The faculty and staff at the Life Arts Center are professionally
trained and college educated. Each teacher is committed to the emotional,
intellectual, and physical development of each child. Where age appropriate,
their own children are part of the programs here. They only settle for
the best for the children who participate.
Pearl M. Wagstaff-Garff – Teacher/Healer. Artistic
Director Life Arts Center and the Mountain Sanctuary at the Summit. “Miss
Pearl” has been her beloved title for more than 48 years as she
has spun the magic for hundreds and hundreds of emergent learners. Her
professional acclaim started as a prote'ge' child in music and sports.
At an amazingly young age she was teaching large groups of children for
the Salt Lake County Recreation Department under Virginia McDonald. She
has graduated from the University of Utah's department of dance and theater
with a B.S. Ed in secondary eductionar while teaching with Virginia Tanner
under the tutelage of Dr. Naoma Rowan, curriculum designer and mentor
in partnership with Life Arts Center, a school of the integrated arts
multi-intelligence, emotional and social literacy developmentally appropriate
practices for child and families. Her graduate pursuits include, Educational
Kinesiology and Brain Gym Certification, Oil Paining and Jungian Dream
Work with Dr. Elaine Michelsen, and most recently Shamanic Studies and
Light Body Energy Medicine with Dr. Alberto Villoldo, medical anthropologist,
psychologist and Shaman. NLP and Soul Retrieval with Linda Fitch, executive
director of Four Winds Society. She has written and produced environmental
plays for children, Tresses of the Day Star, And, Let There Be Light,
Children of the Rainbow Garden, Sculpture Dance, Desert Ocean Dance and
poems, Jewels from Heaven, and the works; Opal to be performed 2006, as
well as SPIRIT DANCING IN THE BODY a living choreographic healer piece.
Miss Pearl can be found in the classroom where the “action”
is, as she teaches everyday and has for 48 years. She loves the freshness
of children and the ways in which they approach a solution to the myriad
of problem-solving techniques. Miss Pearl is a CHILDHOOD ADVOCATE.
George L. Garff – Owner, Administrative Director,
Principal. George, because of his commitment to children, sits on two
state boards. He is currently President of the UAEYC (Utah Association for
the Education of Young Children) which is the Utah affiliate of the NAEYC,
and Committee Member of the Child Care Licensing Committee. He has also
served on the state Early Childhood Committee. He has attended Westminster
College in Salt Lake City and the University of Utah where he has done
studies in the Graduate School of Social Work in alcohol and drug addiction
counseling. He is an Ordained Minister with the Inner Light Center in
Salt Lake City and in his spare time is an accomplished potter. George and
Pearl are a husband and wife team and together they are the parents of six
sons and have eleven grandchildren and two golden retrievers. All six of
their children have been Life Arts Center children.
Chad Norman is an artist of highest quality. He works
with the children in art and sciences. His approach to academics uses
the arts as its base. During his four years here he has often been called
the Pied Piper of children because the flock to him for his guidance and
teaching. He has his Associate of Applied Science with a major in Visual
Arts and Design/Animation. He works with the kindergarten and pre kindergarten
children on a daily basis. He also teaches art classes to children who
come after school.
Sheila Page is the music specialist. She comes to us with
her bachelors degree in music pedagogy from the Brigham Young University.
She has been a vocal coach, piano teacher and worked in children's musical
productions in California and Utah. Her commitment to the music education and
integration of the arts to academics is of the highest caliber. She and
her husband Dr. Michael Page have four children, all of whom are Life Arts
Center children.
Brenda Ramirez brings her motherly love, deep patience
and her organizational skills to our youngest group of children. She creatively
cares for the 2 year old children, keeps them involved, and excited about
learning. For two years she has specialized in preparing children for
preschool. As an added bonus she frequently works with the children in
her native Spanish. Her twin boys are students at the Life Arts Center.
Penny Tygesen has taken her bachelor’s degree from
Utah State University in Home Economics and Interior Design to new heights
by working with the children. Her commitment to the creative process is
evident through her teaching technique and her unique projects. Miss Penny
is very committed to hands on projects as she finds the children learning
in greater ways by so doing. She became involved at the Life Arts Center
because her son attends here.
Rachel Larsen is our newest dance teacher. She comes
to us while working on her Master’s Degree in Dance Performance
at the University of Utah. Her innovative ideas, gentle teaching manner,
and her love of children and dance make her an excellent teacher and one
who is loved by the children she teaches.
Joyce Gaskill is the office manager. She has been interfacing
with parents and staff for 18 years. Her dedication and commitment to
the processes of the Life Arts Center are obvious through her dedication
to the children and their parents.
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