Classrooms with the support your loved one needs to thrive.

We have multiple classrooms that support students with a wide array of cognitive, physical, and emotional needs. We believe in tailoring education to a student. We develop individualized learning plans and use research-supported curriculum.  Many of our students receive on-site therapy and behavior support(ABA) and all our departments work together in a transdisciplinary approach. We also provide numerous enhancement programs and are fortunate to have a beautiful campus with many fun and engaging environments. And most of all we have caring teachers and staff.

ACCREDITED ACADEMY

Our academy received a 5-year accreditation on February 11, 2021! L.I.F.E. believes it is not enough to simply say we are excelling in our model of teaching and learning, but we want to have the means to demonstrate excellence and provide data-proven results and accountability. We are so proud to be accredited with Cognia and to have been rated in the highest categories. We hope this brings our families a sense of peace in their choice to place their student with us and that it brings further pride to our staff who have chosen to call L.I.F.E. their home.

SCHOOL CALENDAR AND HOURS

Business Hours
8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

All classes begin
at 8:30 a.m.

Specific student’s end times vary by classroom and participation in other programs

Calendar for 2024-2025

LIFE Academy

TUITION AND FUNDING

Academic Opportunity of Arizona (AOA)  http://academicopportunity.org

Arizona Tuition Connection  https://arizonatuitionconnection.com

Arizona Leadership Foundation (ALF)  http://arizonaleader.org

TOPS for Kids  https://www.topsforkids.com

Arizona Private Education Scholarship Fund (APESF) https://apesf.org/apply

ESA – Empowerment Scholarship Account through the Arizona Department of Education
http://www.azed.gov/esa/

At L.I.F.E. our mission includes providing our services at little to no cost to families. While our academy’s annual tuition is $37,500 we assist families in securing scholarships to cover this tuition. Further, L.I.F.E. has always accepted the student’s award/eligibility as payment in full for the student’s tuition even when it does not meet the $37,500. We do this so L.I.F.E. can remain true to its values and mission to serve all people regardless of financial abilities. We are very grateful for all our donors including our corporate and individual tax credit donors that enable us to provide this support to families.

More Funding and Donation Information

CUSTOMIZED EDUCATION

Our L.I.F.E. Academy develops an individualized learning plan for each student and utilizes multiple well-established curriculum designed to help all our students progress in their academic skills.

PATHWAYS PROGRAM

The L.I.F.E. Pathways Program is for students 14-21 years. The program focuses on development of functional life skills for improved independence.

Pathways Program Details

ENHANCEMENTS PROGRAMS

We are fortunate to be able to provide multiple enhancements to our L.I.F.E. Academy!

Enhancement Details
Children in fighting stance with Karate instructor demonstrating hand position.

OUR EXCEPTIONAL CAMPUS

1305 South Gilbert Road | Gilbert AZ 85296 | MAP

Our Academy students experience our large beautiful campus with numerous indoor and outdoor specialty environments.

Campus Details

DAY TREATMENT AND TRAINING (DTT)- AFTER-SCHOOL

Our Day Treatment and Training (DTT) program provided through DDD funding, is currently offered to a variety of age groups here at L.I.F.E. after school. The program is centered around individualized DTT goals which are addressed through various fun activities and in our multiple treatment environments.

More Day Treatment and Employment Programs (DTE)

SUMMER PROGRAM (DTS)

L.I.F.E. holds an inclusive summer program every year in the months of June and July.

Summer Details

ACADEMY TEACHERS

We have wonderful caring teachers at L.I.F.E. that work hard to support all students in their classrooms. Our teachers strive for excellence by participating in regular Professional Learning Communities and performance reviews.

TIKI BEECH
TIKI BEECHLead Teacher

Career History:

I have worked as an Early Childhood Educator for 31 years. I have taught preschool, kindergarten and led an after-school program. I was employed as a director of a preschool for 3 years. I have also worked as a Behavior Technician for a private company, prior to having the opportunity to have my first year at L.I.F.E. this 2021-2022 school year.

Education and Special Certifications:

I am currently in my last semester obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Early childhood education at Northern Arizona University.

Personal Teacher Philosophy:

Treating every child as that special and unique individual that they are.

“If a child cannot learn in the way WE teach … we must teach in a way the child can learn.”

Dr. Ivar Lovaas

Personal:

I was born in raised in California. I have been in Arizona for 3 years. I have two amazing children. My daughter resides in Maryland where she is living out her dreams as a Professional mermaid.  My son is currently in England finishing his Master’s degree and playing basketball. In my spare time I enjoy upcycling items and crafting.

