AAI Counseling & Support
Our Vision
Every student will acquire academic, social, emotional, and career skills to reach their fullest educational potential and successfully manage their lives as resilient, responsible, competent and productive citizens who respect themselves and others.
Our Mission
The mission of American Academy of Innovation's counseling department is to provide high quality, comprehensive school counseling services with equal access to all students to maximize academic achievement. Our program is designed to foster personal and emotional growth and to facilitate career development in partnership with parents, guardians, and teachers. Our mission is to inspire all students to challenge their potential and to become life-long learners who are college and career ready citizens in our diverse and changing world.
Angela Steuart, School Counseling Administrator
Angela Steuart earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Weber State University in 2015 and a master’s degree in Educational Psychology with a School Counseling Emphasis in 2017. Angela’s theoretical orientation to counseling is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). While school practitioners cannot provide therapy in the school setting, CBT is a framework that analyzes student behavior by looking at the thought processes of children and adolescents. She applies this philosophy to the counseling setting. For reasons of practicality and application, Angela also integrates a solution-focused approach while providing individual counseling. Angela is focused on the individual. She enjoys interacting with students, finding out who they are as an individual, and exploring ways for them to be successful in their educational pursuits.
Robert Briggs-Woodliff, High School Counseling Intern
Nicole Bonham, Junior High Counseling Intern
Nichole Bonham is currently working on a master's degree in School Counseling through Adams State University in Colorado. She has spent the past twenty years on active duty for the Utah Army National Guard, most recently working in the Education and Incentives offices. She has enjoyed mentoring young soldiers and helping them better understand their education and enlistment benefits and incentives. Counselor Nic is an intern under the supervision of our head counselor, Ms. Steuart, and will only be with AAI this year. She works primarily with our middle school kids as that is where she wants to focus her career as a school counselor. Junior high can be a rough few years for our students with so many changes in expectations as they move from kiddos to young adults. It's wonderful to have Counselor Nic with us this year as an extra hand to help them through that process.
Kelsey Quayle, Special Education & 504 Counseling Intern
Kelsey Quayle earned a Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Studies with an emphasis in Anthropology and Peacebuilding in 2015 from Brigham Young University-Hawaii. She is earning a Master of Science in School Counseling and will graduate from Capella University in 2024. Her professional background includes conflict resolution and mediation, working with adolescents within treatment teams, nonprofit volunteer work, and special education. She works from a solution-focused theoretical approach to help students build their individual strengths to create positive change. Kelsey enjoys working with students in supporting them as individuals, socially, and in their educational goals.
Samantha Denter, Senior Academic Advisor
Samantha Denter earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Utah Valley University. She is currently earning a Master of Education in School Counseling from Liberty University with hopes to graduate in the Spring of 2024. Every year she grows more enthusiastic about the potential that each learner possesses and strives to assist them in their individual journey to success. Samantha aims to problem-solve with students so that they can gain the necessary tools and skills to navigate their futures.
Heather McCall, Social Worker
Heather McCall received her undergraduate degree at California State University Long Beach and her graduate degree from Utah State University. Heather has taught parenting and relationships skills for USU Extension and has worked extensively with those who are experiencing substance use disorders. While working with the recovery community, she discovered that some of the main risk factors for substance abuse are the lack of coping skills and the inability to reframe thinking errors. She is looking forward to teaching AAI teens these skills.
Heather utilizes Motivational Interviewing to guide individuals towards behavioral change and Social Systems Theory to see the whole person within multiple levels of their environment. Her pedagogy focuses on a growth mindset and resiliency, emphasizing the importance of learning through our mistakes.
Heather is from Utah and enjoys the surrounding mountains and deserts. She loves gardening, yoga, and being in nature. She is happily married and has two teenagers - and a lot of firsthand experience with adolescents' big emotions and mood swings! Her current favorite driving quote is:
There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.
― Desmond Tutu
Counseling Calendar & Course Catalogue
2022-2023 Counseling Calendar
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2022-2023 Course Catalogues
View AAI's full 2022-2023 course catalog online. Discover new course offerings, in-depth class descriptions, required texts and materials, course policies, and more!
Workshops, offered every Friday, are the highlight of the week for AAI students. Each student registers for two workshops each quarter for elective credit. Course offerings change quarterly.
Innovative Immersions are week-long, all-day electives held between the first and second quarters and between the third and fourth quarters. Students immerse themselves in a specific course for an entire week.
Friday Workshops and Innovative Immersions provide AAI students with 10 elective credits each year and multiple opportunities to explore areas of interest, discover hidden talents, find new hobbies and determine potential career paths.
