Education
Laurie Laird, M.Ed.
Utah State Teaching License, School Counselor License, Special Education License (Endorsements: Family and Consumer Science, Biology, Mathematics, and Mild/Moderate Disabilities)
Education Director
Laurie is a graduate of Brigham Young University's secondary education program and has a master's degree in educational counseling from the University of Phoenix. She taught family and consumer science, math, and biology for 15 years in the public school system to junior and senior high school students. She has also worked as a comprehensive guidance counselor specializing in career development and counseling. Her various capacities of service in the Utah education system include curriculum developer, student-teacher coordinator, teacher in-service trainer, and school-to-careers specialist. Laurie is special-education certified and specializes in learning styles, learning disabilities, behavior management, trauma, NLD, and negative mind processes. She is currently an instructor at University of Phoenix, teaching adults in the Special Education Teacher Master's Program.
Laurie has four children and enjoys running, sewing, travel, and the outdoors. She lives on a farm in the country, complete with emus, horses, chickens, and dogs.
Larissa Taylor
Utah State Teaching License (Endorsements: History, Political Science)
Assistant Education Director; Teacher
Larissa graduated form the University of Utah with a bachelor's degree in history education and a minor in political science. She has been teaching at New Haven since 2005. She teaches US history, world history, government and economics. Larissa is also the Assistant Education Director, serving students and parents, as well as helping her fellow teachers develop further as professionals. She also serves as the advisor for the New Haven student government. Larissa loves history and enjoys helping students find a passion in studying the past.
When she's not at work, she enjoys reading, watching movies, scrapbooking, and cooking. Whenever she takes a vacation, she can usually be found at Disneyland.
Karl Jarvis, MA
Utah State Teaching License (Endorsements: Biology and Chemistry)
Science Teacher
Karl is a Provo native who has always loved learning about the natural world. He received his bachelor's degree in zoology, his master's degree in integrative biology at Brigham Young University, and his teaching license through the Utah State Office of Education. Karl came to New Haven to be the science teacher in 2006. He teaches biology, chemistry, physical science, environmental science, and human anatomy and physiology during the regular school year, and he also teaches bioethics and ecology in the summer. What he likes about teaching at New Haven is being able to help students solve problems, whether they are in science or in their own lives. Outside of New Haven he can be found exploring the nearby mountains by foot or by bike, or going on trips with his wife and two sons.
Stephanie (Stepper) McCrery
Academic Coordinator
Stephanie graduated from Utah State University with a BS in English literature. She has been the academic coordinator for New Haven School since October 2008. She coordinates the transcripts for students at both campuses and heads up the Extended Schooling Program. She loves working with the education team at New Haven and loves working with the students. When she's not at work, Stepper loves impromptu picnics with her husband and kids, reading anything she can get her hands on, creating culinary adventures (or disasters), and throwing parties. She vows that someday she will see Europe, publish a book, and learn how to make an apple pie from scratch.
Hayley Davis
Art Teacher
Hayley graduated from Southern Utah University with a bachelor's degree in art emphasizing illustration. She began working with troubled youth as a staff member at another treatment center in Utah before becoming a teacher at New Haven. Haley also currently teaches art at Spanish Oaks Elementary to grades 1-6. She enjoys teaching her students about the elements and principles needed to create successful art, and the value of achieving one's personal best in their work. In her free time she enjoys working on her own art doing portraits and illustrations, reading, cooking and kickboxing.
Nicole Holley
Utah State Teaching License (Endorsement: English)
English Teacher
Nicole graduated from Utah Valley University with a bachelor's degree in English education. At New Haven, she enjoys working with and getting to know the girls. She teaches literature and composition, American literature, and British literature. Nicole feels very strongly about reading and has made it her goal to help each girl become a lifelong reader. Nicole's hobbies include reading, water sports, snow sports, camping, and traveling whenever possible. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Andrew Gifford, MA
Utah State Teaching License (Endorsements: Political Science and Spanish)
Spanish Teacher
Andrew has a master's degree in Spanish from the University of Utah and a bachelor's degree from Southern Utah University in Spanish, with a minor in political science. He has been teaching Spanish for a total of about eight years at various levels (elementary, high school, and college) in Georgia and Utah and holds current Utah teacher certification. He has been teaching Spanish at New Haven for almost a year, and enjoys teaching language and culture while helping students have more open minds. Andrew feels that it is critical as a language teacher to foster an understanding and tolerance for cultures different from our own. Andrew loves to spend time with his five children (one more on the way) and his wife. He loves reading-especially to his children, as well as writing stories and poetry, singing, drawing, writing computer programs and coding websites. He loves to be in the outdoors in the mountains whenever possible. He also loves to learn new things and is currently learning calculus and plans to learn Hebrew and Russian.
Weldon Hathaway
Utah State Teaching License (Endorsement: Math-In Progress)
Math Teacher
Weldon was born and raised in Spanish Fork, Utah just a few miles from our south campus location. He lived in Alaska for a few months after graduating from high school and then moved to Southern California for a couple years. He moved back to Salt Lake City to go to school. While in Salt Lake City he met his future wife and married her in January of 2004. After his first daughter was born he moved back to Spanish Fork with his family and switched schools. He now has two daughters and two accounting degrees. He started working as the math teacher for New Haven in August of 2003 and is really enjoying it.
Esther Blackham
Physical Education Teacher
After leaving her lifelong home of Utah for three years to live in Poland, Esther is back home, working at New Haven and studying exercise science at BYU. Of her work at New Haven, Esther says, "I teach P.E. here at New Haven and love it! Some days it can be hectic, but I want to help these girls stay healthy!"
Esther loves sports, especially soccer and running. She also enjoys music, plays, and art museums and is herself a pianist and singer. When she's not studying, singing, working, or competing, Esther's favorite thing to do is spend time with her family.
Maeva Ward
Physical Education Teacher
Maeva grew up in France, where she started dancing at very young age at a conservatory in Paris. She continued her formal dance training throughout high school and college, and graduated from Utah Valley University with a BFA in modern dance. While pursuing her degree, Maeva became interesting in dance conditioning and personal fitness, taking part in related research projects with several professors at UVU and presenting her research at various conferences. Maeva has been teaching P.E. at New Haven for four years, and has loved every moment of it.
In her free time, you can find Maeva playing with her kids, going on dates with her husband, running marathons, being outdoors, and dancing. Maeva stays active in the Utah dance community through teaching, choreographing, and performing at various venues.
