Special Education
Meet the Team
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
Tana Angle
Administrative Assistant
Tana Angle
Taña is incredibly excited to be working at Ignite and especially in the Special Education Department. She is passionate about helping students and being an advocate for them. Her knowledge and understanding come from her own life experience of being in the trenches with her own special needs children. She knows that hard work, consistency and patience brings about great rewards. She loves learning about ways to encourage and inspire those whose path may look hard and challenging. Working with the students brings her joy because they are so full of love and hope. She and her husband, Rick, have been married for twenty glorious years and have amazingly strong, courageous and resilient children. Together they have two sons and two daughters. She is grateful for the knowledge she has acquired from being their mom and their biggest cheerleader. As a family they enjoy playing all types of games and having quiet evenings at home. Taña is a native of Utah and enjoys the various seasons but definitely prefers the warmth of the sun. She looks forward to another great year working with the amazing staff and students at Ignite Entrepreneurship Academy!
tangle@igniteutah.org
tangle@igniteutah.org
Alyson Diepeveen
ParaProfessional
Alyson Diepeveen
Alyson has a passion for teaching and being around children. She does everything she can to make sure that children have a wonderful learning environment so they can grow and progress. She has worked in specail education for 2 years and before that she worked at a daycare and as a preschool teacher assistant. During the summer she works as an ABA therapist at an autism and behavioral intervention center. She is getting an online degree in marriage and family studies through Brigham Young University of Idaho and is hoping to get RBT certified. She loves working at Ignite and cannot wait for another fantastic year!
adiepeveen@igniteutah.org
adiepeveen@igniteutah.org
Hunter Angle
ParaProfessional
Hunter Angle
Hunter Angle has enjoyed working in IEA's Special Education Department as a paraeducator. He finds that engaging students in work using a variety of resources and strategies is very rewarding. Hunter is currently attending college while working full time and enjoys the experiences he is gaining while working with colleagues, families, and students.
hangle@igniteutah.org
hangle@igniteutah.org
Tatyana Mara
ParaProfessional
Tatyana Mara
Miss Taty is excited to join Ignite’s Distance Learning team. Miss Taty is starting a new chapter and is looking forward to learning and growing with Ignite. She is so excited to work with your students and help them along their educational journey. Her favorite hobby is singing and playing music!
tmara@igniteutah.org
tmara@igniteutah.org
Jalen Gleaves
ParaProfessional
Jalen Gleaves
Jalen is excited to be a part of the Ignite team this year. As the oldest child in her family, oldest grandchild on her dad’s side, and second oldest grandchild on her mom’s side, Jalen is a great example to more than 25 younger siblings and cousins, including one on the autism spectrum. Jalen loved being a peer tutor in high school, she loves working with children and wants everyone to feel accepted and included. She is calm, creative, and has a fun sense of humor which comes in handy in different situations. Jalen loves music, Fast & Furious movies, and chocolate. She currently resides in Lehi. jgleaves@igniteutah.org
Tracy Hales
ParaProfessional
Tracy Hales
Tracy Hales is an amazing addition to Ignite's special education team! She has the ability to connect with students and relate to them in a way that builds trust and engages them in learning. Perhaps this is because she has spent several years in a variety of areas of the educational field and uses these teaching opportunities to make real world connections for students and to help them build confidence and motivation for learning both in the classroom and in life as well. thales@igniteutah.org
Julie Fleming
ParaProfessional
Julie Fleming
Julie received her Nurse Assistant Certification from Davis Technical College. She has always loved medicine and worked in the medical field for many years. Julie is married and has three beautiful children, they keep her on her toes! When her first child was born she knew that is where she wanted to be. Julie followed her to Kindergarten and 1st grade, volunteering in class nearly every day. She realized she loved watching the children learn. She loved watching their eyes light up as they mastered new concepts. She loved watching them problem solve and find their own unique qualities. When her youngest started Kindergarten she once again went back to the classroom, this time as an instructional aide. Julie enjoys spending time with her family doing whatever they can to make a memory. When they are not making a memory, she enjoys planning the next adventure. Julie is excited to enjoy the journey with the students and staff of Ignite!
jfleming@igniteutah.org
jfleming@igniteutah.org
Jessica Belnap
ParaProfessional
Jessica Belnap
Jessica is thrilled to be a part of the Ignite team this year! She has worked with kids of all ages for many years now and has specialized with one on one help with children specifically in a Montessori environment. Jessica is passionate about learning, helping students learn and helping them find their creative outlet. She enjoyed her time as a peer tutor all through high school and working in a Montessori preschool for years. Jessica is fun, patient, determined and has a desire and drive to help anyone in need. She also enjoys anything chocolate, and anytime she can get outside in the sun! Jessica is beyond excited for a great year at Ignite.
jbelnap@igniteutah.org