Teachers

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Dr. Roy Hoyt, Academic Director

Dr. Hoyt’s educational experience spans 38 years as teacher and administrator. He started his teaching career in Burley, Idaho as an American Government teacher and coach. He moved to Hurricane, Utah to be a high school assistant principal at Hurricane High School in the Washington School District. During his 25 years in the Washington School District, he was a high school assistant principal, middle school principal, and high school principal. He was also the Superintendent of Big Horn County School District #4 in Wyoming from 2014 to 2016. Roy was an Adjunct Professor for Dixie State University in St. George, Utah, where he taught Educational Psychology and Human Exceptionalities. Roy completed his Bachelor of Science at the University of Utah, Master’s Degree at the College of Idaho, and Educational Doctorate at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. He has been a Lead Evaluator for school accreditation visits for many years to public, charter, digital, and residential treatment schools. He recently worked as field consultant for AdvancED. Dr. Hoyt enjoys spending his extra time in Central American, rafting rivers in the west, and riding his bicycles on local roads and trails. He sees working at Liahona Academy as a wonderful opportunity to contribute his skills as an educator and work with great many people.

Marsha Postert, Asst Academic Director

Marsha grew up in Hurricane. She comes from a large family. She is the 7th child of 12 siblings. She graduated from Hurricane High School in 1986. She worked for 2 ½ years at a youth treatment facility for girls. She moved away for a time and missed the small town and all it offers, so she moved back. She attended Dixie College, then decided on a career in finance. She was a Construction Loan Specialist for 12 years. After leaving the finance industry, she chose to do foster care for 7 years. She also worked for Washington County School District as a paraprofessional in the Special Education department. She came to work at Liahona in 2014 as a teacher before taking the position of Assist Academic Director. She is married with 3 boys. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, baking, and reading. She feels that by working at Liahona she is contributing to a larger purpose. She is proud to be part of the personal development and growth of the young men who attend Liahona. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.

Tracy Davis, Special Education

Tracy Davis was born in Cedar City, Utah. She attended grade school in Las Vegas, Nevada, then her family moved to Beaver, Utah, where she completed high school. She attended Southern Utah University, graduating with a Bachelor's in Science and a teaching certificate. Later, she went back to SUU and graduated with a Master's in Education Leadership and Special Education. Tracy has been working in treatment facilities and teaching troubled teens for over 20 years. Her progressive teaching ideas have increased her students’ performance so they have been able to complete their high school education. She believes every student is unique in their learning styles. Tracy has the knowledge and energy to assist her students in the mode they learn best. As an educational leader, Tracy has helped develop a curriculum and policy that complies with state and local policies. Among her responsibilities in this regard has been for licensing treatment centers, in accordance with state bylaws and school accreditation. Most recently, she is studying the epigenetics of trauma and genetic traits that affect the unborn child to adulthood and how it affects their academic performance. She came to work at Liahona as the Special Education teacher in 2023. In her spare time, she loves to read all kinds of books, crochet, sew quilts and Barbie clothes, gardening, camping, and most of all, hanging out with the grandkids.

Phillip Moore, Science Teacher

Phil Moore has been a licenced educator for over 35 years. He taught locally in the Washington County School District for 25 years. Some of the subjects he has taught were Earth Science, Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy, Geology, and Algebra. After retiring from teaching he came to work at Liahona in 2020. In addition to his current teaching position at Liahona, he is a instructor for Utah Tech University. One of his passions is music; he has been playing in a variety of bands for more than 50 years. It’s not unusual to see him making music across the intermountain west at various events.

Maria Henry, Spanish Teacher

Maria Henry received an Elementary Teaching License in her home country of El Salvador before moving to the United States of America. Her passion for education is very strong. She decided to become a Secondary school teacher and pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish at Dixie State University in 2014. She also attended Southern Utah University to earn a professional Educator License for Secondary Education in Spanish in 2016. She began working as a substitute teacher at Kelly Services immediately after she graduated. In 2017, she joined Liahona as a Spanish teacher. Her goal is to encourage students to attain a high level of second language proficiency. She also expects the students to learn, be more aware of and show more positive attitudes toward other cultures, and appreciation of other people. She is happily married and has three sons. In her free time, she does aerobics and enjoys cooking for her family.

Erin Shupe, Math Teacher

Erin Shupe is originally from Southern California. She attended University of California Davis, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Genetics, with a minor in Art History. She began substitute teaching and found her love for education. Erin went back to school to earn her Master’s in Secondary Education from the University of Phoenix. She was a high school math teacher for 8 years before stepping away to focus on her family and 3 children. After 9 years, Erin is excited to enter back into the education world and joined Liahona in 2023.

Joe Gubler, Math Teacher

Joe Gubler graduated from Southern Utah University with a B.A. in Math Education, “Level 4 Math” and a teaching certificate, and a Minor in Chemistry. He recently retired from teaching for Washington County School District located in Southern Utah where he taught at Snow Canyon High School for 21 years. Joe has been teaching math to teenagers at the high school level for over 25 years. He began teaching at Liahona in 2019, after he retired from teaching at the School District. Joe is excited about teaching the young men at Liahona. In his spare time, Joe enjoys fishing, watching sports on television, and most importantly, gardening.

