Faculty and Staff
Ivy Farguheson, Principal
Ivy Farguheson has a BA in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a MA in language, literacy and sociocultural studies from the University of New Mexico. She is currently a PhD student in the Education, Culture and Society department at the University of Utah researching the importance of culturally responsive secondary education for black refugee students. Originally from the Boston metropolitan area, she is a second-generation American with parents from Costa Rica. She is a former high school social studies teacher – she taught in Albuquerque, NM and Washington, D.C. – who also speaks Spanish fluently. Ivy is an avid runner who is attempting to run a marathon in every U.S. state and Washington, D.C. She is also a diehard Red Sox fan.
Ethan Wivietsky, Assistant Principal
Ethan Wivietsky has degrees and certifications in English, social studies, business, psychology, and educational leadership from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, California State University – Northridge, and Adelphi University. He believes that all students should be given choice and a voice in how they learn. He likes to encourage students and staff to improve themselves and provide opportunities for them to do so. He also strives for self-improvement. Mr. Wivietsky has a wealth of experience with English language learners, students with special needs, and alternative school settings. He has a talent for singing, acting, and public speaking, and he enjoys skiing, hiking, and rock climbing with his wife and three daughters.
Alya Al Mashhadani, Para-Professional
Alya Al mashhadani has a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood from the University of Baghdad. She taught kindergarten for four years in Baghdad, Iraq. She was a lead teacher at Head start, Utah. She enjoys reading, listens to music, meditating, and travel.
Jack Benton, Art
Jack Benton has a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts with an Emphasis on Photography and Digital Media from Westminster College. He worked as the campus photographer for his alma mater of Westminster and then as a freelance photographer in the Salt Lake area for three years. After years of photo taking, he pursued teaching through Utah’s APPEL program. While his own art creation has slowed down, he enjoys the opportunity to enhance other’s skills. When not appreciating the arts, he enjoys snowboarding, biking, playing drums and cooking
Alana Boynton, Social Studies
Alana Boynton has a B.A. in Anthropology from New College of Florida, and a M.Ed. in Education, Culture, and Society from the University of Utah. Ms. Boynton developed a love for learning languages and making cross-cultural connections because she spent her youth living in seven different countries. She has spent the last ten years working as an English and Spanish tutor, a youth mentor, a multi-subject paraeducator and substitute teacher, and a Spanish teacher. She loves to read, watch movies, nap, and work on her pottery wheel.
Chelsea Diem, Reading 
Chelsea received her Bachelor of Art in English Secondary Education from Montana State University and upon graduating, she moved to Nagoya, Japan to teach English as a second language. When she moved back to America she found a school in California where she taught a variety of subjects such as English, speech, and Japanese. As a teacher at UICS she hopes to help students access the world through literacy and self-empowerment. When she’s not teaching she enjoys riding her bike, cooking, playing in the mountains, and spending time with her husband and dog.
Jamilya Hankishiyeva, Social Studies
Jamilya Hankishiyeva has a diploma in teaching and a masters degree in Education, Culture, and Society from the University of Utah. She has worked as a secondary school administrator and a teacher. She has also served as a teacher training officer for the United Nations Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization and as a country coordinator for American Councils for International Education.
Dzana Hercinovic, English
Dzana has a Bachelors degree in Linguistics with an emphasis in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the University of Utah. She graduated in 2009 and has since then taught English as a Second Language to adult refugee and international students at an alternative high school for the Salt Lake City School District. She also taught at various other community and social services centers in the Salt Lake City region to a vast population of learners.
Marty Kasteler, Special Education
Mr. Kasteler has a degree in History from the University of Utah and completed the Alternative Teacher Preparation in Special Education from Utah State. He worked as a para-educator at Olympus Junior High while completing his education. After graduating, he taught math and ran the behavior unit at Hunter Junior High before joining the staff at Utah International. In addition to working his day job, Mr. Kasteler also worked and volunteered at various programs for “at risk” youth. When not teaching, Mr. Kasteler enjoys building and sailing boats, biking, camping, and spending time with his wife and two dogs.
Dave Lindsey, History
Dave Lindsey has a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Fullerton majoring in Communications and minoring in English. Dave also holds a History endorsement and has a passion for understanding the details of history. He is currently taking classes to complete his secondary teaching license through Utah’s APPEL program. He worked in auditing, sales, sales support, customer relations and technical support before becoming a teacher of history. When not teaching Dave likes to hike, ride his bike, explore the outdoors and take road trips. He loves to travel and spend time with his wife and three daughters.
Andrew Maguire, Science
Andrew Maguire was born and has spent most of his life in Salt Lake City, Utah. He received a BA in German and a BS in Economics from the University of Utah in 2017. Throughout his early career, he has worked as a youth mentor and guitar teacher. Education and music are two things that he is very passionate about.
Tracy McDiarmid, Math
Tracy has a degree in Liberal Studies from Cal-State Fullerton, with an emphasis in middle school math. Mrs. McDiarmid received a secondary teaching credential from Point Loma Nazarene University for mathematics. While attending Cal-State Fullerton and raising two children she worked at Raney Middle School in the Corona-Norco Unified School District in Riverside County as an academic aid for in-class suspension. This is where she developed her love for students in the middle grades. Mrs. McDiarmid is also fluent in French, which she learned while serving a church mission in Quebec, Canada. She has taught algebra and test prep classes to at-risk youth at the high school level while teaching in California and also 7th and 8th grade druing the last 6 years. Mrs. McDiarmid grew up in Utah and is so happy to be moving back and loves spending time with her family, hiking, skiiing, running outdoors, yoga, gardening, and improving her teaching practice. She finds Utah quite cold and is excited for winter to run its course.
