Mr. Mike Gantt – Board President

Mike Gantt is founder and sole proprietor of MGantt Consulting, a Phoenix-based practice specializing in all matters related to human resources. He is also a contract career consultant for the Phoenix office of Right Management, an international consulting group specializing in outplacement services. He has spent over 39 years in HR at the corporate level; most recently for Bashas’, a large retail supermarket chain based in Chandler, Arizona where he was SVP-HR for over 12 years. His position prior to joining Bashas was as VPHR for two other grocery chains (one in Phoenix and one in Florida) where he served for 22 and 4 years respectively. His very first job after graduation from Drake University was as a teacher at Lincoln High School in Des Moines, Iowa. He is a member of several professional associations, has been a guest instructor at Portland State University in Oregon and was for over 35 years a key member of The Food Marketing Institute’s Human Resources and Training Advisory Committee. He is now (or in the recent past was) a volunteer member of several boards including The Men’s Anti-Violence Network, The Mental Health Association of Arizona, the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona and the Arizona chapter of the International Rescue Committee. Since 2008 he has been associated with Rite of Passage’s Canyon State Academy in Queen Creek, Arizona in an advisory capacity and he is a founding member of the board of directors (currently board president) of ROP’s charter high school in Phoenix, The Southwest Leadership Academy.

Dr. Molly Schloderback

Dr. Molly Schloderback is a highly respected school psychologist who has dedicated her career to helping children achieve their full potential. With a doctorate in school psychology, Molly has spent over 13 years working as a special education teacher and has been a valuable member of the Chandler Unified School District for nine years.

Throughout her career, Molly has worked with children from kindergarten through 12th grade, providing counseling services and support for students who need extra assistance. She was an essential member of the preschool assessment team and has helped countless children and families navigate the challenges of early childhood development.

At Hamilton High, Molly assists with facilitating the use of the mindfulness room, providing students with a peaceful space to decompress and manage their emotions. Additionally, she serves on the threat assessment team, helping to identify and address potential risks to student safety.

Molly is also an advocate for the trauma-informed approach, recognizing the significant impact that adverse experiences can have on children’s lives. She collaborates with teachers and families daily, working to create a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.

In her current role as a school board member, Molly continues to use her expertise to benefit students attending Southwest Leadership Academy. She is dedicated to ensuring that every child receives the support and resources they need to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.

Mr. Drew Ainsworth – Secretary/Treasurer

Drew Ainsworth is the Founder and Manager of Ainsworth Consulting Group LLC. Over the last 15 years, his company’s focus is on providing medical care for underprivileged children in Arizona. The subsidiary, Bethesda Pediatrics, has an outpatient clinic in Chandler and an on-campus facility at Canyon State Academy in Queen Creek, AZ. Four pediatric providers are dedicated to helping the physical and mental growth of disadvantaged youth.

Prior to his work at ACG, Drew practiced over a decade as a Chemical Engineer, providing on-site support and services at many industrial facilities in Arizona and New Mexico. Mr. Ainsworth managed the RPC Mission Clinic from 2012-2013 in Chandler AZ. The mission provided free health care to uninsured adults and children.

He is a licensed substitute teacher and a private tutor for mathematics, chemistry, and physics. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering with graduate work in Business and Science. Mr. Ainsworth is the proud father of five children and has been married to his lovely wife Lyn for 16 years.

Mr. Brian Heath – Board Member

Brian Heath is the Executive Director for Rite of Passage overseeing programs that serve at-risk and underserved children in Arizona including residential academies, shelters, a voucher school, private special education day school and an alternative education charter school. He has a Master of Social Sciences with emphasis in Criminal Justice Administration and Public Administration from the University of Colorado as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of New Mexico. Mr. Heath has nearly 30 years of experience working in the human services field, devoted to the advancement of systems and programs to support positive child and adolescent development. Experience in residential and non-residential treatment programs, coupled with a strong belief in the importance of providing quality education has been the driving force in his leadership. Coaching athletics has also been an inspiration to his professional career through the unique opportunities of knowing, understanding and experiencing the student athletes he serves from a grass roots level.

Mrs. Emily Beard – Board Member

Emily was born and raised in Elgin, Iowa and received her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Business Administration from Mt. Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. During her time in college, Emily participated in SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise), Track & Field and the Women’s Soccer program.

Emily then went on to extend her education by attending Gonzaga School of Law where she graduated with her Juris Doctorate. After graduation, Emily relocated to Arizona where she transitioned into the social work field and was employed by the Arizona Department of Child Safety, working closely with the Attorney General’s Office, Juvenile Probation and local behavioral health providers.

Through her work with juvenile justice youth, Emily was introduced to Rite of Passage, specifically, Canyon State Academy, where Emily began her 10-year journey helping improve the lives of youth as a Case Manager and eventually the Director of Student Services.

While at Canyon State Academy, Emily pursued her Master’s in Professional Counseling at Ottawa University. Emily is a licensed professional counselor and is currently employed as a Psychology Associate with Naphcare, Inc., contracted with the State of Arizona Department of Corrections. She provides therapy services to inmates who are on inpatient status and require stabilization before they are able to integrate back to a least restrictive facility.

Emily believes that all people, regardless of age and circumstance, are capable of success and she enjoys instilling hope in others through the healing process of counseling – encouraging clients to find a healthy perception of themselves and strengthen their relationship in all areas of their life.

Emily is married to her husband Steven, who is a Social Studies teacher and Offensive Coordinator for the football team at Desert Sunrise High School in Maricopa. Emily and Steven have two children, ages 8 and 12.