Staff

Mission & Philosophy

Testimonials

Administrative Staff

Kent Tasso
Owner
Kent received his B.A. from Brigham Young University in 1991. Kent began his career teaching high school students in northern Utah. In 1999, Kent left teaching to serve as the Development Director for the private schools of A Gifted Education in San Jose, California. Here he more fully was exposed to the concept of treating every child as a “gifted child” and offering a broadly diversified enrichment program. He moved back to Utah in 2001 and co-founded CERTS while launching Kolob Canyon Residential Treatment Center initially, and then later Moonridge Academy , La Europa Academy, and Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy. Kent has a deep love for people and for foreign languages (fluent in Japanese and French) and has lived in various parts of the world.

Jon Larsen, M.S. LMFT
Mountain Springs Prep Academy
Head of School
Jon received his Master of Science Degree from Auburn University in Marriage and Family Therapy. Prior to coming to Mountain Springs Academy, he worked as a therapist and clinical director at two different residential treatment centers (one large coed facility and one smaller girls-only facility). Jon has worked for a number of years in residential treatment as a therapist with more than two of those years acting as a clinical director. In these capacities, Jon has had experience training and supervising therapists, interfacing with parents and other treatment professionals, and developing programs for adolescents. Jon is a an AAMFT approved supervisor and a systemic therapist operating largely from a psychodynamic approach.

Stan Stewart
Mountain Springs Prep Academy
Academic Dean
Stan graduated from Brigham Young University and was a teacher and administrator in Utah public schools from 1978 through May of 2006. He received statewide acclaim as a mathematics educator and served on many state curriculum development and assessment writing committees. Among his many honors was the Teacher of the Year Award from one of Utah’s largest school districts. Stan loves to teach and loves to associate with youth. He and his wife, Kathryn, are the parents of 14 children. His life has been filled with service to his family, church, and community. He is delighted to have a hand in providing a quality education for the students at Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy.

Ariel Rhoades
Mountain Springs Prep Academy
Dean of Student Life
Ariel is dedicated to helping youth transform their lives through meaningful relationships and experiences. She has always worked—and plans to always work—with youth in both recreational and educational settings; she has spent years teaching rock climbing summer camps, private music lessons, and tutoring both college and high-school math, languages, and writing. Mountain Springs has provided her the opportunity to hone her ability to intuitively mentor students. She is dedicated to not only helping these students learn the skills to succeed, but also to creating more dynamic leaders for the world. Ariel grew up in Berkeley, California but now calls Southern Utah home. She graduated from Grinnell College, in Iowa, with a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy. While in college, she also studied Japanese, Latin, Education, and Music (Flute Performance). Her love of the outdoors has shaped her life, bringing her here to Southern Utah in order to rockclimb, raft, canyonneer, and backpack in this beautiful desert.

Greg Allred
Dean of Student Life
Greg was born in New Zealand and raised in Utah. He graduated from Southern Utah University with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and is currently working on a Master's Degree in Professional Counseling. Greg has worked for many years with adolescents in both wilderness and outpatient programs. During Greg's 3 years at Mountain Springs, he has worked in several different capacities at the school: as a mentor, weekend team leader, Staff Director and now Dean of Students. Since August 2003, Greg has also been working as an adjunct professor in the Physical Education Department at Southern Utah University as a Scuba Instructor.

Desiree Fryer
Mountain Springs Prep Academy
Director of Operations
Desiree graduated in May 2006 from Southern Utah University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Born and raised in Arizona, she moved here six years ago and has been working with youth ever since. She worked for four years at a 5th & 6th grade school, helping severe special needs students achieve academic, personal and social goals. She has also worked in the juvenile justice system, worked as a nanny and spent a summer as a camp counselor. She has been with CERTS for the last 4 years, working at Moonridge Academy as a mentor and shift leader and at Kolob Canyon RTC. She has been working at Mountain Springs for the past 2 years, a large portion of that time as the Staff Director. She enjoys the outdoors, especially camping and hiking. She also loves to read and play volleyball.  

Keri Cosslett, RN
Mountain Springs Prep Academy
Registered Nurse
Keri received her Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing from Southern Utah University in 2006. She has worked both as a Registered Nurse and a Licensed Practical Nurse at Valley View Medical Center here in Cedar City. Her personal philosophy of nursing is based first and foremost on the needs of the patient. She is also dedicated to staying up-to-date in her own education in the field. Here at MSPA, she hopes to serve our student body with care and compassion, as well as modeling the successful application of initiative and leadership.
 

OUR TEACHERS

Sami Hunt
English Teacher
Sami received two Bachelor degrees in Athletic Training and Physical Education, a minor in English, and a teaching license from Southern Utah University during her education there from 2003-2008. She has been working with high school students for the past four years as she has coached high school basketball and softball. Sami is in her first year at Mountain Springs and is so excited to share her passion for life and learning with her students. Sami was born and raised here in Cedar City where she spent her time riding horses, competing in rodeo, and playing basketball and softball. Sami loves to read and write and believes that all students can be interested in English and is determined to show them the way!



Jan Davis
Science Teacher
Jan graduated from Southern Utah University (SUU) in 2006 with a B.S. in chemistry and a minor in biology. While at SUU, she was employed at the SUU Water Laboratory, where she tested water for bacteria, metals, and other inorganic compounds. She has taught at Mountain Springs for the last year while working on obtaining her teaching certificate and a math endorsement. Jan has a great love for learning, the outdoors, reading, volleyball, and her family.
 

Amilyn Williams
Math Teacher
Amilyn is originally from Oak City, Utah. She received her bachelor's in Math Education from Brigham Young University in 2006 and moved to Cedar City for her first teaching job here at Mountain Springs. After her first year of teaching she left to give public education a try. She taught at the local Canyon View High School for 3 years and recently decided to rejoin us at Mountain Springs. Amilyn loves teaching math, especially when she sees the light go on with her students! She also enjoys many outdoor activities, such as hiking, canyoneering, camping, and wake-boarding. Amilyn is very excited to be back at Mountain Springs and can't wait to see the "math light" turn on with all of her students here at MSPA!
 

Jody Wittwer
History and Social Studies Teacher
Jody Wittwer graduated from Southern Utah University in 2005 with a degree in Social Studies Education. She lives in Cedar City with her husband and two children. Jody has worked at Mountain Springs since its inception. She loves four wheeling, camping and boating with her family. Jody has an enthusiasm for learning that she enjoys passing on to her students.

Marsha Garber
Substance Abuse Specialist
Marsha has been involved in the substance abuse field for over twenty years. Her experience spans 28-day inpatient programs for chemical dependency as well as outpatient treatment, employee assistance programs, shelters for battered women, multiple offender drunk driving groups, drug court clients, homeless shelters, and residential programs for women with children. For the last ten years she has worked almost exclusively with university students. Marsha teaches health related material in the community and at the high school, undergraduate and graduate level. She often presents at professional conferences and provides continuing education for municipal judges statewide. Past appointments include Head Unit Counselor at Santa Barbara Cottage Care Center, Director of Women’s Services for the Santa Barbara Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Clinical Coordinator of the Alcohol and Other Drug, Stress Management and Tobacco Cessation programs for the University of California at Santa Barbara. Presently, Marsha coordinates the Alcohol and Other Drug program at Southern Utah University, where she is also full-time faculty in the psychology department.