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
Wendy Berger
Counselor
Wendy Berger has worked in education for ten years; the last eight years at the secondary level as a student advocate and behavior interventionist. Wendy is passionate about helping students find success. She has vast experience providing students with a tiered level of support while collaborating with relevant stakeholders to empower others. One of Wendy's strengths is her ability to connect and build relationships. She believes that when students have a strong support system, they will become successful.
Wendy completed a Bachelor of Science from Weber State University in social work and recently graduated with a Master of Education in School Counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg VA. Wendy has lived and raised her family in Northern Utah for the past thirty-four years. She is excited to be a part of the SPA team.
CONTACT: EXT || WBERGER@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
Rebecca Braun
Administrative Assistant
Rebecca was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She worked at the University of Denver for almost 10 years as the Executive Assistant in the Department for Judaic Studies and then as the EA for the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies. She also worked in a k-12 independent school in the Denver area as the EA to the Head of School and the Admission Director and another k-12 school in Naples, FL adding the role of volunteer coordinator for various fundraisers. She and her husband returned to Colorado and she eventually worked at Colorado Rocky Mountain School, primarily a boarding school, for 4 years before she decided to travel and do volunteer work for a few years. She is an avid reader, a master gardener, loves to hike, snowshoe, and cross country ski.
CONTACT: EXT 100 || RBRAUN@SALTLAKESPA.ORG
