Mrs. Adamic began her education career at Dixon Middle School in Provo back in 1989 while attending BYU.  She started as a math assistant but was quickly asked to step in as a language arts intern mid-year when a staff member left.  After graduating and receiving her teaching degree she took on additional responsibilities and served as a team leader.  Her time at Dixon served her well since it was there that she was introduced to the middle school concept and taught to make every effort to reach each child.

After her third child was born she took a few years off to be with her children.  She returned to the education world in 2000 by researching the benefits of charter schools within the public education system.   Through her efforts and those of other dedicated parents the Utah State Legislature allowed for charter school growth in 2001.  She has been an active advocate for strong charter school law and strong charter schools. She is currently serving as the board chair for the Utah State Charter School Board as a gubernatorial appointment.

Mrs. Adamic has been the Director at John Hancock Charter School since 2002 when it opened as the 9th charter school in Utah. In 2005 John Hancock Charter School was designated the first Official Core Knowledge Visitation School in the state.  The Sutherland Institute recognized JHCS as being the top performing school in Utah County for 2006 and JHCS won Charter School of the Year in 2007. 

Connie Orton graduated from Brigham Young University in 1986 with a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education. She recently completed her Early Childhood Education Endorsement with the State of Utah. While her children were young she volunteered in their elementary classrooms.  Later she established her own preschool where she taught for three years before joining the staff at John Hancock Charter School in March of 2004.

 She lives in Pleasant Grove with her husband Sterling and four of their five children Kimberly, Jennifer, Chelsea and Jonathan.  Besides being a Mom, she also enjoys working with a youth group, gardening and reading.

My name is Tatum Bunker.  I graduated from Southern Utah University in 1999 earning a B.S. in Elementary Education, with concentrations in math and music.  After graduation, I alternated between teaching and being a stay at home mom.  I have taught 2nd grade, in a K-1-2 combined class and as a music specialist.  I currently teach 1st grade at John Hancock and LOVE it everyday!!

I also love spending time with my husband, Derek and our four children. We like to go boating together when the weather cooperates.  When I get a spare minute to myself I like to scrapbook, read and take long naps.

Janet Child has been teaching 4th Grade at John Hancock Charter School for the past 4 years, and absolutely loves her job.  Janet has also been a teacher within the Core Knowledge system for the past 4 years, having written several units which are used nationwide within the Core Knowledge program.  Janet has also presented her units at Core Knowledge National conferences in Atlanta, GA and Washington D.C.   

Mrs. Child previously taught 3rd grade at Pinnacle Canyon Academy, a charter school based in Price, UT.  Janet has also taught 7th grade as well.  Mrs. Child graduated in 1997, from Utah State University, with a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Science.
Mrs. Child currently lives in Pleasant Grove with her husband, John, and 3 children; Kaijsa, Kaitlyn, and Kira.  Janet enjoys music, running, the outdoors, and spending time with family.

I began teaching 6^th grade at Ivy Hall Academy in February, 2002.  Before that, I taught as a substitute teacher for 8 years in Long Beach, Washington.  I graduated from BYU in Secondary Ed, 2002.  My emphasis was History and English as a Second Language.  I have taught piano and voice for more than 15 years and performed in several choirs and piano recitals at college.  While living in Long Beach, I organized “The Peninsula Children’s Choir”, a non-profit choir.  As President and Director, we performed at many state competitions, parades, and public parties.  Disney Land was a highlight for the 100 children voice choir, as was our annual Christmas Play/musical.  I love music and find ways to use it in my teaching.  I have five children, three boys and two girls ages 17,16,15,14 & 2.  In my spare time I love to garden, hike, play the piano, scrap book and to cook.  I love teaching.  I love the smiles, laughter, and sharing with the children on a daily basis.  I can’t think of a better way to share my talents than with 5^th graders!

Diane Ballard graduated from The University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1980 with a Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education, specializing in Special Education.  After raising a family of two girls and three boys, she started teaching 6th grade at John Hancock Charter School in October, 2002. She states that she has been working hard and immensely enjoying herself ever since!  Mrs. Ballard and her husband have been  residents of American Fork for twenty years.  Each of her children have attended schools in the area, including:  Barrett Elementary, American Fork Jr. High, Mountain Ridge Jr. High, American Fork High, Lone Peak High, Liahona, JHCS, UCAS, UVSC, and University of Utah.  Mrs. Ballard believes that awakening curiosity and having high expectations is the key to educating.

Jan Williams was born in Los Angeles and spent her growing up years in North Hollywood, California and Houston, Texas. She has since lived in a variety of places including Colorado, Maryland, and now Utah.  Jan is married to Dave and they have five children and five grandchildren.  Jan received her B.A. in Elementary Education from Metropolitan State College in Denver, Colorado in 1979.  She substituted and then taught 6th grade for a few years choosing then to stay home with her children.  Jan recertified  last year in order to return to teaching.  She is enjoying being back in the classroom!

 In her spare time Jan likes to travel. She spent six weeks in Thailand last summer where she climbed a waterfall, rode an elephant, and thoroughly enjoyed the Thai culture.  She also enjoys reading, gardening, and spending lots of time with her grandchildren.

I graduated from Ricks College in 1987 with an Associates Degree in Elementary Education and from Brigham Young University in 1989 with a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education.  I taught 1^st, 3^rd, and 6^th grades, in Utah, for 3 years before our family moved to California, where we then lived for 10 years.  While in California, I took time off from teaching and enjoyed staying home and being a mom.  I served in the PTA of my children’s elementary school of 1, 525+ students though, as Treasurer and President.  I have also tutored students in math over the last 8 years.

I currently live in Cedar Hills, with my husband Shawn, and 4 children, Megan, Brendon, Caden and Corbin.

I thoroughly love teaching 8^th grade.  I am happy to be a part of John Hancock Charter School’s pursuit of excellence in education.

Kim Call was born and raised in San Diego, California.  After high school, she attended Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho where she received an associates degree in 1987.  She then worked at Sea World, San Diego to save money for a mission to Honuduras, C.A. for the LDS Church. Upon returning home, she taught Spanish to outgoing missionaries, for three years, while finishing her schooling at BYU.  In 1991, she received her BS in Elementary Education. 

Kim met her husband, Curtis, at BYU and while he was finishing school, she taught in the Special Education Department at an inner city school in Salt Lake City.  Next she taught two years at Cascade Elementary School in Orem, Utah.  She served as a Reading, Math and Language Arts teacher, and a PE Specialist. 

Kim took eight years off from teaching to be a full-time mom to four children, Mandi, Marshall, Megan, and Makayla.  At the same time she worked on an Early Childhood endorsement which focused greatly on early reading skills.  She has also taught preschool. 

Currently, Kim is the Reading Specialist/Coach at JHCS.  She has served two years in this position and has kept up on her training by attending many Reading and Literacy Conferences.  Kim loves to read, learn new things, hike the mountains and spend time with her family.  She enjoys working with the teachers at JHCS whom she says, "Are amazing!"  She also loves to see struggling readers catch up and read at grade level. 

"It is a joy," she exclaims.  "It makes my job so worthwhile!"