Kathy Tanner, Math Teacher

Kathy Tanner received a B.A. degree in Accounting from California State University at Fullerton, but always wondered how far she could go if she attempted a Math degree. After raising four children she decided to attempt that math challenge. Four years later she received a B.S. degree in Math Education from the University of Utah. She has taught math to troubled teens for many years, and is happy she can continue to do so at Liahona. She has worked at Liahona since 2020. Kathy hopes to help her students see their potential and gain confidence in their ability to do math and understand how skills learned in math will help in all aspects of their lives.

Christy McAffee, History Teacher

Christy McAffee, Ed.D. began her professional career as an English teacher working in Inchon, South Korea. When she returned to the U.S. she took a position working at an International school located at the California State University, Northridge campus where she remained for the next five years teaching history, English and American Culture while also becoming its Academic Director. She has taught academic writing at Argosy University California campuses as an adjunct faculty member for over 13 years. After obtaining a B.A. in History, at California State University, Fullerton, she received her Master’s and Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Argosy University, Orange County. She has taught history, English, academic writing, and related subjects since 1995. She relocated to St. George. She began teaching at Liahona in 2018.

Emily Mildenhall, English Tutor

Emily Mildenhall received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Professional and Technical Writing from Dixie State University in 2021, and she is currently working on her Master’s degree in Technical Writing and Digital Rhetoric through Utah Tech University. Emily has worked as a writer and editor for various academic publications such as Dixie Sun News, DSU Academic Reports, The Southern Quill, and The Observer. She also has experience as a Writing Center tutor and currently teaches English 1010 and 2010 to Utah Tech students. She started teaching at Liahona in 2022. Emily believes a quality education should be accessible to everyone regardless of background, ability level, or socioeconomic status, and she appreciates the diversity of students she has the privilege of teaching at Liahona Academy. In her free time, she enjoys attending concerts, listening to podcasts, and learning new things.

Linda Crosby, English Tutor

Linda Crosby graduated in 1984 from Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID with a Bachelor's of Arts in Early Education. She later took Post Graduate courses from Morehead State University KY, College of Southern ID, Boise State University, and Northwest Nazarene College from 1985-1992. She began teaching at Liahona in 2007.

Thearon Crosby, Social Studies Tutor

Thearon Crosby received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Utah University in Political Science, with minors in Military Science and Business Administration. He served 29 years in the military, returning to Southern Utah to teach military leadership and physical fitness at the Southern Utah University Army ROTC program. He joined Liahona in 2017, after retiring from the military.

Andrew Garcia, Science Tutor

Andrew Garcia was born in California, but has lived most of his life in St. George, Utah. He graduated from Hurricane High School and then attended Dixie State University. Where he received a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology with an emphasis in Natural Sciences. He has been employed at Liahona since 2021. Andrew enjoys hiking, climbing, photography, and anything else outside.

McKay Starr, History Tutor

McKay Starr is from Salt Lake City. He graduated from Utah Tech University with his Bachelor’s in History in 2023. He became a teacher at Liahona in 2023. He is the oldest of 10 children, including four adopted siblings and enjoys spending time with his family, exercising, playing basketball, reading, hiking, eating, sleeping, and watching sports.

Seun Onileowo, Math & Science Tutor

Seun Onileowo was born and raised in Nigeria where he completed his high school education before moving to the United States in 2018. He graduated from Utah Tech University in 2023 with a Bachelor's of Science in Bioinformatics, and minors in math, and computer science. He has been employed at Liahona since 2023. Seun enjoys music, and watching soccer in his free time.

Claine Tanner, Social Studies Tutor

Claine Tanner received an Associate of Arts Degree from Weber State in 1973. Throughout college Claine was a teacher and director of Ebronix Learning Systems where he worked for around 3-4 years. He then decided to switch careers into the finance business in which he stayed for over 35 years. He ended up retiring from Cache Valley Bank as a Senior Credit Officer in 2010, and has established his own Horse Training business on the side. He came to work at Liahona in 2015.

Emily Libertor, Math & English Tutor

Emily Libertor was born and raised in Hurricane UT. She graduated from Hurricane High School in 2020. She received her Associates degree in the Arts from Utah Tech University in 2024, and is currently working to earn her Bachelor's degree in English. Emily came to work at Liahona in 2023. She enjoys baking, traveling, learning Japanese, and hanging out with her cat.

Saige Anderson, Math Tutor

Saige Anderson was born and raised in Hurricane UT. She graduated from Hurricane High School with high honors in 2020. She is currently attending Utah Tech University and received her Associates degree in general studies in 2024, and is currently working to earn her Bachelor's degree. Saige started at Liahona at the end of 2023. She enjoys singing, volleyball, swimming, learning ASL, and hanging out with her friends.

Rebecca McNeil, English Tutor

Becky McNeil was born in New Hampshire and raised in Vermont and Ohio. She met her husband Chris in California where they lived and raised their family for 32 years, until her husband’s retirement. Then she moved her family to Utah. She is the mother of 3 and Nana to 6 grandchildren. Family is Rebecca’s first love, followed by English and Art. She began working at Liahona in 2017. A favorite quote from John F. Kennedy, which encapsulates the definition of a good education is: “The goal of education is the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of truth.” Rebecca believes students at Liahona have a thirst for knowledge, and she is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Liahona team, and quench that thirst.