Meet the White River Academy Staff
Justin Nielson: School Administrator
Justin Nielson joins our team of professionals with 12 years experience in working with troubled teens and their families.
Justin was born in Ogden, Utah. When he was 13 years old, his family moved to Hurricane, Utah. He graduated from Hurricane High School and then served a two year mission for his church in Oporto, Portugal and then attended Dixie State College.
Justin began working with at risk youth in 1995 at an adolescent hospital for troubled youth in St. George, Utah. He served as a Psychiatric Technician and an Assistant Recreational Therapist. Duties were mainly direct care of students as they progressed through psychological testing, counseling, and academics.
In November of 1996 Justin started working for the SunHawk Academy, a school for troubled teens in St. George Utah. Justin and his wife Jennifer signed on as Proctor Parents for the school and had up to four youth living at their home during non-school hours learning positive work habits and structured living.
In 1997 Justin was asked by OFFA, a state contracted private organization for adjudicated youth, to take on a case load of troubled youth. Justin began in coordinating home life and educational opportunities between Foster Parents, the State of Utah and OFFA. Within six months Justin and Jennifer began foster parenting for OFFA. Justin and Jennifer had several struggling teens in their home between 1997 and 1998.
While working with the State of Utah Justin became certified in Targeted Case Management through a series of courses required by the state. In 1998 Justin was a key player in the establishment of an admissions agency for programs all over the world. His services were in the area of Office Manager in establishing a reputable service for assisting families to find boarding schools for their troubled teens.
Justin was asked to direct the Red Rock Academy in Southern Utah in early February 1999. His responsibilities included all facets of establishing and running the day to day requirements of a Residential Treatment Center mainly Academic, Therapeutic, and Group Living. Red Rock Academy was purchased by Cross Creek Programs in late 1999 and Justin returned to working in admissions. Justin continued serving families in finding placement for their youth until July 2002.
In July 2002 Justin and his family moved from Hurricane, Utah to Puerto Rico where in conjunction with others, he founded White River Academy. White River Academy operated in Puerto Rico from July 2002 until November 2006 when White River Academy relocated from Puerto Rico to Delta, Utah.
Justin continues as the administrator of White River Academy and serves on their board of directors. Justin also speaks proficient Portuguese and Spanish as a second and third language. Justin and his wife Jennifer love and enjoy their family three sons Noah, Griffin and Cooper. Justin and his boys enjoy just about anything outdoors including camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, football, and baseball.
Kris Cary: Academic Director
Kris has been involved with at-risk youth for over 13 years.
He began his teaching career at a group home for adjudicated males in Mona, Utah. He then moved to Spanish Fork Junior High School where he worked with all male students in a self-contained classroom. Following his five years at the junior high level he moved to Landmark High School located in Spanish Fork.
He has recently started an additional all-male self contained junior high unit for Nebo School District. He also runs the district’s 9th grade credit recovery program in the evenings.
Upon completion of his thesis he will earn his master’s degree in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Alternative Education. In his spare time he enjoys spending quality time with his family and serving the youth of his community as an Assistant Scout Master. Kris is a 1989 NCAA All-American in the Steeple Chase. He loves sports of any kind, camping, and working with youth.
Cydney Cary: Academic Registrar
Cydney graduated from Provo High School and attended Utah Valley Technical College prior to starting her family.
She has supported her husband while he has pursued his teaching career.
She has worked as a foster parent through the State of Utah for 3+ years. She has taught and operated a preschool out of her home for 4 years.
Cydney has served in her community in various capacities such as: an assistant leader of 12 & 13 year old girls, designed and published church bulletin & monthly newsletters, and currently serves her church working with eight and nine year old girls.
Cydney enjoys reading, collecting lighthouses, & music of all kinds. Kristopher & Cydney Cary have been married 23 years and are proud parents of three beautiful children and one son in law.
Gary Andersen: Therapist & Parent Liaison
Although not born in Delta, Gary has essentially lived in Delta most of his life. Both parents and grandparents have always lived here and Delta is home.
Gary is a 1987 graduate of Delta High School. Gary attended one year of college at Snow College before serving a two year LDS Mission. Following his missionary service Gary attended Weber State University earning his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. One year after earning his BS, he pursued a Masters Degree in Psychology from Utah State University and later completed his clinical training through the University of Phoenix.
For the past 15 years, Gary’s employment, education, and internships have focused on his long-term goal of providing clinical family counseling services in rural Utah. In January 2006, Gary opened a private counseling practice in Delta, Utah. In October of 2006 Gary began contracting with White River Academy to provide clinical services.
Gary has over 13 years of counseling and social work experience. Previous experience includes working with employment and guidance counseling and assisting clients living in long term poverty. Gary has worked specifically with youth treatment programs as well as providing Employee Assistance Program services to individuals and families.
