Main Menu

About the Academy

program Team

Dusty Cash
Program Manager

Dusty has been with Northwest Academy since 2007 and his roles have included team leader and currently program manager. Dusty's experience prior to his tenure at Northwest includes two years as a chief wilderness instructor and two years as a team leader in a residential treatment facility. Dusty holds a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia and is currently working toward his Master's degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

As an avid outdoorsman, fly fisherman, and former college soccer player, Dusty believes strongly in incorporating experiential activities such as climbing, hiking, fishing, and other team building activities to facilitate transformative growth in adolescents and their families. Dusty can often be found snowboarding with groups of students on Schweitzer Mountain or facilitating students and families as they climb the Alpine Tower.

Dusty grew up in Moscow, Idaho and currently lives in Sandpoint with his wife and chocolate lab named Dante.

Kristina Rickter
Team Manager

Kristina came to Northwest Academy in 2008 and has a total of 16+ years of experience in the therapeutic boarding school industry, including schools in both California and Idaho. Kristina attended college for 3 years in San Bernardino, California before accepting a position as a team manager in Idaho, where she moved her family in 1995. Kristina credits her success in the therapeutic field to many years of hands on experience and the opportunity to work with very knowledgeable and seasoned professionals who have taught and given her valuable tools to help support families in crisis.

Students have said about Kristina, "she's not afraid to 'tell me like it is,' or 'Kristi gets me'." Kristina has a unique gift for striking just the right balance between offering a nurturing presence and at the same time providing the occasional consequences and boundaries necessary for continued growth.

Kristina lives in Sandpoint with her husband and children. She enjoys cooking, spending most of her free time with her children creating wonderful and meaningful memories doing activities such as: riding bikes, fishing, and reading. I enjoy my family and have had the opportunity to build really great friendships.

Mark Hewitt
Team Manager

Mark came to Northwest Academy in 2008, bringing with him a wealth of experience in the fields of mental health and social services. Mark has a total of 12+ years in the therapeutic boarding school industry. He also has experience working with women and children in domestic violence shelters and families in transitional housing placements. During his time in Lewis-Clark State College, Mark was a Resident Advisor, Resident Assistant, and Resident Director. Mark earned his Associates through North Idaho College, and went on to complete his Bachelor of Science through Lewis-Clark State College.

Mark's natural ability to work with people combined with his years of experience and education has allowed him to develop a unique ability to confront students with care, and implement consequences with compassion and understanding. Graduating students often mention Mark as a key staff member in their personal growth at Northwest Academy.

Mark has lived in Sandpoint since he was eleven years old. In his free time Mark enjoys hunting and fly fishing, especially with friends and youngest daughter. He enjoys going for hikes with his entire family, or doing any activity that gets him outdoors.

Nancy Arnold
Team Manager

Nancy joined the Northwest Academy team after spending more than 25 years in the corporate world as an Insurance Underwriter and Trainer. She then decided to leave her home state of California and trade corporate stress for the calm North Idaho lifestyle. Nancy served as Administrative Assistant beginning in 2002, and Team Manager as of 2011. In her previous role of Executive Assistant, Nancy demonstrated a proven ability to work with students, as they seemed to constantly gravitate toward her office. Students go to Nancy with problems because they appreciate her no-nonsense approach and straight forward answers. Nancy's ability to strike a balance between holding a firm line and offering compassion at the right time, make her an excellent fit for the role of Team Leader. Additionally her years spent as Executive Assistant, as well as her corporate experience have sharpened her ability to see the big picture and lead others toward a common goal.

Nancy holds an Associates Degree from Sierra College. Her life experience also includes 25+ years of training horses, to which she attributes much of her leadership skills and talent for working with teenagers. Nancy lives in Naples, Idaho with her three dogs; in her spare time she enjoys home projects, gardening, cooking, racing, and reading.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to top ^