About Us

About Us

History

In 1948, a school was founded in Queen Creek, Arizona 30 miles southeast of Phoenix, which sought to help at-risk children and adolescents to develop self-respect and self-confidence while providing vital social, educational and vocational skills which allowed youth to return to their communities as productive young adults.

A strong athletic legacy took root–which continues at Canyon State Academy to present day–in part, because of the involvement of Frank Kush as the Executive Administrator of the Advisory Board. The athletic complex which bore his name on CSA’s campus housed a football program, which, once established in 1995, ran three undefeated seasons.

In 2000, Canyon State Academy revised its residential program to offer academic, career and technical training, athletics and evidence-based treatment curricula to give at-risk youth opportunities to improve their lives.

Today, the Canyon State Academy campus has continued to grow into an innovative and effective treatment program for youth. The wide continuum of programming is possible through numerous community partnerships which includes Sun Valley Community Church, government agencies, stakeholders, businesses and universities. The Canyon State Academy School is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that is approved by the State of Arizona as a “Qualifying Foster Care Charitable Organization.”

Rite of Passage

Canyon State Academy is operated by Rite of Passage, a leading National provider of evidence-based therapeutic and educational programs for youth. Rite of Passage provides a diverse continuum of care with evidence-based programs in education, youth shelter programs, family and community aftercare and intensive treatment for youth involved in the juvenile justice system.

For over 35 years, Rite of Passage has been improving the lives of youth. Through its work at Canyon State and other academy programs, Rite of Passage has developed the Integrated Care Model framework to articulate its program philosophy, methodology, and specific evidence-based practices.

THE INTEGRATED CARE MODEL

The Integrated Care Model is the framework for Canyon State Academy's programming and services. Beginning with a foundation of safety, accomplished through caring relationships, qualified and trained staff, fosters a culture where students can learn.

Staff model pro-social skills, utilize the appropriate amount of empathy and provide youth with problem resolution skills. Assessments identify individual student needs and strengths and develop their intrinsic motivation for change.

Evidence-based cognitive behavioral interventions help students develop skills to overcome aggression, disruptive behavior, and heal from traumatic events in their lives. Since many of the students will return home, family involvement and treatment are provided at an appropriate intensity.

The normalized environment enables each student to develop and practice skills in the therapeutic, academic, vocational, health/wellness, family and community activities. Through these experiences, the student gains competencies and skills to attain Treatment Plan goals; then, new goals are established and the process of positive change is moved forward, creating a new vision and hope for the youth.

Meet Our Qualified Team

Brian Heath holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences and has over 26 years of experience in leadership roles in the human services field. Passionate about improving the lives of youth with a focus on Community Integration, Brian conceptualized and implemented the Village at Canyon State.

Brian Heath
Executive Director
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Jason Lane holds a BA in Communication with a focus on Human Services from the University of Colorado, where he gained expertise in family safety and risk assessments. PD Lane has served the youth of ROP for over 17 years. When asked about his plans as the Program Director of Canyon State Academy, Lane emphasized that the key to success lies in investing in and developing the team. He believes that by leveraging their strengths, refining their skills, and fostering a strong sense of camaraderie, they can provide the highest quality service to children.

Jason Lane
Program Director
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Gabriel John holds a Master's in Professional Counseling, in addition to a Bachelors in Psychology. Gabriel has over 6 years working with at risk youth and works diligently to help make a difference. His dedication to making a lasting impact is driven by a belief in the power of empathy, community and personalized care.

Gabriel John
Director of Student Services
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Rachman Crable has built a career focused on developing quality-of-care strategies in residential settings, beginning in direct care and advancing through roles including supervisor, Program Director, and ultimately overseeing operations across multiple sites for a national youth services provider. Though his foundation is in Criminal Justice, Crable credits additional training and certifications with shaping his expertise. Crable is driven by the belief that a positive, engaging culture is key to achieving lasting change for the children he serves.

Rachman Crable
Director of Culture and Operations
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Bridget Carrington holds a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration. Bridget has 25 years of experience as a School Administrator. She is a passionate leader with a fierce sense of student advocacy and a cultivator of educators to become highly effective in the art and science of teaching.

Bridget Carrington
Regional Education Director
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Bio coming soon!

TBA
Community & Business Development Director
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Karla Beikman comes to Canyon State Academy with a Bachelor's of Applied Science and nearly 10 years of experience in the field of Social and Youth Services. With a background in case management, she is looking forward to continuing her work with youth and furthering her passions for giving them the tools they need to become better people, who thrive in their communities.

Karla Beikman
Regional Compliance Director
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Bio coming soon!

Tracie Armstead-Peyton
Senior District HR Director
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Heather Heath joined ROP in 2001 as a Special Education Teacher, where she has been dedicated to providing the highest quality, student-centered education programs for inclusive special education students. With over 26 years of experience in education, Heather has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students.

Heather Heath
Principal