This is a staff list for Fieldstone Academy in Gunnison, UT
(we are working to acquire the complete records for ALL years)
We advise current and/or former staff to report any abuses you may have witnessed while working at the Fieldstone Academy. For information on your rights and how to take action, visit www.heal-online.org/blowthewhistle.htm. If you were fired or forced to resign because you opposed any illegal and/or unethical practices at Fieldstone Academy, you have the right to take action.
If you were harmed (family or survivor) by Fieldstone Academy, please contact [email protected] if you remember the long-term employees and from which years. This will help! Also, if you recognize any of these staff as having worked at another program, please send in any information about their past or present employment at other facilities and/or cults.
HEAL is currently investigating Fieldstone Academy.
|
Name |
Unit/Position |
Additional Information |
| Marv Forsythe | Admissions Director | Forsythe is not a licensed doctor nor mental health professional in Utah. Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html |
| Thomas G. Knight | Dir. of Int'l Recruitment | Knight is not a licensed doctor nor mental health professional in Utah. Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html Knight reportedly no longer works for Fieldstone and has moved to Oregon. |
| Chris Forsythe | School Director | Forsythe is not a licensed doctor nor mental health professional in Utah. Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html Forsythe is not a licensed educator in Utah. Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education. |
| Ell B. Sorenson | Principal | Co-Founder of Sorenson's Ranch School and Hightop Ranch School. Both of which are confirmedly abusive programs. Sorenson is not a licensed doctor nor mental health professional in Utah. Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html Sorenson is a licensed educator in Utah. Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education. |
| Sandi Robison | Special Needs Teacher | Robison is not a licensed educator in Utah. Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education. |
| Jef Anderson | Principal (formerly the Math Teacher) | There are five Jeff (two f's) Andersons licensed as educators in Utah. HEAL requires this Jef Anderson's last four digits of social and/or birthdate to verify. |
| Ann-Marie Davis | History Teacher | Davis is a licensed educator in Utah. Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education. |
| Brian Davis | English Teacher | There are four Brian Davis's licensed as educators in Utah. HEAL requires this Brian Davis' last four digits of social and/or birthdate to verify. |
| Jonathan Porras | Spanish Teacher | Porras has a temporary alternative route to licensure educator license. Source: Utah State Office of Education. |
| Stacey Whitmore | Math & Phys. Ed. Teacher | Whitmore is not a licensed educator in Utah. Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education. (Note: There is another Whitmore with a different spelling that is licensed. If Fieldstone has misspelled her name, they will need to notify HEAL for correction.) |
| Marie Forsythe | Founder/School Admin. | |
| *(Fieldstone Academy, like many other programs in this industry, keeps a "tight lid" on any specific information regarding their staff, qualifications, and practices. Please contact us with the names of any staff of which you have firsthand knowledge or experience. Thank you for your help.) | ||
|
September 7th, 2011
"7:20 p.m. Eric Probasco arrived
Administrator Taylor noted the Mayor will be setting up a meeting with Fieldstone Academy in regards to their noncompliance with the issues agreed upon for their Conditional Use Permit. There were a few items in question in which the City will be meeting with Chris at Fieldstone to discuss and get cleared up. Administrator Taylor recommended Council Member B. Jensen attend this meeting along with him and Mayor Nay." Source: http://siterepository.s3.amazonaws.com/00633201110060927327842.doc |
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| External Link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Trapped-At-Fieldstone/243321582352259 | ||
|
'Gunnison City Council Meeting and Public Hearing Minutes
Wednesday, September 21, 2011- 7:10 P.M.
Gunnison City Hall-38 West Center
Gunnison, UT
84634
Fieldstone Academy – Chris Forsythe,
Director – Present Outline of the Academy’s Purpose, Policies and
Programming for Informational Purposes to the City Council and Community
Mayor Nay addressed the citizens in
attendance and Chris Forsythe from Fieldstone Academy setting the ground
rules for the discussion. Chris addressed the Mayor, Council Members
and citizens in attendance. He stated Fieldstone was started about 7
years ago by him and his father. Discussion ensued on how the school
came to be and how they landed on focusing on students who fall behind
in school. He stated they had been in Gunnison for about a year now and
were working on renovating the old Elementary School for their Academy.
