Since its founding in 1970, American Heritage School has continued to flourish under the leadership of many fine administrators and teachers. The school moved to its new (current) campus in 2002 and presently enrolls over 500 students in grades K-10. We appreciate your interest in our school and invite you to explore the information presented here on our website. Take time to read more about the history of American Heritage School. For a better understanding of the values and principles we teach, read the lyrics to our official school song.

The Founding of American Heritage School                                                          
When the BYU Training School closed in 1968, Dr. H. Verlan Andersen met with a group of other BYU professors and parents with the intent of establishing a private school. They desired to have their children's academic learning enhanced and enlightened by principles of morality, religion, liberty and patriotism. Some of the founders included Dr. Nephi Kezerian, Dr. Smith Broadbent, Dr. Eldred Johnson, Dr. Gary Beus, Alan Keith, Wayne Keith, Alan Palmer, Joe Ferguson, and many dedicated spouses such as Shirley Andersen and Velma Keith.

In preparation for opening the school, Shirley Andersen, wife of H. Verlan Andersen, and other school founders spent many hours researching curricula and methodologies that were being used in school districts across Utah. Finding a building was also a priority - so Dr. Andersen conveyed to President Ezra Taft Benson the school founders' interest in locating a building suitable for the school. President Benson indicated that an old LDS church in Pleasant Grove was for sale and that Dr. Andersen would have to move quickly to get it. Others were interested in the building. Soon thereafter, Dr. Andersen and his wife met with the LDS church officials responsible for the disposition of the building. A contract was signed and the Andersens paid $1,000 down on it. It took most of their savings - and they still had a mortgage to pay on the building - but they were elated to have successfully obtained a location for the school. They knew the Lord had blessed them.

The Early Years of American Heritage School    [Return to top]                                               
Thus, the doors of American Heritage School were first opened on August 31, 1970, with an enrollment of 85 students. Alan Keith was the first principal. Shirley Andersen, Glenna Peterson, Mabel Barlow, Velma Keith, and Geneve Cornell were among the first teachers making major contributions to the success and stability of the school. The teachers and staff were paid only what was left after the other expenses of the school were paid, and the teachers understood that many times this would mean there would not be enough to meet payroll. But this was not a deterrent for the teachers and founders of American Heritage School. They came with the primary intent of enlightening the children's hearts and minds and they knew that great personal sacrifice would be required. There were times when teachers would give what little salary they received to those faculty and staff members that needed it more than they did.

A great deal of hard work and dedication went into those early years. At the time, the School had very little money for textbooks. One day, Mrs. Andersen's sister, who lived in Phoenix, Arizona, informed the School that there were numerous books and textbooks being thrown away and hauled to a dry riverbed not far from her home. The Andersens immediately obtained a trailer and made the trip all the way to Phoenix where they reclaimed the books. To their great delight, many of the books appeared to be new - and there were books for nearly every grade covering many subjects. Over the years, as books were gathered and donated, the school founders often felt that the older textbooks were better than the newer textbooks. Though the covers and spines may have been worn – the lessons from the older textbooks oftentimes retained much of the character and spirit that the school founders felt was being edited out of new and contemporary curricula. Through the years, this spirit of preserving our Christian heritage has endured in many ways at American Heritage School. A good example of this is the School's preference for the 1828 version of the Noah Webster's dictionary, replete with references to the Bible.

Shortly after the School's opening, David Skousen, an inspired teacher and a talented musician, composed the words and the music to a song entitled “Children of Liberty” that became more than just the official school song. This unique composition resounded in both musical and written form the goals and philosophy of American Heritage School. Sung at regular devotionals for decades, “Children of Liberty” has inspired thousands of students and parents. The plainness of the words and the sincere, majestic quality of the music, express the feelings of the patrons and teachers as they seek to teach the children in light and truth.

 
Curriculum and Traditions     [Return to top]       

American Heritage School has always been presented as rigorous private education with a Christian foundation. Academic excellence, responsible citizenship, and character development have been highly stressed from the School's inception. The core subjects have always included reading, mathematics, history, geography, science, and language arts. Various specialty subjects have been taught through the years, but generally have included art, a choral music program, and physical education for all grades. And, as has always been the case at American Heritage School, moral and religious education were incorporated daily in every class and every subject – not as a separate subject and not in a separate location.

