Dani has a Bachelor’s degree in School Age Child and Adolescent Development and Special Education from San Francisco State University. Prior to joining the Elizabeth Academy / Garfield School staff, Dani worked as a Behavior Therapist providing ABA therapy for Alternative Behavior Strategies at the Elizabeth Academy campus. She has worked as a special educator in both San Francisco and Denmark. She also has experience working with adults with severe traumatic, physical, and developmental disabilities.

Dani enjoys traveling, hiking, backpacking, snowboarding, biking, healthy cooking and playing volleyball.

Melou is currently the Director of Music Therapy at EA. Melou is a nationally Board Certified music therapist as well as State Certified Music Therapist. She received her Master of Arts degree at University of the Pacific in Stockton, University. Her Masters emphasis is in Psychology-Family Systems. Melou is a member of the Utah Music Therapy Association and the American Association of Music Therapy.

Melou has been serving her community as a Music Therapist for twenty years. Melou is a Trauma-Informed Music Therapist. In 2013-2014, she was sponsored by the Attorney General’s office and Primary Children’s Hospital, to become trained as a Traumatic Focus Cognitive Behavioral Therapist credentialed TF-CBT. Melou has her NICU-MT, a national certification to practice Music Therapy in the NICU. Melou also is a Neurologic Music Therapist, NMT, having completed additional training in Neurologic Music Therapy. Melou has worked with both adults and children with emotional, mental and physical disabilities. She has contracted her services at hospitals, assisted care facilities and schools as well as with individual patients. Melou currently maintains a private Music Therapy practice.

At Elizabeth Academy, Melou assesses individuals to create treatment plans with specific objectives. She takes data on student response and evaluates and documents progress. Melou works as a member of the school interdisciplinary team.

In addition to her Music Therapy practice, Melou is an American classical singer, composer and pianist. She has performed in world class venues such as Notre-dame Cathedral in Paris, St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, and Canterbury Cathedral. She soloed throughout Brazil as well as soloing with the Utah Chamber Artists in London, France, (2008) Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic (2014). Melou has been a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir since 2014. She recently returned in July 2016, from a 19 day European tour with the choir performing throughout central Europe.

As a singer-songwriter, Melou has produced, written, arranged and performed on four of her own music albums. They are “Creio am Cristo,” “The Gift of Time,” “The Sleep of the Child Jesus” and “ A Celebration of Life.” Melou writes and performs music for community events and arts organizations in Utah. Melou has written an operetta for children called “The Magic Heart” based on a book by the same name.

* Private Music Therapy Available

Hayley received her Bachelor’s degree in Dance from The Brigham Young University, Idaho. In 2019 she volunteered for an elementary school in the Dominican Republic, helping young learners master the English language and other subjects. Hayley is an avid lover and supporter of the arts and loves to incorporate it into her teaching. She has been a dance instructor for more than seven years, teaching throughout Utah and Idaho. She plans to further her education by obtaining a Master’s degree in dance one day. Hayley enjoys teaching children and adults of all ages and hopes to continue to educate others for many years to come.

In her spare time she enjoys yoga and photography. She has her 200 hour yoga teacher certification and runs a small photography business.

Michele was a ballet major at Brigham Young University (BYU) and is nearing completion of her Early Childhood MACTE-accredited Montessori credential through MEPI (Montessori Education Programs International). With over 30 years of teaching experience at private studios and both private and public schools, Michele has danced since the age of six and has been teaching dance for over 20 years. She has worked with children ranging from 12 months to 18 years, including as an Early Childhood teacher and a member of our enrichment teaching team. Michele has four children—two boys and two girls. Traveling the world with her parents as a child instilled in her a great love and appreciation for people and culture. Michele joined the Elizabeth Academy staff in 2010.