Experienced, Caring and Effective

 

Like our students, our staff and team members come from all walks of life and from many different backgrounds.

Our team members are not only highly educated in their specialized areas of expertise, they are role models for each other and for the students. We have caring and dedicated staff members who truly become like family to each other and to our students.

Our team members enjoy getting involved in the activities, and you’ll see them jumping in and having fun whether we are doing a finger-painting project, playing dodge ball in the gym, attending student productions, or helping design and support a student’s photography project.

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Jeff Rinard, Program Director

Bio coming soon!

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Chris McClure, Regional Operations Director

Bio coming soon!

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Amy Dazet, Director of Student Services

Bio coming soon!

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Falene Durham, Director of Nursing

My name is Falene Durham, I have been a nurse for over ten years. I have worked in several areas from medical surgical unit, orthopedics, long term care and now my favorite of all is working with our students at lava and Falcon. I enjoy connecting with everyone around me and I truly feel everyone has something to teach you. Our students have taught me more about being kind and compassionate than any other field of nursing I have been in. I consider it a privilege to work with these students, and hope that I impact them as much as they do me. Being a nurse is all about caring for those around you as if they are your own family, I love the family that we have here at Rite of Passage. I get to fulfill our mission everyday by improving the lives of our youth. I look forward to many more years of learning to be a better Nurse by caring for our students.

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Joette Hayden, Academic Director

Joette Hayden is an advocate for all students with learning differences and has worked in our academic programs for overr 20 years. She has taught Special Education K-12, worked with at risk students and has specialized in working in alternative school settings. She has also served as an educator and school administrator in Utah, served on curriculum councils and worked in school quality / accreditation performance for over 23 years here in Utah. Joette holds a B.A. Elementary Education and Special Education and a M.Ed. in education from Southern Utah University with an administrative leadership endorsement.

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Heather Weinberg, Clinical Lead

Heather is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and a registered Art Therapist with the Art Therapy Credentials Board. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Rhode Island and a dual master's degree in clinical art therapy and mental health counseling from Springfield College in Massachusetts. Heather’s professional experience includes work in residential care, the public school system, and in-patient psychiatric hospitalization. Rooted in humanistic and cognitive theories, she utilizes an integrative approach designed to allow for individualization of the therapeutic process.

Despite her love for the color green and all things related to the forests of the Northeast, Heather finds herself in Southern Utah where she spends most of her free time supporting desert hockey (Knight Time, all the time) and enjoying the epic landscape.

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Ryan Cunningham, Admissions Manager

Ryan Cunningham joined Lava Heights Academy and its sister program Falcon Ridge Ranch as the Admissions Manager in June 2022. Ryan earned his Master of Business Administration degree in 2012 from the University of Phoenix. Prior to his arrival at Lava Heights and Falcon Ridge he was a substitute teacher for Washington County Utah School District for two years. Ryan brings with him nearly 20 years of experience in college admissions and additional experience in Financial Aid and Academic Advising. One of Ryan’s biggest achievements was his collaboration with The University of Nevada, Reno in launching their online Master of Social Work (MSW) program. In Ryan’s free time he enjoys photography, is a drone pilot, and enjoys drone videography.