Gary lives in Delta with his wife Stacy. Stacy has 15 years of experience as an employment counselor for the Utah Department of Workforce service. She has supported Gary through his graduate education and work experiences, and is now attending graduate school. They have three children. Gary loves the lifestyle of living in Delta. He enjoys camping and “jeeping” in the surrounding areas.
Laurel Jones: Teacher
Laurel grew up in Delta and has enjoyed its small town life. She went to a private college, Northland Baptist Bible College, in the beautiful north woods of Wisconsin. Her degree is Secondary Mathematics with a minor in music. She taught two years in a private Christian school from which she graduated high school: she has tutored many people, ranging all ages.
Laurel has worked with youth ever since she was a teen herself. She has volunteered at youth camps, counseled youth, and lead youth activities.
She enjoys reading, singing, playing the piano, and playing games with her family. She loves learning and sharing random facts with her students. A favorite thing of hers is solving puzzles and riddles alone or with her students. Math is her passion. She enjoys the logic of math and likes to find inventive ways to solve math problems.
Aubrie Jones: Teacher/Tutor
Aubrie has lived here in Delta, Utah for over 21 years. She is the oldest of four siblings. She has two sisters and one brother. Aubrie graduated from high school in 1998. She enrolled at Northland Baptist Bible College in the fall of 1998, and graduated with he Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education in 2005.
In the fall of 2005 She taught third through sixth grade at the Grace Baptist School in Delta and then moved to West Valley City and taught at Grace Baptist School for two years. During those two years She taught fourth through sixth grade, ninth and tenth grade Biology, fourth through twelfth grade P.E., and fourth through twelfth grade music.
In June of 2008 Aubrie moved back to Delta and began working here at White River Academy. In the summer of 2008 Aubrie began taking EMT courses at Snow College in Ephraim, UT. She is currently running with the Delta Ambulance and is one test away from receiving her certification as an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic.
Kevin Black: Facilities Manager
Kevin was born in Texas, while his father was in the Army, and then moved to Utah after living on the west coast for a short time.
He met his wife, Sandy, at school and has been married to her for 31 years, raising 2 children in that time. After 2 years in college at UTC in Slat Lake City, he and Sandy moved to California. There Kevin attended JATC: a four year electrical apprenticeship, graduating in 1984.
Since then Kevin both worked for and ran large scale construction projects on the West coast until finally moving back to Utah in 1996. He currently manages all the facilities for White River Academy.
Ike Blount: Support Staff
Ike was raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where he graduated high school and then attended Bob Jones University for 2 years after which he transferred to Northland Baptist Bible College.
Ike is currently working on finishing his degree in Missions and Bible and served a one month mission to Africa in the Summer of 2006, to build a school house for a missionary there.
Ike enjoys a good sense of humor and has been known to be a bit of a practical joker. He also likes to spend time in the outdoors fishing and hunting.
Natalie Stefanoff: Admissions Director
Natalie grew up in Holden, Utah and learned early about the value of hard work as she worked on her family’s farm changing sprinklers, servicing equipment, and harvesting alfalfa hay.
Natalie attended school in Fillmore, Utah, and graduated with honors from Millard High School where she was involved in women’s athletics and student government.
Natalie was also the Central Utah Sterling Scholar winner in Family and Consumer Sciences and post high school attended Southern Utah University, where she completed two years and obtained a Medical Transcription Certificate.
She is the mother of 4 boys… the oldest of which is her husband, Jason.
Her family loves the outdoors and spending time on their farm here in Delta. She also loves blogging, playing softball and the occasional craft or two.
Lillis Gentry: Support Staff
Lillis has been working with WRA for over a year, and has loved every minute of it. She loves working with the boys, and she feels the WRA Personnel are great. She feels WRA is a great place to work!
Lillis was born in Richfield, Utah. She graduated from Cedar Ridge High School, and then attended Snow College South where she graduated with a degree in Computer Operations.
Lillis has five children, and twenty two grandchildren.
She moved to Delta to be closer to her Children and Grandchildren. Three of her Children live in Delta, or close by.
Kauna Manhard: Shift Manager
Kauna grew up in Richfield Utah where she attended South Sevier High School and graduated in 1993.
Following high school Kauna attended Mountainlands Technology Center where she obtained a Certificate in Speedbuilding.
Kauna currently is in the process of creating and recording her first music album, and is very excited to finish it!
Kauna is the mother of five beautiful children and her hobbies include singing entertaining, dancing, and anything to do with music.
She moved to Delta in August 2008 and has really enjoyed living here! She feels that everyone has been very welcoming and helpful to her. Kauna has been working at White River Academy since September and says she loves it!!!
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