Backbone Communications

The Backbone Team

Corporate Office: 800-480-3935
Fax: 602-277-9266

Email Us

Leah Dines, M.Ed, President / 602-791-6138

Leah started Backbone Communications in 1999, believing that making the up-to-date and proper learning tools available to larger numbers of students would be doing the most for the most students. She has an undergraduate degree from Arizona State University in Political Science and a Masters Degree from Northern Arizona University in Educational Leadership. She is a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at NAU. She is also a member of the NAPEW, National Association of Professional & Executive Women.

She has experience in the classroom as a Job Developer/Placement Teacher working with adults with Learning Disabilities as well as with Foster Care students. Before that she worked as a Client Care Worker with violent offender boys age 12-18 years old. Leah had the honor of working with Senator Jon Kyl while in college at ASU, and followed that with a job with the Arizona Board of Supervisors.

Using the tools that Backbone Communications represents will enable students to reach goals and dreams they may not have thought possible.

Josh Leitz, Regional Director / 602-770-9152

Josh Leitz has been with Backbone Communications since January 2005. After receiving his Concurrent Degree from ASU in Business Marketing and Business Management he pursued his K-8 education certificate. He was a classroom teacher for grades Kindergarten through 8th grade and used The A+nyWhere Learning System^® with his 5th & 6th graders in order to differentiate the curriculum and provide appropriate content to his many students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). When Josh joined Backbone, he began meeting with schools, assisting in implementation, and training teachers and administrators on various software tools. Currently, Josh is Backbone’s Regional Director for Arizona, Nevada and Utah.

BJ Dines, Technology & Training / 602-369-3120

BJ joined Backbone Communications in 2001. He has a CIS & Marketing Degree from NAU. BJ has experience working with technology and training with schools providing Internet solutions. His determination and drive in training teachers, consulting administrators and supporting the BBC Account Managers stems from his true goals - to help make schools successful. His experience has taught him the keys to a successful software implementation.

Learn how to avoid the common mistakes and make your investment worthwhile. By following Backbone’s implementation plan, Administrators and Teachers know what is expected of them and can now measure its effectiveness.

Brian Snyder, Northwest AZ Regional Manager / 602-614-0226

As a teacher, Brian used The A+nyWhere Learning System^® software in schools in Arizona and Nebraska. Brian taught various classes in grades K-12. He spent four years at the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center (Y.R.T.C.) in Kearney, Nebraska. After his tenure at Y.R.T.C., Brian was offered a position to teach a self-contained 7^th and 8^th grade class as well as the Independent Study teacher in their credit recovery program at Perris Union High School District in California. After three years, Brian was given the opportunity to start an alternative school in Pierce, Nebraska. While teaching for Pierce Public Schools, Brian used A+^® as his core curriculum software in the alternative education program. As well as being involved in the alternative education program, Brian also taught Strength and Fitness and was an assistant varsity coach for football and boys and girls basketball. He was also the head strength coach for a very successful athletics program at Pierce High School.

Brian is a graduate of the University of Nebraska, B.A. E., K-12.

Terry Brown, Southeast AZ Regional Manager / 602-471-7392

After working for several years in law enforcement as a narcotic/gang detective, I made a career transition and to the private sector for a Real Estate finance company. I have always been interested in working in education after spending a short time working as an instructional assistant at a juvenile court school in California. I possess a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science from National University and Professional Knowledge certification in Secondary Education. My prior experience has reinforced the importance of helping schools and students succeed. Through education and technology I now have the opportunity to impact my community in a positive and rewarding way.

Matt West, Southwest AZ Regional Manager / 602-349-3693

Matt has been in education since receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Northern Illinois University in 2000. He was a certified teacher and taught for 7 years in the Phoenix area. Outside of the classroom Matt served as Technology Coordinator, Curriculum Specialist, and AIMS Test Coordinator at different schools. He also coached various girls and boys sports before joining Backbone Communications. He is currently finishing his Masters Degree in Educational Leadership. Matt uses his classroom and leadership experiences to help schools implement and use software as a powerful educational tool.

Derick Turner, Utah Regional Manager / 801-675-0255

After making a career change from law enforcement, Derick felt he could better serve this population with providing educational services that meets their individual needs. Derick provides The A+nyWhere Learning System^® to schools in Utah. He has worked extensively with the A+® program and has seen it successfully implemented in numerous schools and districts throughout the state. It has been encouraging for Derick to see the way A+® has helped so many in the correctional facilities.

Steve Leitz, Nevada Regional Manager / 702-442-1108

After receiving his B.S./B.A. in Marketing & Management from The Ohio State University, Steve spent almost 20 years in the Fashion Eyewear Industry. As Vice President of Sales and National Accounts Manager, Steve was responsible for building designer and private label collections for Dillards, Foleys, J.C. Penney, and the Ski Areas throughout the Southwest United States.

Upon the sale of his company, Steve was approached to help the owners of Backbone Communications develop the State of Nevada for A+. Steve’s enthusiasm for healthy self esteem for kids, his volunteer work in that area for over 20 years, and his excitement in seeing his oldest son Josh succeed as a teacher and educational software professional helped Steve decide to join the Backbone Team.

Steve looks forward to working with each one of you, and bring his years of partnership experience to help develop a plan to reach your goals.

Dr. Tom Stultz, Ph.D, Certified Trainer / 602-430-9734

After leaving IBM in 1999, Thomas L Stultz, Ph.D., merged his technical background with educational solutions. For seven years (2000-2007), Dr. Stultz was part of the Payson Unified School District (PUSD), where he served as a highly qualified mathematics teacher with Payson Center for Success High School. He used The A+nyWhere Learning System^® throughout PUSD developing curriculum offerings for the district that went beyond the technology “tool” of A+^® to address various learning styles of all students. In addition, Dr. Stultz is part of the Gila County Superintendent’s Office serving as Technology Integration Specialist. In this role, he provides educational consultation to school administration, and assist teachers and staff in implementation of their technology strategies.

Dan Reid, Certified Trainer / 602-690-7056

Dan retired from teaching after 37 years in the classroom in 2006. During those 37 years, Dan taught every grade K-12 in addition to online graduate courses for PBS Teacherline and Los Angels County Department of Education TeachStar. He is a Master Teacher in the Intel Teach to the Future program, served as a Career Ladder Facilitator and Evaluator for the Payson Unified School District. While at the Payson Unified School District, Dan used The A+nyWhere Learning System^® as a vital part of the learning environment for his students and has a unique understanding of the relationship between A+LS and an existing school/district instructional atmosphere. Dan is a Certified Trainer for A+^® and has extensive experience with both A+LS and DynEd.

For the past three years, Dan has served as a Technology Integration Specialist for the Gila County Education Service Agency assisting schools in integrating technology and educational software.

Michelle Poleyumptewa, M.Ed., / 602-510-0068

Michelle Poleyumptewa is a veteran classroom teacher who strongly believes in the power of technology as a tool to support student success. She is a graduate of the University of California, Riverside (B.S. Anthropology) and Northern Arizona University (M.Ed. Bilingual/Multicultural Education), and spent over ten years working in California and Arizona public schools. In addition to teaching grades 2-5, she has worked as a site technology mentor, curriculum council member, math assessment developer, and teacher trainer with an NGO in Haiti. Michelle looks forward to developing new partnerships with teachers, administrators and school support personnel throughout the Southwest as a trainer with Backbone Communications.

Andrew Agullard, Northeast AZ Regional Manager / 602-576-2199