Facility profile Utah
Heritage Schools, Inc.
Also known as Heritage Community
Heritage Schools, Inc. is a residential treatment center in Provo, Utah. It has operated since 1984.
- 2 serious violations confirmed by inspectors
- 7 incidents on record
- 1 news article
- 25 staff members named
About Heritage Schools, Inc.
Its address was 246 E Fiddlers Canyon Rd, Cedar City, UT 84721.source Its address was 5600 Heritage School Drive, Provo, UT 84604.source Cost: 12% APR finance charge on amounts more than 30 days delinquent; $200 medication account payable to Superior Pharmacy.source It cost over $11,000 per month.source Stays lasted 12 to 14 months average.source
The average stay was 14 months, minimum six months.source It was also called The Heritage School, Heritage RTC, Heritage Home, The Heritage Community.source It was doing business as Heritage Residential Treatment Center; a Utah corporation.source Formerly four programs (Heritage for Boys, Heritage for Girls, Elevate Academy, Peers Academy), now consolidated into Spark Academy, Elevate Academy and Launch Academy.source It survivors reported to HEAL that Heritage receives children from, and sends or threatens to send children to, Provo Canyon School.source
Educational program accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (per Heritage); also Joint Commission (JCAHO).source It was a member of NATSAP and IECA.source
Serious violations
What state inspectors found and confirmed here, in their own words. Each finding was picked out of the inspection reports and checked by our team before it was listed.
Death Inspected Jun 24, 2024
At the facility, the client was out of supervision of staff and was later found unresponsive.
From the UT inspection report. Out of compliance, focus inspection
Physical abuse or assault Inspected Jun 24, 2024
During the inspection, it was reported by witnesses that a teacher mistreated a client by pushing the client when the client was acting out in their class.
From the UT inspection report. Out of compliance, focus inspection
Nonprofit tax filings
The yearly returns (IRS Form 990) of the nonprofit this program operates under, from the IRS through ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer.
Heritage Schools Inc
EIN 87-0514958, Provo, UT. Filed with the IRS as mental health and crisis services, tax-exempt since 1997. Every filing on ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Paid to officers and directors | Assets at year end | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Form 990 | ||||
| 2023 | $19,737,780 | $20,912,543 | $1,543,499 | $1,800,249 | Form 990 |
| 2022 | $17,821,164 | $18,924,598 | $1,400,155 | $2,100,804 | Form 990 |
| 2021 | $18,749,522 | $17,839,906 | $1,018,030 | $3,381,237 | Form 990 |
| 2020 | $16,526,702 | $17,146,559 | $761,150 | $5,609,178 | Form 990 |
| 2019 | $18,170,653 | $16,447,723 | $454,886 | $4,680,518 | Form 990 |
| 2018 | $8,059,511 | $8,058,127 | $192,663 | $4,046,538 | Form 990 |
| 2017 | $14,960,295 | $15,115,953 | $339,139 | $4,284,863 | Form 990 |
| 2016 | $14,912,473 | $14,841,322 | $354,985 | $4,420,785 | Form 990 |
| 2015 | $15,368,813 | $15,644,640 | $86,538 | $4,219,669 | Form 990 |
Earlier years (14)
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Paid to officers and directors | Assets at year end | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | $14,931,437 | $15,528,158 | $0 | $4,217,942 | Form 990 |
| 2013 | $14,733,568 | $15,248,103 | $0 | $4,150,105 | Form 990 |
| 2012 | $16,716,508 | $17,377,320 | $205,769 | $4,091,580 | Form 990 |
| 2011 | $17,774,542 | $17,968,616 | $237,125 | $3,807,073 | Form 990 |
| 2010 | Form 990 | ||||
| 2009 | Form 990 | ||||
| 2008 | Form 990 | ||||
| 2007 | Form 990 | ||||
| 2006 | Form 990 | ||||
| 2005 | Form 990 | ||||
| 2004 | Form 990 | ||||
| 2003 | Form 990 | ||||
| 2002 | Form 990 | ||||
| 2001 | Form 990 |
Incidents on record
-
May 2011 Investigation
In May 2011 food violations were found at Heritage School, including improper hand washing, food not refrigerated at safe temperatures, and staff eating and drinking near food preparation.source
-
Reported July 2025 Incident
HEAL's enrollment-agreement review says the contract has families accept risks including 'sexual violation and pregnancy' and suicide, and appoints Heritage as attorney with custodial powers.source
-
Reported July 2025 Restraint
Heritage's enrollment application describes 'safety holds' (physical restraint) per Crisis Prevention Institute rules and a seclusion area.source
-
Reported December 2025 Abuse
Residents report being kept in isolation rooms (Granite South/ISU) for as long as 8 months straight.source
-
Reported December 2025 Abuse
Survivors report excessive and violent restraints, physical and sexual abuse, solitary confinement, verbal and emotional abuse and forced manual labor at Heritage.source
-
Reported December 2025 Restraint
Survivors report students are punished with violent restraints that have reportedly caused broken bones.source
-
Reported December 2025 Sexual abuse
A 2018 survivor review alleges a 12-year-old resident was sexually abused by three staff members and that reports to other staff were ignored.source
News coverage
1 article about celebrities and viral stories
-
Paris Hilton backs Utah bill to regulate troubled teen centers: ‘You can’t silence me’
Paris Hilton and other survivors testified before Utah lawmakers in support of Senate Bill 127, which proposes increased oversight and reporting requirements for youth residential treatment centers. Testimonies detailed allegations of physical restraint, isolation, medication use, and monitoring within the facilities.