He then addressed the problems that had been occurring in the
community. He stated his views on the problems and his views on his
students. He would like to have a better relationship with the people
of the City, and run a viable business. Chief Halliday reviewed the
City Ordinance regarding curfew hours for minors. Chris explained the
Academy had gone to wake staff at night which is more expensive for
them, but this would allow them to always know their students were in at
night.
8:25 p.m. Diane Dyreng left
Chris commented their Academy is a private
educational institution licensed and accredited through the Utah State
Office of Education directly through the State. Their accreditation is
the same as the High School. Council Member B. Jensen then reviewed the
data and time line since the beginning of Fieldstone
-5-
Academy requesting the move to Gunnison
City using the Council minutes from previous City Council meetings. The
Conditional Use Permit approved by the City was also read and
summarized. Mayor Nay turned the time over for public comment.
Brian O’Mara (Diane Titze’s son-in-law)
stated their concerns regarding trespassing on the property that is
vacant much of the time. He also questioned the state of the school and
the element the students bring into the area. Mayor Nay commented how
helpful it would be to have a meeting with the Cities and the Academy
leaders once a year to keep the Academy up on the local laws and answer
any questions either side may have. Chris welcomed anyone to come to
the school with their concerns and talk to him and see the school.
Chris stated he currently has 16 students, 13 borders and 3 locals (from
the area) with staff members being 4 teachers, a janitor and a couple
administrative members. Jarvis Sorensen questioned whether or not the
water shares had been turned in. Council Member B. Jensen stated they
had not been turned in yet, and the City would be working on getting the
school into compliance with the City Ordinance. Chris stated he would
work on getting those shares turned into the City which they are
currently at the Gunnison Bank used as security on a loan. The value
of turning in the shares to the City was reviewed and explained again to
Chris. Diane Titze questioned the accreditation of the school. She
would like a copy of the certificate, and Chris stated he would get that
for her and she would also be able to go online to check the
certification. Chris then stated the name they were accredited as dba/Fieldstone
Academy. He also noted they called the students schools for background
checks and have interviews with the parents and students since there was
no actual way to find out if they have felonious backgrounds since the
records are sealed when they are juveniles. If they receive a student
who has a problem or is involved in an incident in the community for an
actual fact, they are usually sent home, but are dealt with on an
individual basis. Mark Henline commended Chris for trying to operate
his business and what he was doing for the students and felt the
community should welcome them. Chief Halliday explained the
investigations he had taken care of reporting they included students
that are local citizens, and not just Fieldstone Academy. Tom Anderson
stated his concerns of the 2 bonfires he had seen at the school and the
question of the adequate supervision for the students. He would also
like to know what the rules at the school are. He also questioned the
background checks for the employees. Chris explained the background
checks are done on all employees with one exception this past year that
was a local hired by references in the local community stating he
deserved a second chance. Chris then introduced one of his students,
Andrew Laurel, who was involved in one of the investigations. Andrew
explained his situation and expressed his appreciation to the school for
helping him and giving him a second chance. He also disclosed the
information he knew about many of the other students who had attended
Fieldstone. Becki Carlisle set forth her opinion on the supervision
issue at Fieldstone feeling that the students should be watched closer
especially at night. Chris then communicated to the citizens if there
was any damage to their properties by his students that he would be
responsible to take care of it. Mayor Nay determined the main concerns
were trespassing, zoning requirements, supervision and runaways. She
encouraged better communication between the City, citizens and
Fieldstone. The citizens encouraged Chris to have the students at
Fieldstone respect private properties. Mayor Nay addressed that any
further concerns should be taken directly to Chris unless they are
infractions and need to be reported to the proper authorities.'"
Source: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/113327196/00633201111021119085096 |
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| Fieldstone Academy is not a recognized private school in Utah. Source: http://schools.utah.gov/main/INFORMATION/Educational-Directory/DOCS/2013EducationalDirectory.aspx (Page 145). | ||
| Fieldstone Academy has a few complaints to police that include assault/fighting and the need for an ambulance. | ||
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