Noelle Bell, First Grade Teacher
Noelle has always had a deep passion for working with children. She began her career as a special education teacher in southern Arizona before serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Argentina. Upon returning home, she spent a year in Germany as an au pair for a family with nine children—a role she loved and embraced wholeheartedly. Her experience with children spans a wide range of settings, including nannying, tutoring, and working as an early childhood educator at a Montessori preschool. Through these experiences, Noelle discovered a true love for understanding how children learn and grow. She holds an Associate’s degree in Elementary Education and is currently completing her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development, with an emphasis in Early Childhood Development. She is dedicated to creating a nurturing, engaging classroom where young learners thrive.
Emily Brady, First Grade Teacher Aide
Emily Brady is excited to join American Heritage School’s team working as a 1st Grade Teacher’s Aide. She has spent the last 21 years teaching her own 5 children at the Brady Homeschool. During this time, she organized and participated in several homeschool community co-ops, teaching classes in everything from pre-school to middle school science and writing. Her education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Brigham Young University, and a Master of Science in Teaching degree (N-6th Grade) from Fordham University. She served a mission in Seattle, Washington and spent a semester abroad at the BYU Jerusalem Center. Her family has lived in New York, Utah, California, Texas, North Carolina, and Florida. Homeschooling gave their family the flexibility to move, travel, and explore many of the great ecological and historical sites in America. American Heritage School has provided the opportunity for her two youngest sons to continue furthering their education with high quality mentors and it has also blessed Emily with the opportunity to do what she loves most: continue learning and exploring alongside children. She is hoping to help more children gain the phonetic skills they need to become robust readers. In her free time, Emily also loves running, kayaking, hiking, playing tennis, reading, sewing, gardening, and practicing the piano, violin, and guitar.
Elise Bryant, Kindergarten Teacher Aide
Elise has assisted various teachers in the classroom at American Heritage School. She has taught English through an International Language Program in Russia, and taught beginning violin and piano lessons. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in History from Brigham Young University. She served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Stockholm, Sweden and is a mother of 8 children. She loves cooking and cheering on her children in athletics.
Jenny Burr, Middle School Academic Counselor
Mrs. Burr’s experience at American Heritage School is long and varied. She and her husband, Phillip, have been parents at AHS for 15 years and have two sons who are alumni of the school. She has served in many capacities within the school community, including six years in the Parent Service Organization, three of which she served as President. She began her employment at AHS as an aide in the High School and later stepped into the classroom, where she has had the opportunity to teach a variety of courses including 9th Grade Written Portfolio and Senior Thesis. For the past six years, she has loved serving as a 7th grade Homeroom teacher and looks forward to continuing to support students and families at AHS.
Marc Duffin, MS Science Teacher
Marc has primarily taught middle school science for over ten years. In that time he has taught both domestically and internationally. He received his BS at Arizona State University in Microbiology. In his spare time, Marc enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling. He is happily married to Jennette and has 2 boys, Kayden and Gavin.
Alisa Evans, Sixth Grade Teacher
Alisa Evans comes to us from Woodstock School in India, an international school in the Indian Himalayas, where she has been teaching grades 4 & 5 for the past two years. Previously, she taught ESL to grades 6 & 7 at Tonaquint Intermediate School in St. George, Utah. Alisa and her husband, Joel, have five children whom they have raised mostly overseas over the past 16 years – in South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and India. Throughout their time in Asia, Alisa enjoyed volunteering and teaching at her children’s international schools, serving as a volunteer English teacher to children at her church in Seoul and to women in her community in Saudi Arabia, and also homeschooling her own children from time to time. Alisa is originally from Pleasant Grove, Utah and attended Brigham Young University from 1998-2002, where she studied Marriage, Family, and Human Development with an emphasis in Family Life Education and minored in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Alisa has teaching licenses in K-6 Elementary Education, K-12 ESL, and 6-12 Secondary English Language Arts. She is nearing completion of her Master’s in Educational Leadership. Alisa loves hiking, birdwatching, reading, yoga, and being with children. She is very excited to join the 6th grade teaching team at American Heritage!
