STILLWATER ACADEMY - Key Persons
Afton has grown up at Clementine Farms and has been around the program of Stillwater Academy all of his life. He has trained horses and has given riding lessons since he was 15 years old. He has a great love for horses. He excelled in the sport of rodeo through high school and college. He is currently the owner of CF Training Company. CF Training provides riding lessons for all ages including roping lessons. He also trains and breeds horses.
Afton appreciates the connections he's developed with the students at Stillwater. In his business he teaches people about horses. Working for Stillwater has introduced him to the idea of the horses transforming people. His favorite part is watching kid's with confidence and self-esteem issues put forth the courage necessary to ride a 1200 pound animal and have a great experience. Then he watches that confidence transfer into the rest of their lives. Afton loves the students and loves watching their progress week week with each small change. Many of the student's subtle changes during the healing process are introduced and reinforced by their equine experiences at the ranch.
Afton lives on Stillwater's horse ranch called Clementine Farms where he and his wife love raising their two kids farm style. He loves to rope cattle and smoke and grill all kinds of meat. He also enjoys reading, golfing, and gardening.
Job Titles:
- Admissions Specialist
- Specialist
Job Titles:
- Financial Literacy & Careers
Job Titles:
- Facility Services Coordinator
Codee has been involved with Stillwater Academy for over 20 years. She started out as a receptionist as a student in college. She's worked in various positions and currently volunteers as the President of the Board of Directors of Parents Helping Parents, the non-profit segment of our organization. She's worked as administrative assistant and currently does Receivables and is our Transportation Coordinator. Codee is a hard worker. She lives on the farm with her 4 children and feed's the horses in the evenings. She loves biking and yoga and all things fitness and nutrition. She also loves spending time with her kids and going to their various sporting events. Codee loves working at Stillwater and watching the transformation of the Student's and their families. She laugh's easily and has a fun loving spirit. She loves getting to know the student's as she takes them on their various appointments.
Job Titles:
- Support Staff / Student Mentor
Job Titles:
- Medications Practitioner
- Medications Specialist
Dr. Laura Maw is an extremely talented Medications specialist. She got her Nurse practitioner doctorate at the University of Utah, One of the most respected medical universities in the country. She runs her own practice and we are very pleased that she is a great asset to our Stillwater Team. She specializes in mental health medications, nutrition, and whole health. She is a perfect fit for the students at Stillwater. She says this about working at Stillwater Academy: "Working at Stillwater allows me to use my education and life experiences with my own children with challenges to help other youth and their family."
She is married with 6 children. 3 of her children were adopted and have various special needs. She loves music, especially singing and playing the piano. She has sung in various choirs over the years. She also loves skiing, riding bike and travelling with her husband.
Job Titles:
- Support Staff / Student Mentor
Janie has been with Stillwater Academy in various capacities over the past 7 years. She and her husband Jerry started out as housing Staff which they did for 6 years. More recently she has been promoted to Case Manager. She has her own small family of students. She has a no nonsense way that the students love and trust. She is consistent and predictable in her interaction but she's always full of fun. She has a double major in Elementary Education and Outdoor Education. She has lived in many states over the years from Massachusetts to North Carolina, Iowa and finally has lived the last 10 years in Utah. She comes to Stillwater with a lifetime of experience, including the rearing of her own family of 8 children. She had 2 sets of twins. She was a counselor in a Wilderness Program, later she worked as a Dementia Life Enrichment manager at a facility. She also worked as a Doula and a childbirth educator for 10 years. She has been married to her husband Jerry for 44 years and they enjoy fishing, ping pong and just hanging out together. She also enjoys a good mystery, jigsaw puzzles and playing games and playing with Grandkids. She's always up for also a good road trip with lots of laughter and unplanned side trips. Janie says she believes in the mission of Stillwater Academy and loves to be a part of helping kids and their families. She is passionate about her job and is a valuable asset to our team.
Job Titles:
- Academic Director / Principal
Kelli was born in Oregon, but moved to Utah when she was young. She has spent a lot of time in Utah, New Hampshire, and Italy, and these three places have her heart. Kelli is married and has 2 children. Kelli has worked in education since 2000 teaching a variety of settings and ages from 4th grade to adults; private school, public school, and adult education. Kelli was also a teacher with Stillwater Academy from 2000-2013, and has returned as an administrator. She is a talented English teacher, but moved to administration in 2014, where she is able to put her skills to a different use. Her expertise is in college planning and scholarships, credit recovery, and creating and implementing school systems. In her free time, Kelli enjoys training and competing in Ironman triathlons. After beating a battle with cancer in 2020, she now working to make her comeback to competing and will have her first ironman event in 2022. What Kelli loves most about Stillwater Academy is the long-term change she sees in its students. Stillwater is a special place and she's been fortunate enough to be part of the program as a family member to a former client, a teacher, and now an administrator. Stillwater is family, and former students she's worked with over the past 20 years, still check in - that's how you know Stillwater is a special place.
