Mrs. Yorgason grew up in Washington State and Utah. She earned an Associates Degree in Business Management and Accounting at Brigham Young University - Idaho (formerly Ricks College) and then a BS in Marketing from the University of Phoenix. She is currently earning her MBA. Mrs. Yorgason worked in publishing at Deseret Book Company for a number of years and then moved to JetBlue Airways where she became a supervisor. After helping to start American Heritage of South Jordan, she left JetBlue in order to assist in running the school. Mrs. Yorgason is married to Mr. Yorgason (the principal) and together they have 5 children.

Mr. Yorgason grew up in Idaho and Utah. After serving an LDS mission in Norway, he graduated from Utah Valley State College and then earned his BS in Elementary Education from the University of Utah. Mr. Yorgason holds a Masters in Education Administration from the University of Phoenix. He taught for a number of years in the Jordan School District before helping to start American Heritage of South Jordan.

Mrs. Hansen is a transplant to the state of Utah from Arizona. She got her B.A. degree from Brigham Young University in English Teaching and her minor in History, with an emphasis in English history and literature. She had the opportunity to study in London for six months with the BYU Study Abroad program. Once overseas, she traveled to 11 other countries. She taught school in the Jordan School District, then moved to California, where her husband attended medical school. She is the mother of four boys from college age to elementary school. Mrs. Hansen serves on the Board of Directors of American Heritage and is the Curriculum Chairman. She is currently working on her Master’s Degree in Education from George Wythe College. Mrs. Hansen has a passion for learning and has, upon occasion, been spotted on a California beach with a textbook in hand! She loves gardening, reading, and all kinds of dogs.

Bio to come.

Biographical sketch to come.

Bio to com.

Mrs. Hunter came to American Heritage with great reviews from one of our kindergarten teachers. She is currently working on a BA in Elementary Education from Western Governors University. Mrs. Hunter has had a great deal of experience working with children--especially in her family of five boys, including one with Autism and another with ADHD. She assisted the drama advisor in the productions of Macbeth and Big Bad, and has recently made the change to teaching in the kindergarten classes.

Mrs. Mitchell is from South Jordan. After serving an LDS mission to Portugal and the Cape Verde Islands off the west coast of Africa, she attended the University of Utah. She went on to graduate with a BA in Intercultural Communications. She spent a number of years working in the frequent flyer department at JetBlue Airways and then changed careers and became a teacher at Challenger. Mrs. Mitchell loves reading, singing, and spending time with her husband and three young daughters.

Mrs. Blackwing has been working with children for over ten years. Her most recent responsibilities have been within the Headstart Program in SLC as a teacher and family advocate. Mrs. Blackwing's educational background includes SLCC with an emphasis in family and human development, as well as a CDA certificate which she has held since 1998. She feels that the privilege to teach, guide, and influence children on a daily basis is an opportunity to make a difference in our world.

Mrs. Byg grew up in Sandy Utah. She earned her bachelors degree in Family and Consumer Studies at the University of Utah. After working at Discover Card for 10 years she was able to spend some time at home with her children. She spent the last year teaching preschool for Challenger and enjoys helping children to learn and succeed. Mrs. Byg enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters. They enjoy family bike rides, playing games, and reading together. Mrs. Byg also enjoys reading and gardening.

Ms. Schafer was raised in the Salt Lake Valley and moved to California to attend high school. She attended Mt. San Antonio Jr. College for her undergraduate work. She later served an LDS mission in Paris, France. Upon Ms. Schafer’s return, she continued her studies in French. She began her teaching career at a private school in California in 1982 and has enjoyed her relationship with children ever since. Moving back to Utah in 1995 she immediately went to work teaching 1st grade at Carden Memorial, a private school in Salt Lake City. After teaching for 12 years, Ms. Schafer accepted a position as a 1st grade teacher at American Heritage of South Jordan. She has loved her association with parents and students alike, and is in her 2nd year at AHSJ.

Mrs. Hadock is a veteran at American Heritage of South Jordan and loves working with the students. She graduated from Westminster College with a BS in Biology and then earned an MA in Education. After teaching and supervising at Headstart, Mrs. Hadock began her career with AHSJ as the first full-day kindergarten teacher. She is now in her 3rd year and has transferred to the 1st grade. Mrs. Hadock has headed up the Outdoor Classroom and Playground, assisted with the school production of Big Bad, and is the National Honor Society Advisor. She and her husband live in Sandy with their two children.

