Administration Team
Melia Balls, Executive Director
Melia grew up in South Jordan, Utah. She moved away to attend college at USU. As she was finishing up her Bachelor’s degree, she met her sweetheart Bryce. Together they have three amazing children. Melia has taught students from pre-school to college. She loves seeing the sense of wonder and discovery as students learn something new. There is something magical about the look in a student’s eye when they finally understand that keeps bringing her back to the classroom.
Melia is an Aggie at heart. Once moving to Cache Valley, she has never left. She loves learning and has a Master’s degree in Instructional Leadership and is working on a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on STEM education. When not studying or writing papers, Melia loves being with her family as they explore the outdoors on horseback, four-wheelers or just hiking. She loves camping and traveling.
Bill Graham, Dean of Students & Families
I always told myself that I never wanted to become an administrator. I have happily worked as a classroom teacher for over a decade, but from day one at CCID, I knew that I wanted to be more deeply involved with this school. I have experienced firsthand how transformative our teaching model is for our students. We teach to the whole child and we treat our students as more than data points; I have personally watched students who started the school year disengaged and unmotivated transform into enthusiastic, active learners. This positive experience pushed me in the direction of becoming an administrator. I want to ensure the success of CCID for the sake of the innovative, inspirational teachers and students who would risk stagnating or not being challenged in a traditional educational context. I truly believe that CCID is at the forefront of creating the ideal instructional model for the 21st century classroom. The world around us is changing rapidly, and we need to ensure that our students gain the educational and social skills necessary to become successful, informed, and caring adults.
My personal interests and hobbies are a mix of science, ecology, painting, gardening, and music. I earned a B.S. in Horticulture and a M.Ed. in Elementary Education, both from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I also have my Educational Leadership Endorsement from Utah State University. I am a naturally curious individual who likes to tinker with things and figure out how they work. I think we all start out this way: with a drive to determine how the world around us functions. Many students lose this initial spirit of inquiry as they progress up the educational ladder, especially when classroom focus is directed towards rote memorization of individual subject information. My aim as an educator--and as an administrator--is to instill in my students and teachers an unwavering and lifelong curiosity about the world, from the biological to the cultural, and to build from memorization to a genuine acquisition of knowledge. I truly believe that every child can be successful, and that my job is to figure out the individual needs of each of my students. I want CCID to be a place where every student feels that their voice is heard and their interests are important.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at 435-258-7097 or [email protected]
Megan McGrath, Curriculum & Instruction
Megan comes to CCID from multiple states. She was born and raised in Ohio, then went to Smith College for a Bachelor's in Engineering Science. She was then accepted in to Teach for America and spent the first five years of her teaching career as a 7th grade math teacher and robotics coach in Mississippi. Megan then moved to Memphis, TN and taught 8th grade math, algebra 1, and STEM. During this first six years of teaching, Megan earned her National Board Certification in Early Adolescent Math and is currently pursuing a Master's in Math Education with Mt. Holyoke College.
Megan strives for a learning environment where students are learning from discovery and exploring their own interests/talents.
When not at school, Megan enjoys all things outdoors, cooking, and reading. She so enjoys being a part of the CCID family and living in Cache Valley!
Lynn Raymond, Director of Education Technology and Assessment
Lynn was born in Idaho and spent most of his years growing up in small towns and working on farms. At the time he had his sites set on college so he could get away from the farmwork. It's funny how perspective changes, over time he came to love and appreciate the country, farm life and being raised in a large family in the "back hills." He spent a couple of years serving in Japan and then attended Utah State University for his undergraduate degree. In the early years of education he taught Human Biology, Biology and some PE.
Lynn attended the University of Utah to receive a masters in Educational Leadership and Policy. He has been in educational leadership for over 20 years. He is excited to be at CCID and loves the students, families and faculty here.
Lynn's greatest achievement and joy in life is his family. He is in his element when he is in the mountains surrounded by his wife, kids, grandkids and friends.