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Accreditation & Staff
Copper Canyon Academy boarding schools for girls has a college prep focused academic program, and is fully accredited by North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. All academic classes are taught by Arizona Certified Teachers. Copper Canyon Academy's academic program is designed to maximize a students learning potential, a joy of learning, and also utilizes a unique credit recovery program. Success is academics enables students to gain increased self-esteem, self-awareness, self-confidence, self-reliance and self-management.
Copper Canyon Academy is accredited by CITA (Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation).
Paul Taylor, MS - Executive Director
Paul joined Copper Canyon Academy in June of 2001. Paul received a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and Sociology degree from the University of Utah in 1994, a Special Education Teaching Certificate in 1995, and a Masters of Science Degree as a Comprehensive Behavior Specialist from the University of Utah in 2001. Paul began working in Residential Therapeutic Programs in October 1989. He worked for Utah Youth Corrections programs for 12 years as a Teacher, Special Education Teacher, Intake Coordinator, Youth Supervisor, and Group Therapy Facilitator. He also has specialty training in Positive Control Techniques, Behavior Management, Behavior Consultant, Assessments and Testing, Vocational Training, Female Offender Training, and Criminology and Corrections. Paul and his beautiful wife, Sara, are the proud parents are five amazing children.
Ken Buxton - Academic Director
Ken Buxton has been active in the kid business for over twenty years. Before joining us, he taught for eleven years at an emotional growth boarding school in California. Ken is an experienced secondary school educator, and enjoys doing academic administration - especially college counseling - as well as teaching. Ken‘s master‘s degree (Claremont Graduate University) is in international relations, but the bulk of his teaching load has always been in two areas, drama and mathematics. He has directed over 35 theatrical productions, and hopes to add to that number at CCA.
Ken‘s philosophy of education centers around respect for and trust in the student. He has found that when a student knows that someone has confidence in her, there is often no stopping her, whether she is problem-solving in the math classroom, competing in a Shakespeare tournament, or participating in the Presidential Classroom program in Washington, D.C.
Ken is the proud father of Karen, 26, who is on the staff of the American Heart Association in San Francisco; and Jim, 25, who is about to receive his bachelor‘s degree in photojournalism from California State University, Northridge.
Shannon Rhoda - Admissions Director
Shannon has been with Copper Canyon Academy since 2001. Shannon is a perfectionist and manages the Admissions Process with amazing thoroughness. She and her husband, Walt, also have students living with them in their transition home. Shannon keeps her schedule more than busy. She loves the work she does for the school as well as having the girls live with her. Shannon considers her greatest enjoyment to be the time she spends with her five grown and married children and 13 beautiful grandchildren. Shannon takes on any challenge. For her last birthday she went skydiving.
Mike Gurr, M.S., M.A., L.P.C. - Residential Clinical Director
Mike received his Master of Science from the University of Utah in Exercise and Sport Science, with a concentration in Sport Psychology. He worked with various high school and college teams as well as with the coaching staffs. Mike completed another Masters degree from Argosy University in Professional Counseling. For three years Mike was a counselor at Paradise Valley Community College as well as an adjunct facility member where he was involved in career counseling, individual counseling and group work. He taught classes in stress management, peak performance in activated learning, career exploration and study skills. Mike is a certified instructor for Maracopia Community Colleges of Arizona. Mike had a private practice in Phoenix for 3 years where his cliental included; athletes at all levels (elite, college, and elite juniors), individuals, and parents. His is a licensed professional counselor in the state of AZ.
For the past four years Mike has been the facilitator and director of the emotional growth seminars for Aspen Family Seminars and has worked with thousands of families during that time. Mike is the Clinical Director at Copper Canyon Academy. He has received certifications as a family plan counselor and also a certified Arbinger facilitator. Mike is a sought after speaker for various groups and associations on topics such as relationships, communication, parenting, over coming doubt, self-concept, behavior change, power of belief, and strengthening ones mind. He and his beautiful wife of 12 years have three boys and one daughter.
Josh White, MA, LPC, CGP, CADC I - Residential Program Director
Josh has been working with adolescents and their families since 1994 as a teacher, therapist, and administrator. He brings to his work a love of both clinical and academic settings, and a deep belief that any individual or family can recover from addiction, adversity, and other difficulties.
Prior to his clinical career, Josh ran a successful martial arts school for ten years. In addition to his clinical work in private practice, Josh has worked in a number of schools, adolescent treatment programs, and addiction treatment centers. Notably, he was Program Manager of Outpatient Services at De Paul Treatment Centers, and served as Clinical Supervisor in the Behavioral Health Clinic in the Department of Psychiatry at Oregon Health & Science University.
Josh holds a Master's Degree in Psychology, and has special training in program development, clinical supervision, addictions treatment, and group psychotherapy. He is licensed as a Professional Counselor, is a certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor, and is nationally certified as a Group Psychotherapist.
Josh has served on the faculty in the School of Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University, and also taught in the Graduate School of Psychology at Naropa University. He has presented to the American Group Psychotherapy Association, the Addictions Training Consortium, and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
Josh's greatest love in life is his role as a father and husband. He and his beautiful wife are the proud parents of a wonderful son, and they enjoy spending time with their friends and extended family.
Roxanne Jasman - Operations Director