JAMIE BEZDANY
JAMIE BEZDANYLead Teacher

Career History:

I have been in Education for 15 years. I started working right out of High School when I worked in a self-contained classroom. This will be my 6th year here at L.I.F.E. I was hired on as a Lead Paraprofessional. This is my third year as a Lead Teacher.

Personal Teaching Philosophy:

“If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn”. -Ignacio Estrada

I love this quote as it represents my teaching philosophy. Both teaching and education are not one size fits all.

Personal:

I was born and raised in New York and moved to Arizona when I was 13. When not at work I enjoy spending my time with my parents and friends. I enjoy traveling and going on adventures.

BRITTNEY BUCK
BRITTNEY BUCKLead Teacher

Career History:

I started at L.I.F.E. in August 2015 in the Behavioral Programming and Support (BPS) Department. Within BPS I worked with clients one on one as a Lead Therapist and acted as a Program Manager. I became a teacher at L.I.F.E. in 2018. Prior to being at L.I.F.E., I was a Clinical Supervisor at Behavioral Dimensions Inc. for 8 years working with clients (ages 2-15) in a one to one setting and in the classroom delivering Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services. It was at this time I fell in love with ABA and the way it impacted the children and families I worked with. Before Behavioral Dimensions Inc. I worked at a school for 2 years in a classroom for students with disabilities and learned that every child is unique and has amazing potential.

Education:

• B.A. in Social Work, University of St. Thomas, 2004

Personal Teaching Philosophy:

I have worked with kids my entire life and have a passion for teaching. I’ve learned many important lessons from the kids I have worked with. The most important lessons include you are never too old to learn, flexibility is essential in life, and having fun while learning is the best way to learn (you can never be too goofy)!

Personal:

I’m originally from Minnesota but have called Arizona home now for 4 years. I have a wonderful husband, Phil, who I have been married to for 9 years. I also have a beautiful daughter who is 8 and two golden retrievers (one who is 10 and the other who is 7 months old). We love baseball in our house and root for the Minnesota Twins every chance we get.

ANGIE GARCIA
ANGIE GARCIALead Teacher
ASHLEY PONCE
ASHLEY PONCELead Teacher

Career History:

Before working at L.I.F.E I did my ASU service learning at L.I.F.E back in 2017. I loved everything L.I.F.E had to offer and in 2019 I started working at L.I.F.E as a paraprofessional, a Lead paraprofessional and now as the lead teacher.

Education and Specialist Certifications:

  • Registered Behavior Technician, Behavior Analyst Certification Board 2021
  • B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (Family and human development, and communication), Arizona State University 2018

Personal Teaching Philosophy:

I personally believe every child has their own unique way of learning and I want to provide a unique way of teaching to benefit each student. Nothing makes me happier than seeing each child be successful, learn new skills, and grow as an individual. I have been so lucky to have the best mentors and I cannot wait to apply my skills to the classroom.

Personal:

I was born and raised in Southern California. I came to Arizona in 2014 to attend ASU and I fell in love with the beautiful state and have lived here ever since. My family now lives in Arizona, and I love to spend time with them. I love being outdoors at the lake, snowboarding, or relaxing by a beach.

NICOLE RAPP, (M.Ed.)
NICOLE RAPP, (M.Ed.)Lead Teacher

Education and Professional Background

 In 2009, I received my liberal studies degree from Arizona State University. Right after graduation, I continued on to obtain my Master’s degree in Special Education with emphasis on Autism.

My Educational Philosophy

It is my goal as a teacher to inspire children to become life-long learners. It is my job to provide students with a safe learning environment that they enjoy being in, but always will succeed. I want to provide students with the resources and information necessary to help them succeed in their future. Plus, I want to make learning as much fun as possible! Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed and deserves a team of teachers who believes in them.

DIANA SARGENT
DIANA SARGENTLead Teacher

Career History:

Prior to working at L.I.F.E, I spent 6 years with Gilbert Public Schools in the SPICE I Program for children with Autism. I began working at L.I.F.E in February 2014 as a paraprofessional in the kindergarten class. During the 2014-2015 school year I worked as a Lead Paraprofessional in the 1-3 grade classroom, then I was promoted to Lead Teacher in the fall of 2015.

Personal Teaching Philosophy:

“Every student can learn, just not on the same day or in the same way” – George Evans

We all have our own unique way in which we process, comprehend and retain information. Discovering each child’s learning style helps us customize learning plans and implement strategies that best suit the child’s needs.