Videos
Staff
Administration
-
Gerald Spanos
Former CEO (2008)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Provo Canyon School Former Supervising Therapist (1976)
- West Ridge Academy Former Director of Social Services (1974)
-
Glen R. Zaugg
Former CEO, NATSAP Board member (2008)source
Notable staff
-
Jerry Spanos
Founder and CEOsource
Elsewhere in the industry
- West Ridge Academy Director of Social Services, 1974
- Provo Canyon School Supervising Therapist, 1976
- Heritage Center CEO, 1984-2008
- Heritage House Founder, 2013
- The Heritage School Chief executive officer, 2016
-
Neil Wallace
Executive Directorsource
Elsewhere in the industry
- the Program Director of (https://www
- Daniels Academy Former Program Director (2013)
- Spark Academy Executive Director (2025)
-
George Ballew
Clinical Directorsource
Elsewhere in the industry
- a Therapist at the reportedly abusive (https://www
- Spark Academy Clinical Director (2025)
-
McKaye Treanor
Executive Directorsource
-
Kristi Naumann
Clinical Directorsource
-
Blake Trythall
Girls Residential Care Managersource
-
Annie Fagnant
Boys Residential Care Managersource
Elsewhere in the industry
- the** confirmedly abusive** (https://www
- Old West Academy Former Staff (2006)
-
McKay Livingston
Clinical Directorsource
Elsewhere in the industry
- the reportedly abusive (https://www
-
Barry Fell
Former Unit Counselor (before 2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Telos RTC Executive Director, 2025
-
Brian Kay
Former Therapist (before 2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Discovery Connections Clinical Director, 2025
- LDS Family Services LMFT, before 2025
-
Chris Johnstoneaux
Former Therapist and Business Development Manager (2007, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Monarch School Therapist, 2014
- Boulder Creek Academy Primary Therapist/Clinical Supervisor, 2016
-
Ian Peterson
Former Business Development Director (2018, r/troubledteens wiki)source
-
Kade Mathews
Former Intensive Support Unit Staff (before 2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Diamond Ranch Academy Therapist, Clinical Director, 2022-2025
- Family Support and Treatment Center Therapist, before 2025
- Wasatch Mental Health Therapist, before 2025
-
Keven Downs
Former Chief Clinical Officer (2018, r/troubledteens wiki)source
-
Marc McLain
Former Staff member (2020, r/troubledteens wiki)source
-
Nate Barrus
Former Staff (before 2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Crossroads Academy RTC Substance Abuse Counselor, 2025
-
Spencer Cook
Former Intensive Support Unit Counselor (before 2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Discovery Connections Therapist, 2022
- Copper Hills Youth Center Social Worker, before 2025
-
Cameron Armstrong
Former Therapist (before 2021, HEAL)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Logan River Academy Therapist, 2021
- ScenicView Academy Therapist, before 2021
- Telos Academy Therapist, 2021
-
Chris Johstoneaux
Therapist
Elsewhere in the industry
- Embark at The Forge exec director
- Monarch School therapist
- Boulder Creek Academy
-
Jeff Scott
Therapist
Elsewhere in the industry
- The Heritage School Former Staff (2021)
- Second Nature Wilderness Program Clinical Director (2025)
- Aspen Achievement Academy Former Intern (2025)
- SUWS of the Carolinas Former Therapist (2021)
- Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness Clinical Director, Primary Therapist (2021-2025)
- Coral Reef Academy Former Therapist (2025)
- Provo Canyon School therapist
-
Laura Bennion
Lead certified therapeutic recreation specialist
Elsewhere in the industry
- New Focus Academy therapist
-