Mrs. Luck grew up in Modesto, California, and moved to Provo, Utah to attend Brigham Young University where she earned an Associate degree with an emphasis in library technology. Jean Ann worked in the Historical Department and Visual Resource Library for the LDS church where she designed their material cataloging system. She was trained at Learning Techniques and later purchased the business, which allowed her to work with children who had learning challenges. Jean Ann began teaching at American Heritage in 2005 while continuing to help students with individual learning needs. She is married to LaMar Luck and they have 6 children. She and her husband live in Salt Lake.

Mrs. Cole grew up in Taylorsville and attended Utah State University. She is married to Jason Cole they have 1 daughter and 2 sons, one of which has PDD-NOS (Autism). She has taught neighborhood preschool and feels working with children, especially those with special needs, the greatest joy in her life.

Mrs. Erwin has been involved in education for more than a decade. She studied at the University of Utah, after which she moved to Elko, Nevada with her husband, Jay. While in Elko she taught pre-school while her children were young and then moved back to Utah. She and her husband helped to start American Heritage of South Jordan and have continued their dedication through service and support. Mrs. Erwin has owned and operated her own businesses, including a childcare center where education was a focus. Her education and experiences are great assets to AHSJ and to her students. Mrs. Erwin and her husband live in South Jordan with their 5 children.

Mrs. Sanderson grew up in Orem Utah as one of nine children. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in Child Development with additional courses in Early Childhood Education. She and her husband Mark lived 12 years in Maryland where they loved to visit the many Revolutionary and Civil War locations along with other historic sites. Mrs. Sanderson is the proud mother of three wonderful children who love food, exercise, and creative practical joking. She has worked with children in church, service, and professional settings all of her adult life. Her experience includes several years teaching Pre-K children with emphasis on phonics and math development, working in the Montessori Academy as a TA, being a reading specialist at the local Rose Creek Elementary, and serving several years with PTA and District committees to advocate for program improvements and educational opportunities. Aside from being a proud wife and mother Mrs. Sanderson’s greatest ambition is to make learning fun and to help children develop inner confidence and academic skills to prepare them for future opportunities and success.

Mrs. Bingham grew up in Weiser, Idaho, and graduated with an Associate’s from Brigham Young University – Idaho, formerly Ricks College. She then went on to earn her BS in Elementary Education from Brigham Young University. Mrs. Bingham has run a daycare and pre-school. She has taught grades three through six for a number of years and has been with American Heritage since 2005. She is also the student advisor for the Junior National Honor Society. Mrs. Bingham and her husband, Daryl, live in West Jordan. They have six children and two grandchildren.

Mrs. Jake has spent more than 16 years involved in education and has a love for learning. Her education and experience, as well as her involvement in the education of each of her five children, has made her a wonderful teacher and asset to American Heritage. She has been involved in many organizations inside and outside the school, including a Native American dance performing group, county soccer leagues, and the American Heritage drama club. She assisted in the production of Big Bad while working as a full-day kindergarten teacher. Mrs. Jake is now teaching our fourth grade students and sharing her love of education with each of them. She is also the advisor of the AHSJ Junior Student Council. Mrs. Jake and her husband live in Sandy with their five children.

Ms. Hale is a native of Idaho Falls, Idaho. She attended BYU – Idaho and BYU – Hawaii where she studied communication and theater. While obtaining her associates degree she worked for the newspaper on both campuses, held principal roles in several plays and musicals and enjoyed entertaining with her improv troupe. Ms. Hale served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Although she didn’t want to be sent to a foreign country, she was called to serve in Trujillo, Peru where she fell in love with the people, culture, food and especially the language. She earned her BS from the University of Utah in Spanish, with her focus in Latin-American Literature. She now joins AHSJ after having completed the CES Seminary training and teaching seminary for the last year at Highland High School. Ms. Hale is excited to be in the classroom working with the youth.