Personal:

I was born and raised in Ogden, Utah. A new job brought the family to Arizona in 1996. I have 4 children, 2 girls, 2 boys. In my spare time I like to do fun things with my kids like going to movies, bowling, Top Golf, movie and game nights at home. I also enjoy scrapbooking, making various crafts and planning fun activities for the classroom.

KELLY SORENSEN, (M.Ed.)
KELLY SORENSEN, (M.Ed.)Lead Teacher

Career History:

This is my 10th year in the special education world and I absolutely love it! I spent 5 years with Gilbert Public Schools as a kindergarten-first grade teacher for students with Autism. It was amazing! I’ve spent the last year and a half as the Special Education Coordinator for a charter school in Ahwatukee. I received my degrees from Arizona State University where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Family and Child Development and a Master’s degree in Special Education.

Personal Teaching Philosophy:

“Every child deserves a champion- an adult who will never give up on them.” -Dr. Rita F. Pierson

I strongly believe that loving relationships are the foundation of learning and growth for our students. Students need to feel safe, loved, and valued before any real learning can occur. My goal is to bring joy, humor, a positive attitude, consistency, and warmth to my classroom each day in order to ultimately inspire and encourage the same traits in my students.

Personal:

I am a Gilbert girl through and through! I attended Houston Elementary, Gilbert Junior High, and Gilbert High School. I have 2 brothers and 1 sister and we all live in Gilbert. Most of my free time is spent with them and my 5 nieces and nephews! Every once in a while I get bit by the travel bug and plan a big adventure. Most recently I visited England, Ireland, and Scotland!

SARA YARN, (RBT)
SARA YARN, (RBT)Lead Teacher

Career History:

Before joining the L.I.F.E. family, I worked for 2 years in the Special Education department in the public-school setting. I have now been part of the L.I.F.E. family for 6 years. I served as a paraprofessional for two years and through experience and my passion I became a Lead Teacher.

Education and Special Certifications:

• Registered Behavior Technician, Behavior Analyst Certification Board, October 2016

Personal Teaching Philosophy:

I truly love what I do. Nothing brings me more joy than watching a child learn and be successful. Teaching a child what they can do in life is what feeds my passion.
I have been mentored as a teacher in both traditional curriculum and ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) principals. My classroom is run using ABA principles and techniques. With the support of our behavior department, we are able to personalize behavior plans and target specific skills needed to be in a classroom setting. I enjoy collaborating with other departments on campus to create a well-rounded environment for my students to learn in.

Personal:

I feel very blessed to have been able to stay home and be with my 4 children before entering my career.

SAVANNA YARN
SAVANNA YARNLead Teacher

Career History:

I have been working at L.I.F.E. for about four years. I started as a paraprofessional in the classroom in 2016. In the summer of 2017, I was given the opportunity to move up and become a Lead Paraprofessional. I learned so much during my time being a Lead. My passion for the classroom grew stronger and I soon realized that I wanted to have a classroom of my own. During May of 2019, I took on the role of Lead Teacher. I am very passionate about what I do and wouldn’t trade working with our kids for anything. I am so lucky and excited to continue this teaching journey with L.I.F.E.!

Personal Teaching Philosophy:

My philosophy of teaching is that all children are different, therefore it is important to me to teach to each child. I believe in having an encouraging environment where the child will grow mentally and socially. I hope to create this educational setting using different teaching strategies to help the child reach their maximum potential. I will keep my mind open, my attitude positive, and my expectations high. I learned so much during my first year of teaching and I am so thrilled to start my second year with you!

Personal:

I am 24 years old and I’m a Valentine’s Day baby! I have some hobbies which include traveling, camping, and playing the piano. I also have a strong love for beauty, makeup and nails. During my free time you can find me spending time with my family, friends, or my boyfriend!

SYDNEY WILDE
SYDNEY WILDELead Teacher

ACADEMY LEADERSHIP

JULIA ALLEN, (M.Ed.)
JULIA ALLEN, (M.Ed.)Director of Academy Curriculum and Instruction

Role: 

As the Director of Academy Curriculum and Professional Development I have the honor to assist not only the student’s, but the teachers as well. My job consists of running staff fidelities, training staff, running professional learning communities, assessing curriculum, collecting data, monitoring student progress, and being support for the teachers to help them grow in their profession. In addition, I help with placement assessments for new students, help write and monitor the ILPs, progress reports and curriculum assessments. I work with the teachers to make modifications, choose the appropriate curriculum and writing interventions when needed for a student’s success.  

