Biography

Hello!

My name is Kiera Durfee, and I am SO EXCITED to teach 6th grade at Ranches Academy. I started teaching at The Ranches Academy in 2018 and LOVE it! I received my bachelor’s degree from Dixie State University in English, Literary Studies and have been involved in various aspects of education for over 15 years. I love teaching at The Ranches Academy. I love the child-centered focus here, and I’m thrilled to be part of the team!

I have three spunky, fiery girls: Lily, Kate, and Scarlett, and they are my biggest supporters, my greatest joys, and also the reason I drink so much Coke Zero. We love spending time together playing games, hiking, being with friends, creating, baking, watching movies, and adventuring! I enjoy Olympic weightlifting, writing, playing the piano, reading books, sleeping in, eating Mexican food (or any food), traveling, and chatting with friends (while eating queso – it’s better that way). We love living in Eagle Mountain. We love the community, the schools, the people. It’s fulfilling and awesome!

I have such enthusiasm for teaching. Any age, any grade! Whether it’s teaching music, reading, math, or character education, I love watching light bulbs click and seeing the fireworks go off in kids’ brains. It’s exciting, and I love being a part of it! I believe in a safe classroom community that nurtures mistake-making, encourages creativity, and promotes problem-solving. We all have “bubble-gum brains” that stretch and grow and are not “fixed” a certain way, and I hope I can help all of these incredible kids understand just how much their brains can grow in 6th grade. It’s going to be fantastic!

I place great importance on and value any kind of parental involvement; please contact me (email, face-to-face, carrier pigeon) with ANY concerns or questions you might have for me as your child’s teacher. I love getting to know my students’ families.

I can’t wait! We are going to have so much fun celebrating learning!