Lisa is originally from Alaska, but moved to Utah for college and has lived here since. Before coming to Utah, Lisa met her husband in Alaska with who she has two children.
Lisa has been teaching science at Stillwater Academy since 2014. While she teachers all the traditional science classes, Astronomy is one of her favorite things to teach and she tries to slip that in whenever she can. This term, she is also teaching Physical Education. In 2018, she and her husband also became housing staff for Stillwater; they have enjoyed the extra energy and chaos the students bring to their home.
She and her family love spending time outdoors. Some of their favorite family activities are camping, fishing, hiking, and kayaking. Lisa loves to garden and has a zoo of animals at her home: a dog, two rabbits, a lizard and 10 chickens.
Lisa loves teaching at Stillwater Academy, especially having small classes and the unique opportunity to help students really become successful in school. It has been very special for her to see her students change and grow from the time they enter Stillwater Academy to when they successfully complete their program. High school graduations from Stillwater are still one of her favorite things about our school.
Marc started working for Stillwater part time over 5 years ago. He was born and raised in Long Beach California and his family moved to Utah when he was 12. Marc got his associates at Dixie State University and currently he is working on his Bachelors at Utah Valley University. He loves to reading and learning. He passes his enthusiam for self iprovement on to the students that are in his group. He is also a great photographer. He travels and his favorite vacations are the ones that find him in the great outdoors.
Marc worked at two other adolescent treatment centers before settling in at Stillwater Academy. He has been a case manager for over 4 years. He worked a job during Covid where he actually transported students to programs. All of these experiences have given him a unique perspective for the individual treatment of each student. Marc has a great relationship with the students. He uses his creativity and artistic talents to make his therapy space one that is fun and inviting. He is a great motivator and works hard to not only help the students heal but help them become leaders and examples to others.
Marlena Millis met at BYU-Idaho while they were both attending. They were friends for 6 months before they realized they were studying the same major. They have been married for 6 years and have 3 adorable fur babies. Marlena grew up in Idaho and Adam grew up in New Hampshire. After graduating from BYU-Idaho they moved to Utah and are both working in Landscaping.
Marnie was born and raised right here in Utah. She currently lives in South Jordan with her husband and their four children.
Marnie embarked on her teaching journey in 2005, starting her career at Stillwater. After her initial run from 2005-2011, she ventured into teaching at two other therapeutic schools in addition to some tutoring roles. Thrilled to return to Stillwater in August 2022, Marnie brings a wealth of experience having taught an array of subjects such as Visual Communication, Public Speaking, Journalism, Health Education, Leadership, and more. Beyond the classroom, she has a passion for dance and is an instructor at a local dance studio. Currently, Marnie is in the process of completing her Social Studies Composite endorsement with Southern Utah University.
In Marnie's spare time she loves to read, take long walks, spend time with her family, camping and hiking, playing games and going out with friends. A night relaxing to cheesy chick flick also tops the list.
What she loves most about being at Stillwater is the interactions with the students. The small class sizes allow for more one on one attention, and she loves to see students grow and flourish. She loves the feeling that people come first and the teamwork she has with her fellow colleagues.
Job Titles:
- Program Director / Therapist
Matthew has been a part of the Stillwater family for over ten years, in various roles and capacities, including peer support mentor, assistant case manager, and now therapist.
Matthew graduated from the University of Utah in 2019 with a Bachelor's of Social Work, and has over two years of experience in child welfare and advocacy. Matthew is currently on track to graduate with his Master's of Social Work from Boise State University's accelerated program, and is thrilled to be joining the Stillwater team as a full-time therapist intern!
Matthew was born and raised, right here in the Salt Lake Valley, and comes from a very large and supportive family. He has lots of brothers and one sister, and over a dozen nieces and nephews whom he dotes upon and spoils relentlessly.
Matthew fully believes in and is committed to the mission of Stillwater Academy, and has seen it personally affect his own life and the lives of dozens of teens and their families. Matthew works with his clients closely in group settings, one-on-one individual counseling, and family therapy.
Matthew has a down-to-earth, relationship focused, and all-round caring approach to his practice. Matthew cites Brene Brown and Dr. Bruce D. Perry as key inspiration, and integrates much of their research into his own trauma-informed and strengths-based outlook.
When Matthew isn't working, he enjoys hiking and exploring Utah's nature with his dog, Seamus. Matthew has a keen love for music and literature, he collects vinyls and enjoys writing poetry and fiction.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Office Administration Team
- CFO / Insurance Specialist
Mckell was born and raised a proud army brat. She has lived all over the world including, Indiana, Hawaii, and Germany where she graduated high school. She later met Scott and settled down in Utah where they have 3 amazing children.
