Hi Dixie Intermediate Flyers! My name is Katie Jones, and I am beyond excited to join the DIS team as the ESL teacher!

I’ve spent the past 30 years in education right here in Washington County, teaching elementary and intermediate students, serving as a Reading Specialist and Instructional Coach, and working as a specialist for the Utah State Board of Education. I hold a Master’s Degree in Education, along with endorsements in Educational Leadership, ESL, Reading, Literacy, Educational Technology, and Instructional Coaching.

Helping students thrive and love learning is my passion! I can’t wait to encourage, champion, and celebrate YOU as you grow and build confidence in your language skills.

A Few Things I Promise You:

• A Welcoming Space: Your language, background, and culture are important, and we’ll celebrate them every day!
• Awesome Progress: We’ll practice reading, writing, and speaking together at a pace that works for you.
• A Big Team Effort: We’ll partner with your family so you have a whole team cheering you on.

A Few Fun Facts About Me:

• St. George Local: I was born and raised here, graduated from Dixie High School, and raised my five children here. All five attended Dixie Intermediate (Tonaquint)!
• Lifelong Learner: I believe you can learn something new every day. I’m currently working toward specialized reading certification for students with dyslexia.
• Beyond the Classroom: I love reading, spending time with my family on Kolob Mountain, and finding fun, hands-on ways to make learning interactive.

I’m so excited for the year ahead! Let’s make it the best one yet. Go Flyers!

Julia M. Killeen is an educator driven by a passion for equity and social justice. She brings a love of learning to her work, especially through reading—historical fiction being her favorite genre. Outside the classroom, she enjoys exploring geology through rockhounding, discovering great restaurants, and relaxing with quality TV shows.

Bachelor's in Finance – Utah Tech University

Master's in Special Education – University of Utah

Ms. Leyva has had a passion and drive for education since her time living in northern Utah. She knew in high school she wanted to teach. Pursuing this passion she went to Utah Tech University to get a Bachelors of Science in Theatre Education. She is the first in her family to attend and graduate college with a bachelor's degree. 

Over the past four years Ms. Leyva dove into her school work and being a part of the theatre world gaining experience in acting, designing and management. Her goal was to learn an array of skills so she could be prepared to pass the passion of theatre down to her students. In this time her love for teaching only grew. 

During two summers Ms. Leyva lived in Bethesda Maryland, about 30 minutes outside of Washington D.C., working on the Walter Reed Medical Base at their Child Development Center. Here she worked with ages six weeks old to six years old. This experience was an amazing opportunity in many ways. She was able to travel the farthest she had ever been as well as learn about working with young children. 

At the start of her final year in college Ms. Leyva would have told you her dream was to work in a high school. Then after completing her student teaching experience with an intermediate school she realized this age group is where her passions lie. She is excited to lay the foundations for students and help them build so many skills to help them throughout-life even if they do not continue with theatre.

Mrs. Najeeb earned her Bachelor of Applied Science with a minor in Health from Lewis-Clark State College and her Master of Arts in Teaching from Idaho State University. Health and fitness have become such an important part of her life, inspiring her to become a PE and Health teacher. She hopes to help students find ways to enjoy being active and build healthy habits they can carry with them throughout their lives.

Outside of school, Mrs. Najeeb enjoys spending time with her husband and son. She loves running, hiking, strength training, and being outdoors. She and her family enjoy training for local races together. When she’s at home, you’ll often find her reading a good book, baking all things sourdough and practicing photography.

Jennifer began her teaching career in Las Vegas, NV, thriving in 5th grade. After a break to raise her children, she returned to teach 5th and 6th grade Core in Joplin, MO—and loved it. Later, she found her dream job teaching 7th grade reading, which deepened her passion for literacy. After moving to St. George, she taught 7th grade ELA while working toward her library endorsement and has been a school librarian for the past six years, helping students discover books they love—a job she calls the best in the world.

Outside of school, Jennifer enjoys reading, puzzling, board games, travel, and the outdoors. She and her husband have four children, two kids-in-law, and five wonderful grandchildren.

Mrs. Whitehead has been teaching Language Arts 6 at DIS since 2017. She loves helping students become confident readers, writers, and critical thinkers. The best part of teaching sixth grade? Her students keep her laughing, thinking, and feeling young every day.

Her childhood was spent in Lodi, California, where her mornings often began with the shake of crop dusters flying over the grape vineyards that surrounded her farm home. She spent her summers reading in a hammock and enjoying every fruit imaginable from her family’s large orchard. She remembers that the first book to make her cry was Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls.

Utah has been home for the past 30 years, where she and her husband have raised five children and are now the proud grandparents of 22 active grandchildren. For 44 summers, they have made unforgettable memories houseboating at Lake Powell.

• Bachelor's of Science in English-English Education Emphasis (cum laude)

Mr. Wilson was born in Cedar City, Utah but grew up in St. George Utah.  He begins his 25th year teaching in the 2025/2026 school year and has been at Dixie Intermediate ever since it opened in 2007.

Teaching runs in Mr. Wilson's genes, as his father was also an educator in Washington County for 32 years.  Mr. Wilson received a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and a Minor in Health Education from Southern Utah University in 2001. After teaching for several years he went back to school and completed his Masters Degree in Sports Conditioning and Performance from SUU in 2012. In addition to his teaching degree, Mr. Wilson has completed an ESL Endorsement, as well as a Technology Endorsement.

Mr. Wilson loves all things sports with basketball being his favorite.  He's a big fan of BYU football/basketball and the Utah Jazz. He also loves nature, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, and has a passion for wildlife and scenic photography.  To see his work, check out www.instagram.com/muleymadness

• Bachelor's in Physical Education from Southern Utah University
• Minor in Health Education from Southern Utah University
• Masters Degree in Sports Conditioning and Performance from Southern Utah University

https://sites.google.com/washk12.org/physicaleducation/