Valley Academy Board of Directors
Miranda Kloos - Chair
Michael Palfreyman - Vice Chair
Michael Palfreyman - Vice Chair
Miranda has worked for Wells Fargo Bank since 2003 and has held many positions including teller, banker, service manager, and branch manager. She is currently the Regional Services Senior Consultant for the St. George area and assists the local branches with operations, policies, loss prevention and customer service. She has her Bachelor's Degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Human Resources. Miranda is originally from North Dakota, but has called Utah her home since 2003. She and her husband have one daughter that has attended Valley Academy when it opened in 2012 until 2018. They chose Valley Academy because of the emphasis on the arts and the alternative choices that it offered. During her free time she enjoys spending time with her family outdoors enjoying the wonderful Southern Utah weather and scenery.
miranda@valleyacademycharter.com
2nd term ends May 2021
Michael Palfreyman - Vice Chair
Michael Palfreyman - Vice Chair
Michael Palfreyman - Vice Chair
Michael is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, but has lived in Southern Utah for several years. He is married to his wife of 23 years, Liberty, and they are the parents of 4 children. Michael has an appreciation for both music and art. His two oldest children are music majors in college and his wife is an artist. He appreciates the emphasis that Valley Academy places on music, dance and art. This was one of the factors that led to his interest in becoming a board member. Michael received his Bachelors of Science Degree in Health Promotion from Brigham Young University, in Provo, Utah. He has experience working in several different industries both in Northern California and Utah. When he isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with his family as well as playing a variety of sports, including basketball and golf. Michael works as a licensed Real Estate Agent here in Southern Utah.
palfreyman.m@valleyacademycharter.com
First term ends May 2020
Bronwyn Gooch - Secretary
Elaina Westegaard - Treasurer
Elaina Westegaard - Treasurer
Bronwyn is an educator, counselor, and former eighth grade teacher at Valley Academy Charter School. A graduate of Antioch University in Clinical Psychology, she began her graduate studies in the Masters of Clinical Psychology Program at Antioch University - Santa Barbara, and is currently pursuing licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of Utah. Additionally, her education includes Secondary Education at WSU, Addictive Disorders Counseling at SBCC , two years of American Sign Language, and various studies/ performances in Musical Theatre. Bronwyn has been a classroom teacher in both Utah and Hawaii elementary schools, has worked in high school and university libraries, and is an experienced public speaker. Her professional life has also included working as a stage vocalist, singer/songwriter, and co-ownership of a small production and recording company. Over the past 20 years, she has spent many hours volunteering as a coach, tutor, educator, and group facilitator for various youth and community organizations. Bronwyn loves music of all kinds, art, theatre, dance, soccer, sunsets, teenagers, being on stage, 1970’s Volkswagen “Super-Beetle” convertibles, and the ocean. She also loves the mission of Valley Academy and all of its wonderful students.
Bronwyn@valleyacademycharter.com
1st term ends May 2020
Elaina Westegaard - Treasurer
Elaina Westegaard - Treasurer
Elaina Westegaard - Treasurer
Elaina Westegaard is an educator and published writer living in southwest Utah with her husband, three sons, and various pets. As a first-generation college graduate, Elaina values education. She holds a Bachelor of Science in English from Dixie State University and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Chatham University. However, her charter school roots began in high school. As an alumna of the second graduating class of Utah’s first charter school, Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts, she has a long history of charter school involvement. Additionally, Elaina has been a teacher in some capacity for about sixteen years. She has taught preschool, ballet, and, for the last decade, English composition and creative writing for two universities. To her, education is just as much about becoming a more aware person as it is earning a degree. The more knowledge and understanding students gain about the people and the world around them the more effective they will be in society, in academia, and in their future careers. She has taught face-to-face, hybrid, and online courses. Elaina has served on several academic boards and is excited to support Valley Academy Charter by serving as Board Treasurer and PTO President. Elaina’s passion for the arts started as a child and has continued throughout her life. For over two decades, she’s busied herself with community arts, teaching and performing with local dance studios and participating in productions with St. George Musical Theater and Kayenta Center for the Arts. She also served as the line producer for the documentary Return to Little Hollywood. She’s published in The Southern Quill, The Hawk and Handsaw: Journal of Creative Sustainability, and The Spectrum. One of her published essays, The Great TP Debate is available to read on the Unity College website, which begins on digital page 17. Aside from education and arts, Elaina loves second-hand stores, nature, and food—especially pie.
elaina@valleyacademycharter.com
First term ends May 2021
Brian Brough - Board Member
Brian Brough - Board Member
Brian Brough - Board Member
Brian is originally from Davis County Utah, Centerville to be exact, but has lived in Southern Utah for 18 years. He is married to Kimberlee and together they are the proud parents of 4 children, and now 2 daughters-in-law. Brian was drawn to Valley Academy because of the 4 pillars on which the school was founded, especially the Social and Emotional learning process. Brian has worked for Wells Fargo Bank for 25 years and during that time has seen the
importance of building and maintaining positive relationships. Social and emotional learning provides the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in building those relationships. Brian received his Bachelors of Science Degree in Business Administration from University of Phoenix in Ogden, Utah. Brian also graduated from the Pacific Coast Banking School at the
University of Washington with a certificate
in a 3 year, masters-level extension program for senior officers in the banking industry. When he isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with his family playing games:
golf, pickle ball, and a variety of lawn games, as well as enjoying all the adventures and beautiful scenery Southern Utah has to offer.
brianbrough@valleyacademycharter.com
2nd term ends May 2022
Weston White - Board Member
Brian Brough - Board Member
Brian Brough - Board Member
Weston graduated from BYU as a civil engineer and later from the U of U as an attorney. He has practiced in both fields, in the construction industry and then at BYU-Hawaii for ten years directing their physical facilities and their physical growth. During this time they constructed their library, administration building, basketball arena and many other academic and housing buildings. He practiced law in St. George for 20 years in local and Federal Courts.
He comes from a line of educators. His grandfather was on the faculty at Brigham Young Academy in the 1890’; his mother was an elementary school teacher. His wife taught in California schools as well as at Hurricane High and Dixie State. While at BYU-Hawaii Wes taught Business Law and religion classes. He recently spent 3 years in China teaching American Law in the Law School at Nanjing University. With his wife he served 4 years teaching English to foreigners in Washington County. He has 8 children, 2 of which are also in the teaching profession. Five of them were in college at the same time! Wes is looking forward to some new challenges as Valley Academy seeks to grow educationally and physically.
With his varied abilities and experiences he hopes to be a vital contributor to this growth.
Weston@valleyacademycharter.com
First term ends May 2021
Board Member
Brian Brough - Board Member
Board Member
Open position
First term ends May 2022