The Hawk’s Landing Team

Prior to becoming the owner-director of Hawk’s Landing, Dan spent eight years at a prominent Northwest therapeutic boarding school, where he served in various roles including Clinician, Senior Therapist, Clinical Supervisor, Director of Family Services and ultimately Clinical Director. In addition to three years as a wilderness therapist, Dan has private practice experience as well as experience in community out-patient therapy. In this capacity, Dan learned how to manage all aspects of residential clinical care for at-risk adolescents. He and his wife Sara also worked together as home parents for more than two years in a residential treatment center, where they managed the safety and well-being of an average of 16 to 20 children ages 13 to 18.

Dan believes that the most important part of any successful therapeutic intervention is establishing a positive and supportive relationship with the student. The small, intimate environment at Hawk’s Landing is ideal for building these critically important relationships where students gain confidence and a belief in their ability to change.

Dan is trained in a number of clinical treatment modalities, though his therapeutic approach most often relies on a combination of motivational interviewing, solution-focused problem solving and cognitive behavior techniques.

Co-owner and chief operating officer Sara Tadlock, is the managerial force behind Hawk’s Landing success, as well as our public-school liaison. Using her background in education, she maintains open lines of communication with Bonner’s Ferry High School in order to coordinate the educational needs of our students with the school’s available resources and offerings. As a former Bonner’s Ferry substitute teacher, Sara has a long-established and mutually-supportive working relationship with the Bonner’s Ferry School District.

Sara provides practical and emotional support (and home cooked meals) to our students with the aim of helping them become their very best selves.

Sara is the mother of four sons and has a bachelor of science degree in secondary education with a major in health and a minor in math from Brigham Young University.

With a career spanning over 19 years, Sarah Newell, R.N, is experienced in a variety of hospital and clinical settings including pediatric, family practice, and hospital acute care.  Before joining Hawks Landing she was the head nurse at a therapeutic boarding school.  She has worked as a pediatric care manager, pediatric nurse and triage nurse. Her love of working with children and teens flows naturally from her family life as a mom of five children. Sarah loves to read, bake all types of bread and watch her children play sports.  She and her family have lived on a small farm in Bonners Ferry for 13 years.

As a student life counselor at Hawks Landing since 2017, Mick Taylor puts his skills as a small farm operator to good use by providing mentorship and instruction for our on-site animal stewardship program. He is a highly skilled musician and has toured internationally and worked as a music instructor with students of all ages. He specializes in helping students overcome personal blocks and plateaus, a skill that has translated well in his mentoring work at Hawks Landing. Prior to joining the Hawks Landing team, Mick had over five years of experience working in a prominent Therapeutic Boarding School in a supervisory role.

Mick brings tenacity and skill as an avid outdoorsman and traveler to his role that is inspiring for both students and staff. He has hiked the entire length of New Zealand and multiple section of the Andes, Scandinavian and Carpathian mountain ranges. As a lifelong learner, Mick recently became an Instrument Rated Private Pilot and is working towards becoming a Certified Flight Instructor. His newest adventure of being a father has brought him his greatest joy.

As a member of the Hawk’s Landing night staff, Lon Jacobson is responsible for site security and maintaining the well-being of students overnight and in the event of an emergency. He is a father of ten, and, when not at Hawk’s Landing, runs a bird breeding company that he manages with his wife.

Daniel grew up on cattle ranches in California where he has spent most of his life as a ranch hand and farm hand. He enjoys farming, animals, reading, writing, gardening and health. He loves his eight children and nine grandchildren.

Jeff grew up in Dayton Ohio and lived there most of his life until he moved to North Idaho in 2008. While in Ohio, Jeff worked for more than 20 years as an electrician within the automobile industry. Jeff began his second career working with youth in 2008, when he moved to Idaho. He has over 15 years of experience working with youth in two therapeutic boarding schools where he was a life skills mentor, shift leader and manager. Jeff has been working at Hawks Landing since 2018.

Jeff married his high school sweetheart and feels lucky to have such a supportive person in his life that he can draw strength from. Jeff’s number one passion is his family. He loves to ski, ride ATV’s and enjoy the mountain peaks and outdoors of North Idaho with his wife and son. Jeff says, “There is nothing more beautiful than looking at snow covered mountains, taking a fabulous ski run to the bottom and then repeat. See you on the slopes.”

Tyson was born in southeastern Washington State. Tyson attributes much of his life success to the adults around him who made it their focus to pour extra energy and time into him at a time when he very well could have made some very detrimental decisions.

After High School, Tyson worked various jobs prior to joining the United States Air Force. During his time in the Air Force he earned a Bachelors degree from Washington State University in Social Sciences and a Masters degree from Brandman University in Human Resources and Organizational Leadership. During Tyson’s time in the military he served in a variety of capacities and had the privilege of serving as the Operations Officer for one of the most deployed and decorated units in the United States Air Force. Tyson retired from the Air Force in 2019 and made Bonners Ferry his home.

Tyson says, “I love the work at Hawks Landing because I know how much it meant to me at a young age to have someone pour energy, time and care into me at absolutely critical moments. I see my time at Hawks Landing as a time to pay it forward”. Having worked at 4 other youth programs in the past, Tyson states, “Hawks Landing is bar none, the absolute best program I have had the privilege of working in.”

Carl was born and raised most of his childhood in North Carolina, except for a couple years when his family moved to Costa Rica. Professionally, Carl worked about 30 years with a soil testing company, where he was Vice President and part owner. Carl and Cris have been married for 41 years. They raised their family in North Carolina and Florida have four children and eight grandchildren. In 2017 Carl moved to North Idaho and began to enjoy a semi-retired life working part time with youth in treatment.

Carl loves the natural beauty and changes of the seasons in Idaho. He enjoys mountain biking,
hiking, white water rafting, and riding ATV’s and motorcycles. Carl is always finding ways to
help others enjoys working with youth.

Cris grew up in a rural town in central Florida where she lived most of her life. She and her husband Carl have been married for 41 years. They have 4 children and eight grandchildren. Professionally, she was a Lead Building Mechanic overseeing 10 Commercial sized buildings prior to retiring and relocating to North Idaho in 2017. She now enjoys the semi-retired life working part time with youth.

Cris loves the endless outdoor adventures that North Idaho has to offer. Particularly, she enjoys hiking, mountain biking, camping, swimming, water rafting, and shoe shoeing. She also enjoys her garden, baking, cooking, sewing, crocheting, and organizing. Her favorite activity is playing with her grandkids or anyone else’s! Cris has enjoyed working with youth within her community for most of her adult life and truly enjoys helping others.