Administration
Meet the Team
Heidi Long
Executive Director
Heidi Long
Heidi Long always knew she'd make a lifelong career in education. It is what motivates and inspires her. She strives to create an ideal setting for children. This environment includes a place where students feel safe enough to take risks, challenge themselves, and explore what interests them. It is an environment where teachers are empowered to create a place of learning that is student-centered and encourages exploration and discovery. Her professional background includes 25 years of service in a variety of educational environments, including being a classroom teacher, a curriculum coordinator, a smaller learning communities director, and a school administrator, where she has had experiences in both the elementary and secondary settings as both a principal and vice-principal. She holds a Bachelor's of Education in English and Speech Communications and a Masters degree in Educational Leadership and Administration. Heidi enjoys spending time with her husband and kids, especially involving any activities that involve sunny skies, beaches, and beautiful lakes and oceans!
hlong@igniteutah.org
hlong@igniteutah.org
Kimberly Nahinu
Assistant Principal
Kimberly Nahinu
Kim Nahinu has a passion for education and striving for students' intellectual development and achievement in a supportive, positive climate where children feel safe, loved, and respected. Her education, coupled with years of teaching experience, has inspired her to join the administration team. The bulk of her teaching was spent in primary grades and special education. She was also a high school volleyball coach. Ms. Kim holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Special Education, and a Masters in Administrative Leadership. When she’s not busy at school, Ms. Kim and her husband spend their weekends cheering on their three children in football, volleyball, tennis, and orchestra. Her family also enjoys traveling, especially to Hawaii and Las Vegas, to see their family and friends. Ms. Kim considers it a great privilege and responsibility to be your child’s assistant principal this year and is looking forward to a new adventure as an administrator at Ignite full of learning, growing, and fun! She is proud to be a firebird!
knahinu@igniteutah.org
knahinu@igniteutah.org
Danni Buttermore
Special Education Director
Danni Buttermore
Danni Buttermore holds a MAT in Special Education and an Ed.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from Liberty University. She is continuing with her doctorate in Special Education. Danni believes in the power of special education and the irreplaceable potential of each student that she is honored to work with. She is the mother of three adorable, angelic, humorous, strong, kind, and joyful children. They love finding great parks, reading at night, watching movies, and eating Oreos.
Mission Statement = Challenges create Courage Compassion Critical Thinking
"Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength." - Christopher Reeves
dbuttermore@igniteutah.org
dbuttermore@igniteutah.org
Dawn McNiel
Ignite Virtual Director
Dawn McNiel
You will often hear Ms. Dawn say, "Virtual Learning is the wave of the future!" She is excited to be Ignite Virtual's 2022/2023 Director and plans to take us into the future a little sooner. Ms. Dawn is a child advocate and works for and toward school reform. She respects the child's journey and getting to be a small part of it is her greatest joy! Her love of teaching began when she homeschooled her own children which led her to work in private, public, and charter schools. She has taught grades 1st through 8th and had many leadership opportunities at Ignite and USBE. She attended Wilmington University in DE receiving a bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education K-6, a double Minor in K-12 Special Education and History, and a Masters in School Leadership. She looks forward to creating an educational community where everyone can thrive. mailto:dmcniel@igniteutah.org">dmcniel@igniteutah.org
Colleen Lamoreaux
School Counselor
Colleen Lamoreaux
Colleen Lamoreaux has 10 years of experience as a counselor working with students in a variety of grades. Her background in working with a large diverse population gave her the freedom to explore many different opportunities that benefited children's mental health and well-being. Her passion for working with students in the education field comes from a long family history of educators in her family. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Family and Consumer Sciences and a Master's Degree in Guidance Counseling and Human Services and is a licensed counselor in the state of Utah. She and her husband share 6 children between them which includes 6 grand children and 1 great grandchild. Colleen and her husband enjoy eating out at restaurants, traveling, and karaoke on the weekends. They reside in Murray, Utah.
clamoreaux@igniteutah.org
clamoreaux@igniteutah.org
Gary Adams
Finance/Human Resources Director
Gary Adams
Gary Adams is a Certified Public Accountant with more than 25 years’ experience in accounting, auditing, tax and business services. He celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit and is excited about the possibilities that Ignite will provide for young people. His career has been spent mainly with small businesses, helping new and emerging companies with high quality financial services. Gary graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. He worked with Ernst & Whinney in Sacramento, CA and later returned to Utah where he has been a partner in a CPA firm and Chief Financial Officer of several businesses. He currently owns his own accounting practice in Spanish Fork. Gary and his wife, Gini, are the parents of four children and grandparents of seven.
gadams@igniteutah.org
gadams@igniteutah.org