American Heritage School has many traditions and they all play a role in the School's unique philosophy and culture. For example, teachers gather every morning to sing a hymn, pray and listen to a brief devotional before beginning classroom instruction. Core classroom teachers begin each day in class with a morning devotional for the students and each grade presents a class devotional once per year for the entire School. Other traditions at American Heritage School include the annual Patriotic Program, the Christmas Concert, the Christmas Teddy-Bear Service Project, the Dance Festival, Shakespeare Week, and a Spring Choral Concert – to name a few.

One of the most impressive traditions at the School is the annual Patriotic Program. Geneve Cornell, a talented and inspired 5th grade teacher, was asked by Shirley Andersen to write the script for a new Patriotic program to be presented for the first time on April 19, 1974. The Patriotic Program entitled "The Spirit of America Speaks" was presented with all 150 students from the school participating. The script was ambitious and included numerous and lengthy passages from the Scriptures as well as from American and European History. Notwithstanding the length and relative complexity of the script, the program was presented by the students in completely memorized form. The program traces the line of freedom and liberty and agency from premortal existence to the present day. Scenes and characters depicted include Moses and the Children of Israel, the Magna Carta, Martin Luther, Columbus, the American Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights, and various American Founding Fathers. President Benson attended the inaugural program and many other schools and community members have since begun attending the American Heritage School Patriotic Program as a matter of annual tradition. Music directors for the program through the years have included Kay Asay, Winona Kirk, Glenna Peterson, Dorene Western, Marianne Tischner, Cheri Hancock and Deborah Otteson.

In 1975, American Heritage School received an award from the "Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge" for American Heritage School's Patriotic Program. The plaque for this award is displayed at the School. Later, in 1990, the school received another award, the "George Washington Honor Medal."

A Legacy of Personal Sacrifice        [Return to top]                                                         
In 1975, the School was miraculously freed from debt and has been debt-free ever since. The history of this providential turn of events begins with a certain Mrs. Alice Green from Salt Lake City who visited the School. She was very moved by what she saw and bought several sets of encyclopedias for the school. Later, Mrs. Green came to attend the Patriotic Program. After the program, she approached Dr. Andersen and his wife, and asked what she could do for the School. Dr. Andersen joked, "You could pay the mortgage on the building!" He told her the exact amount and, several months later, the school received a letter with a check from Mrs. Alice Green for the full amount necessary to pay off the entire mortgage. In response to this overwhelming display of love and sacrifice from Mrs. Green, several of the students from the School would make regular visits to Mrs. Green in her home to pay respects, sing for her, and show appreciation for all she had done for the School.

Through the years, many outstanding people have served as principals of American Heritage School. All could have made more money elsewhere but came to the School willingly with a common sense of mission and purpose. Names include Alan Keith, Glen Kimber, Norris Gould, Michel Call, Glenna Peterson, Dr. H. Verlan Andersen, Geneve Cornell Deuel, Douglas R. Hutson, Linda Boothe, Maxine Kerttula, Claranne Garrett, Fred Roberts, and Grant Beckwith. Geneve Cornell Deuel served as principal for seven years – the longest term of any principal in the School's history. In 1996, Mrs. Maxine Kerttula unexpectedly won the $25,000 Salvatori Prize for "Excellence in Teaching" from the Hillsdale College. The money helped the School to buy the Delta Science program, maps, globes, and other needed items.

Today at AHS        [Return to top]     

From the School's humble founding in 1970, as the community came to know and appreciate the mission and philosophy of American Heritage School, more and more families desired to enroll their children. Unfortunately, the old Pleasant Grove Chapel simply did not have room for all who desired to enroll. Finally, in 2002, through another miraculous turn of events, donors stepped forward and gifted to American Heritage School a breathtaking 11-acre parcel of property immediately adjacent to the Mount Timpanogos Temple in American Fork, Utah – as well as the funds to construct a state-of-the-art school building with capacity for approximately 400 students. This new campus, the current location of the School, has been one in a long line of great blessings bestowed upon American Heritage School's children by men and women who see in the children's faces the destiny of our families and our great Country.

We invite you to come, learn, and feel why children and families at American Heritage School have always been and will always be Children of Liberty!

Children of liberty, learn from the past;
Truth, honor, charity, this is our task.
Our fathers gave to us this land unwalled.
To grow and joy therein and serve our God.

Children of liberty, now visions come.
Live your life carefully, obey the Son.
Be to your brothers a measure that's true.
Give to them willingly God's love through you.

Children of liberty, day-light is low;
Darkness and storm converge, let your ray glow.
Present and past are yours to live a-new;
Prepare for Christ to come in all you do.

(“Children of Liberty” composed by David Skousen for American Heritage School, 1970)

[Return to top]