SafeUT Crisis Chat & Tip Line
The SafeUT Crisis Text and Tip Line app provides 24/7 access to crisis counseling and school tip reporting for students and their parents and guardians that live in the state of Utah. After installing the app you can connect directly to the UNI CrisisLine or report a confidential tip on bullying, school threats of violence, or concern about someone in crisis. CrisisLine staff can assist with a wide variety of problems, including emotional crisis, grief and loss, drug and alcohol problems, mental health issues, self-harm, and suicidal behavior.
FOR CRISIS CALL: 833-372-3388 (833-3SAFEUT)
Ongoing Resources
If students are struggling with bullying, depression, or feeling suicidal there are additional resources that might be useful.
- Safe UT Crisis Chat & Tip Line
- Huntsman Health Institute: Community Crisis Intervention & Support Services
- 211 Network: Crisis & Emergency, Housing, Food, Healthcare & more
- Salt Lake County Youth Services: Juvenile Receiving Center
- stopbullying.gov
Suicide Prevention
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
- The Trevor Project: LGBTQ Youth
- Utah Youth Suicide Prevention
- Suicide Prevention Subscription: Join the Utah Educational Network ListServ
- KSL Article: What Happens When You Call The Suicide Prevention Hotline?
- Encircle offers community programs, support groups, and therapy services
- The Trevor Project is here for LGBTQ young people 24/7, 365 days a year
We wanted to provide some general resources as students process emotions in different ways. Students, friends, or parents might be interested in Therapy and Counseling. We recommend the Jordan Wellness Center. They have an extensive therapist list that offers multiple options for your student.
The Jordan Family Education Center provides support services and classes for families and students who live in the Jordan School District
- Classes
- Support Groups
- Short-term counseling on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evening
- A lending library with over 1,000 books to support family needs in a variety of areas
Contact the Jordan Family Education Center at 801.565.7442 or visit their website.
Classes are available online and in-person
The Body Project: A class for teens designed to help girls and young women resist pressure to conform to body ideals and reduce the risk of eating disorders.
Break the Chain: A class for youth ages 14-19 focused on preventing drug use and abuse.
ME Time: A class for teens ages 13-17 focused on managing emotions and increasing positive engagement.
The following organizations offer free parenting classes to the community:
Jordan Family Education Center
Salt Lake County Youth Services Guiding Good Choices
Salt Lake County Youth Services Staying Connected with Your Teen
Learning Options
AAI provides multiple learning options to meet the individual needs of students and families. With three options to choose from, we can support your student at school, at home, or abroad.
A traditional approach to school held on campus while embracing the new normal.
- Small class size (average of 19 students per class)
- Certified, experienced, innovative content experts engage the students in large, open classrooms
- Innovative, age-appropriate, competency curriculum for all subjects and electives
- Wide range of options for workshop elective courses, bi-annual immersion, and college credit opportunities
- Community and service-learning opportunities
The ultimate, customizable program for students who want to take control of their educational experience.
- Dedicated support from certified, experienced, innovative school and classroom leaders
- Unlimited access to and utilization of cutting edge, age-appropriate, competency-based curriculum for Language Arts, Science, Mathematics, and Social Studies
- Wide range of options for workshop elective courses, bi-annual immersions, and college credit opportunities
- Full access, support, and utilization of technology and connectivity devices
- Dedicated project support fund for grade-level projects
The Statewide Online Education Program (SOEP) was established by the Utah Legislature in the 2011 General Session. This program enables eligible students to earn middle school and high school graduation credit through the completion of publicly funded online courses.
Career & Technical Education Pathways
Career and Technical Education provides all students access to high-quality, rigorous career-focused programs that result in attainment of credentials with labor market value. Skill certifications are aligned with standards and objectives set by the state of Utah. Certifications are awarded based upon student’s knowledge and performance. CTE Pathways offered at AAI include:
Concurrent Enrollment & Dual Credit Programs
AAI students have multiple opportunities in which they can earn college credit while enrolled in high school. Students may take up to two courses per semester at Salt Lake Community College for college credit or enroll in a certification program at Mountainland Technical College. Dual Credit programs may be pursued by AAI students who are performing at a collegiate level. College credits awarded by Southern Utah University or Snow College may be transferred to any other college of choice.
- Salt Lake Community College (SLCC)
- Mountainland Technical College (MTECH)
- Southern Utah University (SUU)
- Snow College
Student Resources
American College Test (ACT)
- Utah ACT Prep @Shmoop (Magic Word: ASPEN)
- ACT Academy
- NUMBER2
- ACT Test Registration
Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT)
The American Academy of Innovation has partnered with Parchment to order and send your transcript and other credentials securely. The link below will open a new browser. If you have questions or need assistance, please email to registrar@aaiutah.org or call (801)260-3105.
College Board is a mission-driven organization representing over 6,000 of the world’s leading colleges, schools, and other educational organizations.
The new Utah System of Higher Education includes eight technical colleges, two community colleges, four regional universities, and two research universities. By statute, there are three programming categories: technical education, Career and Technical Education, and academic education.