Meet Our Admin Team
Angela Pontious
Principal/Director
Angela Pontious has over 12 years of teaching experience in the areas of band, orchestra, and music theory. She served as the Director of Instrumental Music and Department Chair at Highland High School, Director of Bands at American Fork Junior High, and Bull Run Middle School (Gainesville, VA). Highlights of her teaching career include establishing band and orchestra programs at BRMS, creating a district art curriculum and assessments, mentoring new district art teachers, hosting district events, and performing at the Utah Music Educators Association conference.
Angela received her Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Ball State University and her Master of Arts degree in Arts Administration from Florida State University. As a clarinetist, she has performed with many community bands including Fairfax Wind Symphony, Tallahassee Symphonic Winds, Southwestern Ohio Symphonic Band, and Salt Lake Symphonic Winds. Angela has also been a member of the Bands of America/Music for All SWAG Team and on staff with George N. Parks Drum Major Academy.
CONTACT: EXT 147 || APONTIOUS@SALTLAKESPA.ORG
Emily Andersen
Assistant Principal
Emily Andersen is a seasoned educator and administrator with a distinguished 19-year career spanning various educational settings, including public, private, charter, and online schools. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Teaching English Language Arts with a minor in History, earned from Brigham Young University and a Master of Science in Education Leadership from Southern Utah University.
Emily has garnered recognition for her exceptional contributions to curriculum development, educational leadership, and community service, amassing a total of 18 awards. Her commitment to innovation and excellence is evident through the successful acquisition of two project grants and her invitation to present at national education conferences on 15 occasions.
Emily's expertise extends to instructional design, where she has authored six courses and overseen the development of numerous others. Beyond her roles in the classroom, Emily has dedicated herself to mentoring three administrative interns, contributing to the next generation of educational leaders.
Colleagues consistently describe Emily as an "innovative" and "visionary" leader, recognizing her ability to drive positive change in educational environments. However, Emily's true passion lies in the individualized educational experiences she tailors to each student, an approach she believes is paramount to fostering their success.
CONTACT: EXT 150 || EANDERSEN@SALTLAKESPA.ORG
Bethany Hansen
Artistic Director | Dance Dept Chair
Bethany J. Hansen, a graduate of Brigham Young University (BA) and Jacksonville University (MFA), is a sought-after teacher, choreographer, and performer. Bethany is the Head of the Dance Department and Dance Conservatory Director at the Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts (2007-present). Bethany is also the Assistant Chair of the Dance Department at Westminster College (2014-present). Previously she taught at Ricks College and Brigham Young University – Idaho (2000-2004). Bethany has received many awards including the 2019 Utah Dance Education Organization Teacher of the Year representing Higher Education, 2016 Howard Gilman Fellowship supporting her MFA, the Sorenson Legacy Award for Excellence in Arts Education 2016 Outstanding Secondary Dance Educator and the SPA Legend award from the Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts.
Her graduating students have gone on to dance professionally with Repertory Dance Theatre, The Walt Disney Company, Table of Silence Project in NYC, Houston Texan Cheerleader (NFL), Vitacca Ballet, Central West Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet, Movement Talent Agency, and Stiletto Entertainment; while others have continued their collegiate study on scholarship at Trinity Laban Conservatory (London), Ailey/Fordham University (NYC), Marymount Manhattan College (NYC), North Carolina School for the Arts, The Hartt School (Connecticut), Boston Conservatory, CAL Arts (California), University of the Arts (Pennsylvania), Brigham Young University, University of Utah, and many other distinguished programs.
As a choreographer, her work has been performed throughout the United States and Canada. She is honored to have trained with Pat Debenham, Peggy Hackney, Alonzo King, Ana Sanchez-Colberg, Christina Teague-Mann, Cari Coble, and John Paul Zaccarini to name a few. She has guest performed with Repertory Dance Theatre, Jacksonville University, and with Bay Area Dance in San Francisco.
Her movement can be described as powerful and driven by force, using momentum in an expansive and creative way, playing with the architecture of the body and space fused together by detailed transitions. Yet it finds a controlled release by accessing proper anatomical alignment.
CONTACT: EXT 111 || BHANSEN@SALTLAKESPA.ORG
Kim Dahle
Counseling Secretary | Registrar | Recruitment | Attendance
I am excited to be back at SPA! I have worked in education for over 16 years all on a High School level. I have been married to Chad for 25 years and have two grown boys, Tyson and Jake. I have a dog named Willow and my cat, Luna. I am a self-proclaimed urban farmer. I am very proud of my amazing flower and vegetable gardens, I keep chickens and honey bees. I enjoy growing and storing and cooking my own food. Simply put I love the outdoors, from yard work to camping, to sitting on the beach. I am excited to be here again with all these amazing people. SPA is home.
CONTACT: EXT 145 || KDAHLE@SALTLAKESPA.ORG
Gaye Young
Administrative Assistant
Gaye Young's degree is in Youth Agency Administration from Brigham Young University. She has worked as a Training Specialist and a Program Development Director for the Girl Scouts for several years and as a paraprofessional for 9 years at Idaho Arts Charter School, APA, Canyons School District as well as here at SPA. She also taught a Drama Class at Nibley Park School. Gaye is excited to be using her administrative experience as the Administrative Assistant here at SPA.
CONTACT: EXT 106 || GYOUNG@SALTLAKESPA.ORG
Karen Keefe
Special Projects
Karen has been associated with SPA since the Fall of 2016 when her daughter, was a freshman. She has worn many hats at SPA including substitute teacher, PTO Treasurer, COVID testing coordinator, Attendance administrator, and most recently Recruitment Specialist. At SPA she’s considered the “Jack of All Trades” always willing to do what it takes to get the job done. Despite her daughter graduating class of 2020 ( NYU Musical Theatre Class of 2024), she and her husband Doug are still very active with SPA.
CONTACT: EXT 151 || KKEEFE@SALTLAKESPA.ORG