Rachel Steinberg
Therapist
Elsewhere in the industry
- Provo Canyon School Former Clinician (2017)
- Spark Academy Therapist and Assistant Clinical Director (2025)
-
Ron S. Tuinei
Program supervisor
Elsewhere in the industry
- Oakley School Former Program Director (2016)
- Copper Hills Youth Center CEO
- Provo Canyon School Former Program Director, later Executive Director, Executive Director (2016-2020)
- Cottonwood Treatment Center Former Program Director and Risk Management Director (2010-2013)
- Slate Canyon Youth Center Former Counselor (2002-2003)
- San Marcos Treatment Center
Licensing and inspections
- Licensed as
- Heritage Schools Inc - Homestead; Heritage Schools Inc, Spark; Heritage Schools Inc, Balance; Heritage Schools Inc, Elevate Academy; Heritage Schools Inc. Wasatch; Heritage Schools Inc. Yosemite
- License category
- Residential Treatment
- Licensed capacity
- 16
- License expires
- 03/31/2027
- Licensing action
- Licensed
- Phone on file
- 8012264669
- Licensed addresses
- 10324 South 5850 West, Payson, UT, 84651; 5600 N Heritage School Dr, Provo, UT, 84604; 5600 North Heritage School Drive, Provo, UT, 84604; 759 N 1180 E, Orem, UT, 84097; 491 E 450 S, Orem, UT, 84097
93 inspection reports on file; the serious findings in them are listed above. Search all Utah reports
The newest 25 reports, by date
- Jul 20, 2026 2nd Unannounced
- Jul 16, 2026 Investigation Inspection
- Jul 7, 2026 Investigation Inspection
- Jun 23, 2026 Investigation Inspection
- Jun 22, 2026 3rd Unannounced
- Jun 22, 2026 3rd Unannounced
- Jun 22, 2026 3rd Unannounced
- Jun 22, 2026 3rd Unannounced
- Jun 22, 2026 3rd Unannounced
- May 28, 2026 Unannounced, Annual Inspection
- Mar 16, 2026 2nd Unannounced
- Mar 16, 2026 2nd Unannounced
- Mar 16, 2026 2nd Unannounced
- Mar 16, 2026 2nd Unannounced
- Feb 19, 2026 Announced, Annual Inspection
- Dec 15, 2025 Unannounced, Annual Inspection
- Dec 15, 2025 Unannounced, Annual Inspection
- Dec 15, 2025 Unannounced, Annual Inspection
- Dec 15, 2025 Unannounced, Annual Inspection
- Dec 15, 2025 Unannounced, Annual Inspection
- Nov 12, 2025 Investigation Inspection
- Oct 14, 2025 Investigation Inspection
- Oct 9, 2025 3rd Unannounced
- Sep 18, 2025 Announced, Annual Inspection
- Sep 18, 2025 Announced, Annual Inspection
Connections on the network map
The companies, people and programs our research map ties to this program. Open it on the network map.
Ownership
Documents
Woodbury Reports Mentions (4)
-
Woodbury Reports, August 2008 (#168), P. 29: Heritage Schools, Inc. Woodbury Reports page -
Woodbury Reports, December 2008 (#172), P. 21: Heritage Schools, Inc. Woodbury Reports page -
Woodbury Reports, November 2008 (#171), Pp. 17-18: Heritage Schools, Inc. Woodbury Reports page -
Woodbury Reports, October 2008 (#170), P. 25: Heritage Schools, Inc. Woodbury Reports page
From the Unsilenced archive
2 documents about Heritage Schools, Inc. that Unsilenced collected and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Unsilenced's Google Drive. Their whole folder: Heritage Schools Inc - Homestead.
Survivor testimony
What people who lived or worked here say happened. Survivors' own words are published with their permission; forum accounts are what was posted publicly and are reported as claims, not findings.
Reported on survivor forums
Wiki entries
Materials and links
External links
A program's own website is linked as an archived snapshot, so the page reads as it did when it was captured.
Survivor posts and discussion
- reported
- Anonymous (Fornits)
- u/thejim9866 (Reddit)
- Anonymous (Reddit)
- u/WaveBlueArrow (Reddit)
- Anonymous (Reddit)
- The Heritage Community (Part 1) - V2V Survivor Series