Science, Spanish, and Constitution
High School Mentor
C. Edward Whitney

Mr. Whitney earned a B.S. in Chemistry from Southern Utah University with minors in math and Spanish. He then went on to complete a J.D. from California Western School of Law in San Diego, California and is currently a member of both the California and Washington, D.C. Bars. While Mr. Whitney was working on Capitol Hill and in a D.C. lobbying firm, he realized his passion was in teaching as he worked for the Fairfax County School District in northern Virginia. Mr. Whitney served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile—hence his minor in Spanish. He is excited to be teaching the nation’s future leaders for the second year at American Heritage of South Jordan.

Mr. Cole is the Director of the West Valley City Police Forensic Services Unit. He began his law enforcement career as a police officer for the Sandy City Services Unit in 1998. Later he transferred back to the detective division where he served as the detective responsible for juvenile and domestic violence crime. He also began to receive training in crime scene investigation and later transferred to the West Valley City Police Department before being promoted to his current position. Mr. Cole also owns a company, Law Enforcement Training Consultants, where he is responsible for teaching the Crime Scene Academy for the state of Utah. He has been teaching this course in area high schools and is excited to bring this great program to AHSJ. Mr. Cole served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Michigan, is married to the 2nd grade teacher, Amber Cole, and has 3 children.

Biographical sketch to come.

Ms. Taylor matriculated from Bear River High School, and later from Brigham Young University, where she graduated as the 2005 Outstanding Spanish Translation major. She holds a BA in Spanish and a minor in History. Ms. Taylor served an LDS mission in Chile. She is the proud sister of three younger brothers, and is in her third year of teaching at American Heritage. Along with teaching Classic Education, Spanish, Yearbook/Journalism, Ms. Taylor is also the Drama Club Advisor and Advisor to the Student Council. She has directed the AHSJ productions of Macbeth and Big Bad —both received raving reviews! This year, Ms. Taylor has agreed to take on the O’Ambassador program as part of the student council assignments—what a trooper!

Mrs. Sroka holds a BS in Educational Psychology, Speech Therapy and Audiology from Brigham Young University. She has taught most subjects in the Murray and Jordan School Districts. Mrs. Sroka has also worked a great deal with computers and has even custom built computers and software.  She has also attended fashion design school and plays the flute in the Riverton Orchestra.

Ms. Currier has taught PE and health at American Heritage since 2005. She enjoys her opportunities to participate and interact with students of all ages. Her intent is to motivate young people to take care of themselves now, ensuring quality of life in their future. She graduated from Ricks College with an A.S. in Physical Education, and then from the University of Utah with a B.S. in Exercise Science. Ms. Currier served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ohio. Her interests include many physical activities such as basketball, cycling, and yoga.

Mrs. Mickelsen has a BA in Music Education from Utah State University. She has taught music for a number of years both in public and private schools. Mrs. Mickelsen is a founder and director of the Riverton Children’s Choir, a community choir that has been singing for nine years and has 120 members. They have performed around the state and at the 2002 Winter Olympics. She and her husband have four children and have traveled the world together.

Mrs. Nuttall grew up in Ohio. She moved to Utah after a few years of marriage. She earned a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Information Systems from DeVry University and a Masters of the Art of Education – Special Education from University of Phoenix. Mrs. Nuttall taught at Kimber Academy and for the Jordan School District. She is in her second year of teaching at American Heritage. Mrs. Nuttall is married and has six children.

Mrs. Guthrie received the Sterling Scholar Award in art from Pleasant Grove High School. She then studied elementary education, art history, and various art applications at Brigham Young University. She has taught classes through Roberts Craft for 15 years and has volunteered in many classroom settings. Mrs. Guthrie is a published artist and currently has a piece on display in Nauvoo. She has also assisted with designing the sets for the AHSJ productions of Macbeth and Big Bad. She is always continuing her education and is has been studying under the direction of gallery artist, Jeffrey Hein. Mrs. Guthrie has been involved at American Heritage of South Jordan for a number of years and is now in her second year of teaching here.

Mrs. Mechling was born and raised in Bennion, Utah, and she began dancing at an early age. Most of her teenage years were spent doing ballet, tap, ballroom dance, jazz, cheer, and participating in school dance companies and musicals. She focused her education in areas of social issues, peer relations, writing, and elementary education, while continuing her love for dance. Mrs. Mechling began teaching ballet at the age of 17 and found a real love for working with children and young adults. She continues working with children today and is in her second year as a teacher at American Heritage.