Specialists

Coach Stew lives in beautiful Cache Valley with his wife, Diane—his “beautiful and musically talented” better half. They’re proud parents of one amazing daughter, Laura, a rockstar hair stylist, and grandparents to their superhero grandson, Keaton, who loves sports and the outdoors. Their family also includes two loyal Shih Tzu service dogs, Zeusy and Lily.

Coach Stew holds both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Utah State University and brings an incredible 31 years of teaching experience to Promontory School of Expeditionary Learning. This is his first year at Promontory, and he’s super excited to be part of the Falcon family!

He’s NASP certified and passionate about helping students build skills, confidence, and character through sports and adventure.

When he’s not teaching, you’ll likely find him fishing, golfing, playing tennis, skiing, gardening, bird watching, or reading when he finds a quiet moment.

Coach Stew has lived in Utah, Idaho, and Alaska, and his travels have taken him to Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Mexico, Canada, Tahiti, and across various U.S. states. Of all the places he’s been, his favorite place on Earth is the Tetons—a fitting choice for someone who finds joy in the beauty of nature and exploration.

Sandy Christensen (Ms. Sandy), a passionate and experienced dance educator, began dancing early in life with friends in her backyard. Sandy grew up studying ballet, tap, and jazz, and she broadened her dance vocabulary to include modern dance, also enjoying cultural dance.

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Sandy holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Modern Dance from the prestigious University of Utah. She has dedicated her career to the art of movement and education.

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One of Sandy's true passions is teaching creative dance. She firmly believes that children learn best through movement and encourages her students to explore the world through the lens of dance with enthusiasm and curiosity.

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As an advocate for inclusive dance education, Sandy is well-versed in teaching adaptive dance for children, ensuring that every child, regardless of their abilities, can experience the joy of dance. Her expertise lies in modern dance, a genre that fosters self-expression and creativity, and she believes that dance is a powerful tool for building confidence, discipline, and self-esteem.

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Outside of the dance studio, Sandy enjoys spending time with her family most of all. They love water and winter sports and traveling together, where the beauty of nature often provides a backdrop for creative ideas. Sandy loves children’s picture books and finds inspiration in the colorful images and words that ignite the imagination.

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Sandy is a firm believer in the power of the arts to open minds, build a sense of community, and bring joy to life. She aims to create an environment where students not only learn the art form but also develop the ability to observe, question, deconstruct, and create.

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A quote from Twyla Tharp, one of America’s most important contemporary choreographers, beautifully captures the ambitions and expansive nature of artistic vision:

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"I had always seen myself as a star. I wanted to be a galaxy." — Twyla Tharp

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Sandy has been inspired by countless others to reach for the stars and beyond in her artistic pursuits. This reflects her own desire to help others transcend limitations and reach for boundless creative possibilities.

With a heart full of love for dance and a dedication to sharing it with children, Sandy is the perfect dance educator to inspire and nurture the next generation of great thinkers and endless possibilities.

Makayla Griffin has been making art since she could hold a pencil. She loves being creative and trying new things. While she has always had a passion for drawing and painting, school provided her with the opportunity to branch out and try all sorts of mediums, such as printmaking, photography, ceramics, and even dress-making.

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Mrs. Griffin has loved teaching for as long as she has loved making art. As the oldest sibling and grandchild in her family, she grew up taking care of and teaching her peers. She has always been inspired to encourage others to be creative and to express themselves. In the beginning of high school, her career in teaching really took off. She volunteered at the Hogle Zoo, where she taught guests about the animals and the conservation efforts they could participate in. She also began taking an Introduction to Education course, where she learned the ins and outs of teaching and observed different classroom styles. She knew she wanted to be an art teacher and inspire others to use their imaginations and express themselves. She wanted to make a difference and be someone students could turn to if they needed help.

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After high school, Mrs. Griffin earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education at Utah State University. While there, she built her rapport as an artist by learning different techniques and studying art history. She also had many opportunities to teach in neighboring schools. Through student teaching and substituting, she was able to teach in a high school, middle school, and even a K-8 charter school. She loved teaching all grades but had a soft spot for elementary students. She has cherished every moment at Promontory and is excited to be a part of this crew and to teach such wonderful students.

Nathan West started playing the violin as a Suzuki student at age 6 and performed regularly in his community. After two years of church service, he attended Brigham Young University-Idaho, receiving a Bachelor of Music Arts degree with a String Emphasis, followed by a Master of Music degree in Violin Performance from the University of Utah. At both institutions, he was part of the regular rotation of top players in orchestras and small ensembles. Nathan supplemented his education with pursuits in Baroque performance practice and orchestral conducting.

Nathan has always enjoyed entertaining people of all ages and cultures with music and showmanship. He has performed solo recitals and in ensembles around the Midwest and several times in Europe. He has found great joy, strength, and assurance in classical music throughout his life, and he now enjoys teaching the history, skills, musicianship, and performance practice to a new generation of musicians.

Biography

Maele Shakespear is an art educator with over 20 years of teaching experience at the elementary, secondary, and university level.  Her teaching experience includes teaching art in both Alpine and Box Elder School Districts as well as at Edith Bowen Laboratory School along with adjunct positions at Utah State University in both the Caine College of the Arts and the College of Education and Human Services.  In 2023 she was selected as the Utah Art Education Association Higher Education Art Educator of the Year. Maele believes that every child is an artist and she works to cultivate the joy that comes from innovative thinking and the creative process. Outside of teaching, Maele spends her time with her husband and four children in the garden, on a kayak, or making art in what she calls her “mom cave.”

Biography

Heather Williams is a lifelong singer and lover of music. She began singing with her grandfather as soon as she could stand next to him on stage. Her experience and love grew while participating in “Music Company” (a children’s choir in Brigham City) and singing her way through junior high and high school. She went on to study vocal performance and pedagogy at both BYU and Utah State University, graduating in 1995 with a bachelor's degree in Family and Human Development.

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Heather has taught private vocal instruction for 30 years. She has directed and taught a successful children’s performing choir for 12 years in both Orem and Brigham City. She has taught children from ages 3 to 53 and loves teaching all ages! She has been a preschool teacher specializing in music, a music consultant for elementary schools, a co-director of TaVaci Trios and Teens groups, a middle school choir director, and a substitute Women’s Choir director at USU. She loves sharing her passion for singing with her four musical children and her music-loving (and very supportive) husband.

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One of her favorite aspects of teaching music at Promontory School is that she gets to share her love of music with all ages of students, from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Music is the ultimate expedition. Through the study of music, we learn about ourselves, other people, beauty, science, math, language, movement, and more!

“Music can change the world because it can change people.” — Bono