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.

Craig Rodabough
CERTS Executive Director
Craig has been serving as the Director at Tavasi, a transitional program for Logan River Academy. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has 17 years of experience working with youth in various mental health settings. Prior to opening Tavasi, he was the Clinical Services Director at Logan River Academy. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs and previously served on the Board for the Utah Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Jon Larsen, M.S. LMFT
Mountain Springs Prep Academy
Head of Schools
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.

Ariel Wolter
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.

Stan Stewart
Mountain Springs Prep Academy
Academic Dean/Math Instructor
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.

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

Jody Wittwer
History and Social Studies Instructor
Jody is from Fresno, California and received a BS from Southern Utah University in Social Studies with a Teaching Composite. She has been with Mountain Springs for over three years. She enjoys many outdoor activities including camping, hiking, and fishing all of which Southern Utah has to offer. As a high school student Jody had the opportunity to participate in many amazing experiences that have made lasting impressions on her life. She hopes to be able to give her students the same special experiences and instill in them her love for the history of our country and of the world.

Heather Babb, M.Ed.
English and Spanish Instructor
Heather received her Bachelor's degree in English Teaching with a minor in Psychology from Utah State University in 2005. She has been working with at-risk high school students ever since as a full-time English and Spanish Teacher. Prior to coming to Mountain Springs, Heather designed the honors English curriculum at a large treatment center in Utah. Heather has been with Mountain Springs for nearly two years now. She recently earned her Master's degree in Education from Southern Utah University. Heather hopes that the students at Mountain Springs will learn to become master readers, writers, and critical thinkers. She is interested in connecting her students' learning to other subject areas as well as to the larger community in order to give her students rich, meaningful, authentic experiences. Heather lives in the Cedar City area and enjoys hiking, camping, and exploring the world outside the school with her husband, dog, and the students during the weekends.



Jan Davis
Science Instructor
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.