Ashlee Mullender, Health & P.E.
Ashlee Nelson has a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion and Education with a minor in Linguistics from the University of Utah. She also has an ESL endorsement to teach English to students who speak other languages. Ashlee worked for the Salt Lake City School District as a Substitute Teacher for the and also worked at West High School as a paraprofessional for five years with students in the Special Education Program. Currently she is working on a Masters Degree in Special Education for mild/moderate disabilities k-12. Ashlee is looking forward to providing the school community with quality information regarding Physical Education and Health Education.
Usha Narra, Science
Usha has a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Sciences with a minor in Mathematics. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education as well as Master’s Degree in Math Education. She has been teaching Math and Physics in Salt Lake City for the past 11 years. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, playing tennis and table tennis and spending time with her family.
Keiko Nenbee, Math
Keiko has a BS in Psychology from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. She taught middle and high school math in Mississippi for ten years. Then, she served in the Peace Corps in Lesotho, Africa teaching secondary mathematics for two years. She moved to Utah in 2018 and last year taught high school math at Garfield School.
Jean Bosco Ntahontuye, Math
Jean Bosco holds a B.A.Ed. (French and Mathematics) and M.Ed (Sociology of Education) from University of Zambia and M.A. (World Languages) from University of Utah. His passion about teaching stems far back when he was in high school and used to coach a small group of students in mathematics and principals of account. His research interests are to explore student centered methods that do not place more burden on the students but are responsive to various students’ needs and interests.
Desirae Patchett, Special Education Teacher
Desirae is currently working on her Masters in Special Education. She received her Bachelor of Science in English, History, Women Gender Studies, and Secondary Education with minors in; Family and human Development and Political Science from Utah State University. Before attending college Desirae moved to New York where she tutored low income families and helped manage a community center. When she moved back to Utah for school she continued to find jobs working with children. She wanted to help students feel a connection to their education. After graduating from USU she went to work at a charter school that was primarily for students that came from Latino and Polynesian cultures. Desirae also worked online teaching students from China how to speak English. She found her passion helping students that did not think they could learn excel and feel passionate about their education again. As a teacher at UICS she hopes to help students access knowledge and connect to their learning in a way they never thought was possible. When she’s not teaching she enjoys spending time with her two beautiful children, family and friends. She loves yoga, hiking and camping, and reading.
Westin Porter, English
Westin Porter teaches English Language Arts grades 9 and 10. He has a bachelors of science from the University of Utah in Writing & Rhetoric Studies and has spent his professional career engaged in community journalism, education, and public programming in Salt Lake City. Westin is passionate about basketball, fishing, and working with people.
Alexander Purser, Music
Alexander received a Bachelor’s Degree in vocal performance from BYU-Idaho then continued his education to receive a Master’s Degree in Opera Performance from Eastman School of Music. Alexander teaches general music at Utah International Charter School in Salt Lake City. In addition, he teaches voice and piano through his practice – ATPurser Studio. When he is not working, he enjoys being outside and playing with his family.
Angela Rowland, Biology
Angie Rowland has a degree in English from Dartmouth College, and masters degrees in social work and educational leadership from the University of Utah. She has been an elementary school teacher and a social worker, as well as a high school administrator and teacher at Judge Memorial. She was the principal of Utah International from before it opened in 2013 until 2022, and now she is the biology teacher. Ms. Rowland has two grown-up children and likes to read, knit, and do outdoor sports.
Lara Rudloff, School Counselor
Lara has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from George Mason University and a Master’s Degree in School Counseling from Utah State University. She has 15 years of counseling experience. She loves working with youth and helping them discover their interests and talents. In her free time she loves traveling, collecting vinyl records, and watching documentaries.
José Miguel Santelices, Music
José Miguel is a promising, eclectic, young Chilean tenor. He is currently pursuing his D.M.A. (doctorate) in Vocal Performance and holds the tenor position at the Marriott Graduate Vocal Quartet. As an educator, Mr. Santelices advocates for a holistic and personalized approach to singing. He teaches the seminar “The World of Opera” at The University of Utah, maintains a private voice studio, and teaches Music at Utah International Charter School, where he has the privilege of working with a highly diverse and multicultural student body. Besides performing a wide variety of operatic roles, José Miguel has directed productions and scenes at the University of Utah. His voice has been heard internationally in Chile, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico, Austria, Italy, Canada, and the United States. José Miguel is a native of Santa Cruz, Chile and holds a B.A. in Music from St. Lawrence University and a M.M. in Voice Performance from the University of South Florida. He is also a proud graduate of UWC Costa Rica and board member of the Chilean UWC National Committee.
Narad Sapkota, Para-Professional
Narad Sapkota is originally from Bhutan. While living in Nepal, he has worked as a middle and high school teacher in the schools under the Bhutanese Refugee Education Program (Caritas Nepal) and has also taught in different schools of Nepal. He has taught mathematics and other subjects for more than a period of 13 years. As a teacher, he has also done teaching training courses from several International Agencies like UNHCR, Lutheran World Federation, and Caritas Nepal. He has done Title-I Paraprofessional Assessment from Granite School District, Utah, and also has Bachelor in Arts from India. He has been working as an after-school program tutor and para educator at Utah International Charter School since 2014. During his free time, he loves volunteering in the community and gardening.
Kim Warren, English
Kim Warren has both a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Utah and a Master of Education degree from Weber State University. Kim enjoys teaching students to find value in what they are learning by helping them make connections with the curriculum through their own eyes and perspectives. She adopts an interdisciplinary approach to teaching, and she uses collaboration in the classroom to engage all students.