Trisha Fredrickson, 1st Grade Teacher Aide
Trisha has been a teacher’s aide, a reading group leader, and an aide specializing in helping kids read. She has worked at John Hancock Charter School and Deerfield Elementary. She graduated from Brigham Young University in Elementary Education. Trisha loves to spend time with her family, especially now that all her kids have flown the nest. In her spare time she likes to read and has enjoyed learning how to quilt and sew.
Lindsay Hoppe, HS History Teacher
Lindsay Hoppe is a Mesa, Arizona native now putting down roots in Utah with her husband. In 2024, she earned her bachelor’s degree in history education with a minor in American government from Brigham Young University–Idaho. Teaching is one of her greatest passions, and being a history teacher at AHS is truly a dream come true. Lindsay discovered her love for teaching while serving in the Cincinnati, Ohio Mission—where she also happened to meet her future husband! Some of her favorite hobbies include reading, writing, and watching just about any documentary she can find. In her spare time, Lindsay can be found with her husband and family, often talking for hours about music, movies, and more. She firmly believes that students can not only develop valuable life skills through the study of history but also have fun in the process. Lindsay is excited for the historical explorations and adventures that lie ahead for her students
LeAnn Lind, Fifth Grade Teacher
LeAnn Lind feels so blessed to be teaching fifth graders at American Heritage! It is her dream come true to have the opportunity to teach in a Spirit-rich environment and to share her testimony of Gospel truths with her students along with their regular studies. LeAnn has taught 1st, 2nd, and 5th grades, and was also a Music specialist, in both the public schools and charter schools in Utah for more than 13 years. She especially loves teaching U.S. History and all about the trials and growth our great country has made over the years since its birth. LeAnn has a great love for children, and is always inspired to see their love for learning soar in a healthy classroom environment, now to be accompanied by the Spirit! LeAnn was raised in a family of 6 children in various Western states. She graduated from high school in Idaho Falls, Idaho, then attended Ricks College (BYU-I) and BYU where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. She served a mission in Dallas, Texas; this experience became the foundation of her love for teaching others about the Gospel. She and her husband Bretton have a blended family and are the parents of 12 children and 7 grandchildren! They stay busy playing various sports, traveling, and playing games.
Joey Mascio, Seventh Grade Teacher
Joey Mascio taught 7th grade English and Theater for six years in Southern California before becoming a full-time entrepreneur and curriculum creator. He holds a Master’s in Education and a Bachelor’s in Creative Writing, both from UC Riverside. Joey is a former Disneyland character performer and a current professional improv comedian. He now runs two businesses in Utah County: Escapes in Time, an escape room in Orem, and Sidekick to Hero, an online confidence and resilience training platform for teens. He and his wife have four children, two of whom attend American Heritage. Joey enjoys BBQing, movies, and all things storytelling.
Melodi Melecio, Third Grade Teacher
Melodi firmly believes in all of the principles taught at American Heritage. She feels it is a tremendous privilege to be a part of an institution that is educating children’s hearts and minds with the Spirit as an essential teacher in each classroom. Melodi was raised in Utah in a bilingual, Peruvian-American home. Finishing high school at age 17, she eagerly jumped in to complete her bachelor’s degree at BYU. At age 21, she completed her first year as a second grade teacher at North Star Elementary in Salt Lake City, got married, had twins, and graduated from BYU! Things didn’t slow down as she went on to certify as an Emotional Release Facilitator and Montessori teacher. She thoroughly enjoys the creative aspects of marketing as well as running a small business from home. Melodi has also enjoyed speaking at BYU Women’s Conference and has performed several times in the SLC Conference Center and Tabernacle alongside her husband Alex Melecio. Melodi loves to run every morning, read, learn, travel, sing, and just be with her five precious kids and husband.