Mckell has been a big supporter of Stillwater academy through her husband Scott our program director for many years. She joined our team more recently as the insurance specialist in 2017. She is a licensed insurance agent and has worked in the medical field since 1992.
Mckell has a degree in behavioral science and health with an emphasis in healthcare administration and marketing from The University of Utah. She is passionate about her role in making mental health services more accessible to those who need it. Here at Stillwater she advocates for the students by managing insurance benefits and negotiating coverage with insurance companies.
When Mckell is not working she enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, and spending time with her family. She loves being a grandmother and being active in her growing family.
Job Titles:
- Director of Psychological Services
Dr. Randall Oster has done psychological testing for Stillwater Academy for over 23 years. An expert like Dr. Oster is perfect for the extensive psychological testing we require upon admissions for all of our students.
He comes with over 30 years of providing services to youths and their families with a specialization in psychological assessments. His experience includes employment with the local Community Mental Health Center. He also served as Director of Psychological Services at a private psychiatric hospital as well as providing adolescent psychological evaluations for the Juvenile Court and Juvenile Justice Services.
Dr. Oster is happily married with three adult sons. He enjoys spending time with his wife and family, fun vacations, and jogging to keep up fitness and aid in my mental health.
Dr. Oster says this about working at Stillwater Academy: "Each client presents an intriguing life story which aids in my understanding of not only the client and their family but life as well. My coworkers at Stillwater are constantly stimulating and encouraging me to further explore and develop my insights into people. Working at Stillwater makes a difference."
Rick has a passion for mentoring adolescence with diagnosed disorders. He facilitates clients to accomplish therapeutic assignments and facilitates group therapy processing and psychoeducation to adolescents struggling with substance use disorders. He also assists our Ranch Director in coordinating group activities for a weekly ranch day for the students he works with. He has a natural talent with helping student's work through their problems and recognize their roll in governing their lives. Rick also works to assist in offering community resources for clients in need and has a vast history of volunteer and professional work through organizations such as Utah Foster Care, National Alliance of Mental Illness, Urban Indian Center, and Co-Director and board member of K.O.P.P.I.R. (Kids of Parents and People in Recovery). In addition to working at Stillwater Academy, Rick is a licensed general contractor in the state of Utah and California. He likes working with his hands creating and building and is able to bring this passion and skill to Stillwater as he teaches the youth the value of hard work. His greatest passion is his family which includes his wife, children, and grandchildren. He enjoys traveling, weekend get-aways, and the Hallmark channel. "When I meet these kids where they are at and work with them as they work through their challenges, it is extremely rewarding and it never gets old to see the light shine in their eyes."
Job Titles:
- Support Staff / Student Mentor
Sadie was born and raised in Utah and has been around the treatment program industry her whole life. She developed a passion for psychology and working with teenagers when she was a teenager herself.
Sadie started as the receptionist for Stillwater Academy in 2008. Then worked through several departments in the company, including designing and teaching a fitness and self-esteem class for the girls in the program. She loves the supportive environment and family feel that Stillwater provides. "There is such a closeness and respect among colleagues and students alike."
She has a natural talent and insight for working with struggling teenagers. Later she worked as support staff and created training protocol for that department. She knew early on that this was her career path of choice, so she went to school to earn a degree in psychology. Transitioning into admissions in 2015, she discovered her love for talking to parents about the program. "Because I have seen the lasting change that long-term treatment can bring, I love answering the phone or responding to an email from a parent searching for help and hope and being able to tell them they've called the right place!"
Sadie would put her work near the top of the list of her favorite things to do, when she isn't working at Stillwater she enjoys baking fancy desserts, health, and fitness, and having fun with her husband, kids, and yellow labs.
Job Titles:
- Support Staff / Student Mentor - DBT Instructor
While Samira was born and raised in Utah, she made the short trek from Utah county to her current residence in Salt Lake City with her partner. Samira created a deep connection with Stillwater after a family member attended Stillwater and her mother was a Housing Staff. She began as a full-time Support Staff and part-time Spanish teacher in 2022 and has transitioned from Spanish to a DBT Instructor. She is currently pursuing her education at the University of Utah, studying psychology and Spanish with a vision of building a career in psychology and mental health. Her academic pursuits reflect a dedicated commitment to understanding the complexities of the human mind and a desire to positively contribute to the mental well-being of others. Beyond her academic endeavors, Samira is a person of diverse interests. She finds joy in reading, expressing her creativity through her ceramics, and cherishes the moments spent with her cats. Samira also appreciates the outdoors, further highlighting her well-rounded and holistic approach to life. Samira has a genuine love for the people and work she does with Stillwater. The connection she creates with the students is at the heart of her professional fulfillment. Samira takes pride in witnessing the growth and self-discovery of the students throughout the program, seeing them evolve into their best selves. Her commitment to the values and skills she teaches to the students solidifies her belief in the transformative power of education and personal development.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Office Administration Team
- Office Manager
Sheri was born and raised in Pocatello, Idaho, and moved to Utah just before 9th grade. The Utah culture was difficult for her when she first moved here, but grew to love the state. She enjoys the variety of landscapes, the geography, and the recreational activities here. She has always had a life-long love of arts and crafts and working with adolescents. As the oldest of all cousins, she was basically the sheep dog. As a youth she often would get together with family and teach all the cousins so the adults could go off and do their own thing.
