly Davies | Advanced Learner Program (ALP) Coordinator and 5th Grade Science Teacher
Mrs. Davies joined the UTVA team in 2010. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Brigham Young University, a gifted and talented endorsement from Utah State University, and Master of Education degree from Southern Utah University. In addition to Utah, she has also lived in Florida, London, and the Fijian islands!