Basic Biography

A simple narrative to help you get to know Todd.

Born August 25^th, 1978, Todd LeRoy Bauerle was Norman and Linda’s first child. His mother was a teacher and father owned a small local car dealership in Adrian, MI. In an effort to seek out better economic conditions and career opportunities, the Bauerle Family moved west in 1982, to Scottsdale, Arizona. In 1986, the family expanded with the arrival of Todd’s younger brother, Evan.

During his schooling in Scottsdale, Todd showed great potential in creative and artistic expressions, often being found drawing in class instead of paying attention to lessons. Early on, Todd sought refuge in books and demonstrated an early fascination with Star Wars, constantly immersing himself in every facet of the films.

Todd developed an avid interest in science fiction and movies, which helped exercise his creative muscles. With a fascination in sci-fi and drawing, Todd had early ambitions of filmmaking and writing. With an interest in comics, he even had several of his teachers convinced he would one day become a comic book artist himself.

It was at this time when Todd's life changed dramatically with the divorce of his parents in 1991. The family change was difficult to comprehend and accept at the time, but slowly Todd began to adjust. He continued to become more introverted during adolescence until he found another way to express himself apart from drawing.

During this time, it was music that filled the emotional holes in Todd's life. He already had an established a liking for such cult favorites as Erasure and Depeche Mode, but he soon began to broaden his musical taste, ranging from the music of the 1970's; namely Rush and Led Zeppelin, to current bands like Better Than Ezra and Dishwalla. 

Inspired by what he heard, Todd indefinitely borrowed his mother's Yamaha 12-string acoustic guitar, and taught himself how to play. He quickly developed an ear for playing the instrument, usually being able to play a song after listening to it for a few times. While attending high school, Todd took his musical talents to the stage as lead guitarist and song writer for a local band. 

Todd continued pursuing his interest in movies by taking a job at a local movie theater, where he took great care to see each and every movie released. With a great love of movies came a great devotion to his work, and he eventually moved into management the shortly after graduating from Saguaro High School.

When his parent's divorced, Todd made a promise to himself to make sure his future family would be built on a solid foundation. He found that foundation when close friends introduced him to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Todd immediately gained a testimony of the Church, knowing full well he would most certainly be baptized. However, knowing the commitments of the Church, Todd resisted baptism for a number of years.

Unable to find happiness on his own after high school, Todd was finally willing to learn more about the church. After taking careful consideration of the church and its doctrines, Todd made the commitment to become a member and was baptized in November 1999. Activity and involvement in the church brought many things into Todd's life, but most important was the focus on family and the happiness and blessings he felt in many areas of his life.

Faced with questions of a future career path, Todd began to exhaust his options rather quickly. He investigated his original dream of combining art and movies in computer animation and visual effects. Unable to afford the education and out of concern for having to rely upon artistic creativity as a continual source of income, he shifted his focus towards his music.

Shortly afterwards Todd met his future wife, Jenafer, who had just graduated from the Arizona School of Massage Therapy in Tempe. After establishing a friendship, followed by a short courtship, they married in November 2001. That following spring, Todd graduated from Mesa Community College, but was still unsure about the direction of his own career.

"It was only a short time before I was married that I wanted music to be my career. But my musical counterpart was my best friend Chris, and it seemed we were always in opposite places in our lives. Music never really happened for me after that." After experiencing general dissatisfaction with the stagnant nature of his music and songwriting, Todd put all energy in to a career in the movie theatre industry. After disappointing employment at a local independent theatre as General Manager, Todd decided to return to school fulltime at the end of 2002.

Todd began attending Arizona State University, his course of study: Psychology. Early in young adulthood, Todd took notice of how frequently people would come to him when they had relationship concerns or problems in general. By listening, analyzing, and intuition, Todd often was able to give helpful and meaningful advice to others. After developing that skill over a period of years, and careful deliberation, he determined a counseling profession would be ideal. Further basis for counseling aspirations came from the family focus of the LDS Church.

"I was immediately frustrated with the focus of the Psychology Department, namely that individuals are broken and often times unfixable due to biology or natural behaviors that cannot be retrained. People can change. They don't need to cope with their problems for life," Todd remembers.

He soon changed his major to Family Studies and Human Development. This department viewed and taught that families exist systemically, simply meaning the individual is not broken but instead exists in a complex and highly fluid influential environment. Through this lens, therapy is best if it focuses on the transactions between people within the environment, like communication patterns.

Todd applied himself vigorously to school, graduating Summa cum Laude in December 2004. After applying to Marriage and Family Therapy graduate programs throughout the country, Todd learned he had not been accepted for admission in 2005. "I had felt for a long time that Marriage and Family Therapy was where I was supposed to be. It came as a devastating blow when I was not accepted."

Nearly by accident, Todd found himself running the operations and promotions end of a small publishing company, Northern Spirit Creative Productions that summer. He began as a freelance web designer and graphic artist for the company and ended up as the VP and Publisher working to promote the company's first book, Aaron's Crossing: A True Ghost Story. When the company succeeded in its goals of having the book get picked up by a national publisher, Todd felt it was time to return to his career path.

In May 2006, Todd and Jenafer began to look for work outside of Arizona. Overnight, their lives were changed when they found an opportunity to work for Utah Youth Village as group home parents. Four weeks from applying for the position, Todd and Jenafer found themselves as Family Teachers working in a group home in the Salt Lake City area.

Using the Teaching Family Model, made famous by Boys Town, Todd and Jenafer teach social skills to the eight teenage foster boys in the group home. "Most youth are in the juvenile corrections system, and live in the home for anywhere between one and two years. Its a great opportunity to help a child in need, and it's exciting to see a youth make a positive change in their lives." Since their employment began, they have been certified in the Teaching Family Model and have worked with a total of sixteen different youth.

In 2008, Todd is heading back to school at the University of Phoenix in Salt Lake City and is seeking a Masters of Science in Mental Health Counseling. The program is set to conclude in 2011, at which time Todd will have graduated as a Certified Professional Counselor Intern (CPCI).

For Todd, future career aspirations include staying at the Village, and completing his schooling while continuing to work as a family teacher. Todd would then complete the necessary clinical hours to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

Todd lives and works with his wife Jenafer in Kearns, Utah as family teachers with Utah Youth Village. While they look after eight teenage foster boys, they do not have any natural children yet. Their black dog, Indiana, a lab / beagle mix will have to do for now.

Todd maintains his interests in music, movies, and books. He has played in several bands, but has taken a leave from lead guitar and shifted to bass guitar, and is looking for musicians to work with. He is also intensely focused writing music on the piano, guitar, and producing electronic music. 

Many of Todd's friends and family members have grown to love his appreciation and opinions on movies, continually asking for suggestions and recommendations. Todd is also currently developing several ideas for novels, screenplays, and other books as well.