Sheri started teaching at Stillwater in 1986 and stayed until a cancer diagnosis in 2012. During her previous time with Stillwater, she worked in a private school with students on the spectrum on weekdays, and came to Stillwater on the weekends. For a time, Sheri left the field completely due to the cancer treatments. When she came back to teaching, she jokes she came back as a pirate because of a leg amputation. Since 2018, she has volunteered at the Eccles Wildlife Education Center in the wetlands. There she helps kids learn about the beautiful plants and animals along the Great Salt Lake Trails. At the center she teaches arts and crafts with kids. She is also currently a Master Naturalist and Artist in Residence there. She has a passion for creating artistic kaleidoscope designs and submits these kaleidoscope designs to the CBS Sunday Morning Show. They've shown at least 70 of her designs on the news. Sheri is an artist in graphics, colored pencils, oils and acrylics, calligraphy, 2 and 3D art, origami and design.
In her free time, Sheri enjoys the outdoors and nature. She loves silent activities where she can focus on being present and being in nature. She likes to try new techniques in calligraphy and arts and crafts to build her repertoire. She also volunteers for the Navajo Elder Rug Makers.
Sheri passionately expresses her dedication to her work at Stillwater, often remarking that she feels so fortunate to be in a position where she would willingly pay to work with the students. Her affinity for visual thinkers, who share a unique understanding of the world, created a mutually enriching environment. Sheri takes pride in offering a safe space for students to explore their emotions and narratives through art. The intimate class sizes at Stillwater allow her to delve deeply into teaching arts and crafts, drawing on her own transformative experience with art that granted her a voice to express previously undiscovered emotions. Sheri cherishes the opportunity to provide an empowering voice to the students at Stillwater.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Director
- Clinical Director / Therapist
Tanya immigrated to the US from British Columbia and may be the most well-traveled of all our staff here at Stillwater. She has visited India, Germany, Austria, France, and Switzerland just to name a few. As well as many of the states here in the US. She was raised in southern California where she attended college and graduate school; earning a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of California Irvine, and a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Chapman University. We were thrilled to have her join our team when she moved to Utah in 1996.
Tanya loves to be near water and seeks it out wherever she goes. She loves exploring the Colorado river in southern Utah and raising her two handsome boys, along with many pets, they all share a love for animals.
As the Clinical Director Tanya is responsible for the overall clinical direction and program, and ongoing clinical trainings for employees. She ensures that all clients and families receive quality care, and Stillwater complies with federal, state, and local laws.
She has excellent communication skills and interpersonal abilities and is well versed, knowledgeable, and skilled at handling emotionally fragile clients. She also provides direct client care by facilitating specialty therapy groups with the students on a weekly basis. Tanya works in collaboration with the Executive director on ongoing program development and overall clinical supervision of employees. She brings Stillwater a depth of experience and an empathetic approach to each employee and client she interacts with.
Tanya loves learning about the families of our students and creating a safe non-judgmental space for them to come together, heal, and build healthy connections. There she develops a closeness with them, laughing and even crying with these families as they work through their painful circumstances. She has a passion for the family unit and helping each family learn what that might look like for them. She says "families come in so many combinations, there are no two alike. Every family has a story to tell, I love learning their history and family dynamics". Her goal is for every student and family to leave her office with a renewed hope and confidence.
Job Titles:
- Julie Mathewson LLC Member, MSW, LCSW, EMDR Trained, Grief & Loss Certified
- Therapist
Wendy has a passion for working with adolescence using evidence based therapies to help them maximize their talents and build positive coping skills. She provides individual and group therapy processing and psychoeducation to adolescents struggling with substance use disorders and mental health problems associated with depression, trauma, attachment, bi-polar and anxiety disorders, as well problems in family relationships with parenting, family balance, divorce, as well as grief and loss.
In addition to managing her full time position as an adolescent and family therapist, Wendy has volunteered time working as a Mentor and Intensive Outpatient group facilitator. She has been involved in conducting workshops to community and religious based groups on such topics as parenting and various aspects of teen and adult mental health.
Her greatest passion is her family which includes her husband, children, and grandchildren, traveling,reading, laughing, and creating memories.