Education and Special Certifications: 

  • M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, Teaching and Learning, Applied Behavior Analysis, Arizona State University, December 2011  
  • B.A. in Secondary Education, Arizona State University, December 2009  

Career History:  

I started my career at L.I.F.E.  in 2014. Before L.I.F.E. I worked at a Jr. High school as an English teacher in Gilbert and as an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) provider at another agency here in Arizona. Through my internship through Arizona State University, I was able to work with many populations over the 2 years of the program. I also worked within client’s homes for 2 years before starting on the L.I.F.E. campus. In 2014 I came to L.I.F.E. as an ABA provider. I provided services within the home and with students as their 1:1 in the classroom. I then took over a classroom in November of 2014 and taught 4-6 grade. In 2015 I taught an ABA preschool/kindergarten classroom and then in 2019 I taught a 1st-3rd grade classroom while simultaneously starting the position of Administrator of Curriculum and Professional Development.  

Personal:   

I am originally from Rochester, NY. I lived there until I was 10 and then my family moved to Arizona. I have a very small immediate family, just my parents and my sister, but a very large family in-law. I was married in 2019 and through that I now have 8 brothers-in-law (2 are married into the family), and 6 sisters-in-law (3 are married into the family). Two of my brothers-in-law are on the autism spectrum, so I have a very real perspective on school life vs. home life. I love to travel to visit family or up north to escape the heat in the summer and see snow in the winter, read books (especially Harry Potter), and be with family. I am a true homebody. 

LORI KLEINMAN
LORI KLEINMANDirector of Academy Administration

Role:

I support all the administrative side of the Academy including staff hiring, coordinating community partnerships, coordinating events and activities on campus, and overseeing the resource team.

Education:

  • Education in elementary education at Ottawa University, 2008-10
  • Advanced training on current curriculums

Career History:

Prior to L.I.F.E. I operated an in-home preschool then I worked in priority pre-school in the public setting then I found my home at L.I.F.E. in 2008. I became one of the first lead Academy teachers for L.I.F.E. I was a Lead Teacher until 2014 when I became the Director of Academic Services and Administration.

Personal:

I have been married for 29 years and I have 3 children who have all become part of the L.I.F.E. staff family! I have 3 grandchildren. Family and church are the center of my home life.

APRIL YARN (M.Ed. BCBA/LBA)
APRIL YARN (M.Ed. BCBA/LBA)Director of Academy Student Services

Role:

As the Director of Student Services, I have the honor to help families onboard their child/ren to receive an education at L.I.F.E. I oversee parts of the enrollment process including tours, placement assessments and recommendations as well as help families secure the appropriate scholarships to afford their child the opportunity to receive the private education they deserve. I oversee and assist teachers to best serve and meet the needs of each individual child. This includes writing relevant goals, choosing appropriate curriculum, making modifications and accommodations. I help ensure we are catering to each student’s learning styles and abilities and that the progress is being tracked along the way.

Role:

  • I support all the L.I.F.E. Academy classrooms with students that demonstrate behaviors and do not already receive Behavioral Programming and Support (BPS). I help teachers and staff to determine the function of a child’s problem behavior and how to appropriately address the behavior.

Education:

  • M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis, Arizona State University, May 2014
  • B.S. in Family Child Science, New Mexico State University, May 2011 Special Certifications:
  • Arizona Board of Psychology Licensed Behavior Analyst, Oct 2017
  • Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), August 2017

Career History:

  • I began working at L.I.F.E. in October 2014 with the BPS department as a 1:1 provider. In January 2016 I began working as a program manager. In August 2017, I sat for my BCBA exam and passed. In December 2018, I began working in the Academy to provide behavior support to the students and teachers. Prior to coming to L.I.F.E. I worked as a Family Support Specialist at Healthy Families Arizona doing parent education.

Training Philosophy:

  • I feel that the greatest success I have in this position is when I get to see the clients initiate and respond to social interactions. Celebrating all victories is important no matter how big or small they seem. To know that we are making a difference in these children’s lives is why I do what I do.

Personal:

  • I am from El Paso, Texas. My mom and 3 sisters still live in Texas and I get to see them on holidays. When I am not at L.I.F.E. you may find me at concerts, particularly country, and cheering on the Dallas Cowboys during football season.

Contact Us for More Information About L.I.F.E.

call us at 480-621-8361 EXT 136 or complete this form

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