Ms. Giordano (Ms. G) lives for cultivating the potential of our special needs students! She was born in England to a military family and subsequently moved a lot as a child. Eventually, they settled in Southern California where she spent 20+ years working with the Blind Children's Center, Jr. Blind Foundation and 5 Acres Home for Children. She received her Bachelors Degree from the University of Southern California (USC) and holds two Masters Degrees- Special Education (GCU) and an MBA in Entrepreneurship (Pepperdine). She holds a certificate in Special Education and a Financial Literature Endorsement.

Her family enjoys many outdoor adventures together including zip-lining, paragliding, long bike rides, camping and hiking. Her youngest is 15 and she dreads becoming an empty nester. Her most recent accomplishment is a 54 mile bike ride through Bryce Canyon National Park. Her favorite treats are dark chocolate with almonds, lemon or pineapple Larabars and just about every fruit (minus guavas). Ms. G also helps with the MathCounts after school program here at Dixie Intermediate School.

I grew up in Southern California and spent nine years substitute teaching in California, Washington State, and Texas before moving into a full-time teaching role. In Texas, I taught 6th and 8th grade science for six and a half years. I’ve now been in St. George,  teaching 7th grade science, for the past five years and enjoy helping students explore how the world works. I hold a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and pride myself in creating lessons that are clear, engaging, fun, and meaningful.

My hobbies include playing the piano, drums, and organ. I like organizing, sewing, making costumes, planning parties, and crafting with resin, clay,  and beads. Halloween is my favorite holiday! Pizza, Diet Dr. Pepper, and Dairy Queen Blizzards with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are my favorite treats!

This is Mrs. Jolley‘s third year teaching at Dixie intermediate. She’s a transplant from northern Utah and absolutely loves the warmer winters here in St. George.  

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.

Shaleace is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and is a Utah native, originally from Pleasant Grove. She earned her Master’s degree in speech pathology from Utah State University.  She has been an SLP for more than 26 years and has extensive experience with clients who have apraxia, phonological processing disorders, developmental delays, autism, and stuttering. Shaleace is an expert in working with autistic children who use alternative and augmentative communication devices (AAC). She is always happy and creative and students love working with her! She loves the red rocks of Southern Utah, exercising, hiking, and spending time with her dog Jaxon.

With over 20 years in education, Jennifer Wallace has served as a teacher, secretary, librarian, and substitute. Teaching runs in her family—her grandmothers, brother, daughter and husband are all educators. She and her husband have even taught at the same school, proving that working with your spouse can be fun.

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, but missed focusing solely on reading. She earned her library endorsement and has been a school librarian for the past five 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, the outdoors, and learning guitar and organ. She and her husband have four children, two kids-in-law, and three wonderful grandchildren.

Education:

• High School: Ed. W Clark High School, Las Vegas, NV
• B.A. in Elementary Education – UNLV
• M.S. in Reading – Pittsburg State University
• Secondary Reading & Library Endorsements – SUU

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/