Professional:
Katie is a certified Prevention Specialist for Washington County. She currently facilitates the PEP (Personal Empowerment Program) for 2 local secondary schools, providing youth with life skills and coping skills and she coordinates the suicide prevention HOPE Squad at Dixie High School. Katie is also the coordinator for the Hurricane Valley Prevention Coalition, teaches Suicide Prevention Trainings (QPR) and volunteers with the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program in the 5th District Court. She has a degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology and is fascinated with the way people think and feel. Katie loves working with youth and will do anything she can to help out, even if it’s just by brushing out a student’s “rats nest” in their hair before they get home from school so they don’t get in trouble with mom.
Katie is a certified Prevention Specialist for Washington County. She currently facilitates the PEP (Personal Empowerment Program) for 2 local secondary schools, providing youth with life skills and coping skills and she coordinates the suicide prevention HOPE Squad at Dixie High School. Katie is also the coordinator for the Hurricane Valley Prevention Coalition, teaches Suicide Prevention Trainings (QPR) and volunteers with the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program in the 5th District Court. She has a degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology and is fascinated with the way people think and feel. Katie loves working with youth and will do anything she can to help out, even if it’s just by brushing out a student’s “rats nest” in their hair before they get home from school so they don’t get in trouble with mom.
Hobbies:
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Personal:
Hi, I’m Katie. I grew up in Murray Utah, just south of Salt Lake City. I loved growing up in a close knit community and living in the city. I moved to St. George in 2009 to go to school at Dixie State University where I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree. It wasn’t until I moved to St. George that I developed a major love for the outdoors. Growing up in the city the most “outdoorsy” thing we did was go boating in the summer. Now that I live in St George I spend every weekend outside, and even when I go back up to Salt Lake I try to hike and explore the areas that I never visited growing up. One of my greatest moments was hiking to the top of Mount Olympus and looking out at the beautiful horizon.
I am the youngest of a family of 4 and I am blessed to be the aunt of 3 nephews and 1 niece. Most of my family lives in the Salt Lake area still, but on my Dads side I am proud to say all of my family lives in the South. I love having southern roots and I try to visit Memphis, Tennessee as often as possible. Recently I went on a trip to Savannah Georgia, and I can now say that city is my favorite place on earth. I recommend a trip there to anyone who loves history and haunted (everything and everywhere is haunted in Savannah) locations. I also have been fortunate to visit 30+ of our US states including all over Hawaii and I have been to: Belize, Honduras, Mexico, and the Bahamas. I love to travel and will take a trip any chance I get. My dream is to visit Europe, especially spending a few days in Greece.
Another thing to know about me is my love for fashion. Before working for Prevention I worked for fashion retail companies for 7 years. I was able to manage clothing companies on site as well as online stores. I was a buyer for these companies and had the fun opportunity to attend retail conventions as well as traveling to the LA Fashion District to purchase inventory. I love fashion and design. I enjoy being creative with my teaching and I love getting to dress up for community events and prevention work.
Hi, I’m Katie. I grew up in Murray Utah, just south of Salt Lake City. I loved growing up in a close knit community and living in the city. I moved to St. George in 2009 to go to school at Dixie State University where I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree. It wasn’t until I moved to St. George that I developed a major love for the outdoors. Growing up in the city the most “outdoorsy” thing we did was go boating in the summer. Now that I live in St George I spend every weekend outside, and even when I go back up to Salt Lake I try to hike and explore the areas that I never visited growing up. One of my greatest moments was hiking to the top of Mount Olympus and looking out at the beautiful horizon.
I am the youngest of a family of 4 and I am blessed to be the aunt of 3 nephews and 1 niece. Most of my family lives in the Salt Lake area still, but on my Dads side I am proud to say all of my family lives in the South. I love having southern roots and I try to visit Memphis, Tennessee as often as possible. Recently I went on a trip to Savannah Georgia, and I can now say that city is my favorite place on earth. I recommend a trip there to anyone who loves history and haunted (everything and everywhere is haunted in Savannah) locations. I also have been fortunate to visit 30+ of our US states including all over Hawaii and I have been to: Belize, Honduras, Mexico, and the Bahamas. I love to travel and will take a trip any chance I get. My dream is to visit Europe, especially spending a few days in Greece.
Another thing to know about me is my love for fashion. Before working for Prevention I worked for fashion retail companies for 7 years. I was able to manage clothing companies on site as well as online stores. I was a buyer for these companies and had the fun opportunity to attend retail conventions as well as traveling to the LA Fashion District to purchase inventory. I love fashion and design. I enjoy being creative with my teaching and I love getting to dress up for community events and prevention work.
Why I chose prevention:
I am so beyond blessed to work in this field. I honestly can say I had no idea that prevention existed and I was lucky enough to have this job chosen for me in a way. As I was working in the fashion industry I thought that maybe I could squeeze in a part time job working in the behavioral health field. I had recently graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology and I really enjoyed my education, so it seemed natural to find something part time. I applied for a part time secretary position in prevention( to get my foot in the door and learn more about the opportunities at the Southwest Center.) After the interview, then Director of Prevention, Allen Sain, stopped me and asked me to apply for the Prevention Specialist position. I am so grateful that he noticed the potential that I had and that he pointed me in the right direction. After a second interview for the Prevention Specialist position, here I am. I love my job! I love the science behind prevention and the fact that there really is a proven way to keep kids away from negative behaviors……and I am lucky enough to be able to teach that every day.
I am so beyond blessed to work in this field. I honestly can say I had no idea that prevention existed and I was lucky enough to have this job chosen for me in a way. As I was working in the fashion industry I thought that maybe I could squeeze in a part time job working in the behavioral health field. I had recently graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology and I really enjoyed my education, so it seemed natural to find something part time. I applied for a part time secretary position in prevention( to get my foot in the door and learn more about the opportunities at the Southwest Center.) After the interview, then Director of Prevention, Allen Sain, stopped me and asked me to apply for the Prevention Specialist position. I am so grateful that he noticed the potential that I had and that he pointed me in the right direction. After a second interview for the Prevention Specialist position, here I am. I love my job! I love the science behind prevention and the fact that there really is a proven way to keep kids away from negative behaviors……and I am lucky enough to be able to teach that every day.