Southland Elementary

08/21/2026

Our first Magic Maker of the Week is sixth grade's Megan Marchant!
Megan jumped into the school year with flexibility, positivity, and a whole lot of heart. We've already seen her creating fun, engaging experiences for her students and building a classroom where kids are excited to learn. We're so lucky to have her at Southland!

08/20/2026

08/19/2026

Sixth grade DLI had a great first day!

08/19/2026

Our next teacher spotlight is our magnificent Lay Kou! Mrs. Kou is a joy to watch teach and has a fantastic way of creating magical moments in her classroom. We are lucky to have Mrs. Kou teaching 5th grade Chinese DLI this school year.

Here's Mrs. Kou's bio:

I'll be starting my 14th year in education, having taught 10 years in 3rd grade and 3 years in 6th grade. I received my master's degrees from the University of Utah and BYU (no rivalry here—I love both universities). Among the things I enjoy, one is racket sports (pickleball, badminton, table tennis, etc.), and another is gardening (I have succulents and fruit and vegetable garden this summer - woohoo!). I also have a fascination with wordplay :)

08/19/2026

Happy first day of school! A huge thank you to Spider-Man, The Mandalorian, Rapunzel, Jasmine, and Belle for helping us give our Sabertooths such a fun welcome back to Southland! And thank you to Character Booking Princess Parties for helping us make it happen!

08/18/2026

Cindy White is a beloved part of our office team at Southland! She is always willing to lend a helping hand and be a friendly face when you visit our school. When she's not at school, she's likely to be in Yellowstone or planning to visit Yellowstone. We are lucky to have her at Southland!

Mrs. White shares:
I have worked at Southland for about 32 years. I have enjoyed working with the students, staff, and the parents in the Southland community.
When I'm not working, I love spending time with my husband, grandchildren, and my dog Bennett.

08/18/2026

Our next teacher spotlight includes our wonderful and amazing 4th grade teacher Jenn Curdie. Jenn is a fabulous team member and teaches with heart and love to all of our students. We are fortunate to have her on our Southland team!

Mrs. Curdie shares the following:
I have taught for 12 years. For the past eight years I have been at Southland, six of those years I was the English DLI partner. Prior to teaching at Southland I taught 1st and 3rd grade at Westvale Elementary in West Jordan.

In my personal time I enjoy outdoor activities, doing art projects, reading, traveling and spending time with my family. I love anything in the water, but my favorite is wake surfing! I have three wonderful children of my own. My two oldest children are in college, one attends UVU and the other USU in Price. My youngest child attends Oquirrh Middle School and was in the Chinese Immersion program at Southland. I truly feel lucky to be part of the Southland family! It is an amazing place to work and have a child attend. The teachers and staff all have a heart of gold! I am looking forward to the next school year and am excited to meet my future students!

08/17/2026

Sarah Bernam is one of our Special Education - Resource teachers. She has such a love for teacher and learning in her classroom, it's no surprise why our students excel at Southland! Sarah is a fantastic support for our students, teachers, and families. We are fortunate to havean amazing teacher like her!
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In Sarah's words:

Hello,
My name is Sarah Bernam. This is my 13th year teaching, and my 8th year as the Special Education Teacher at Southland! I look forward to working with all of the familiar faces again this year, and meeting all of the new students. When I'm not teaching I love being outdoors: camping, hiking, paddle boarding, playing soccer and volleyball. I also enjoy watching sports- Go Pack Go! 💛💚

08/17/2026

Kate Xu is one of our fantastic 6th grade teachers in DLI! It is amazing to see the level of Chinese language acquisition and proficiency our students reach by the time they are in 6th grade. We are so grateful for our teachers who support our students in gaining a second language.

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Mrs. Xu shares the following:
Hi, Southland Families!

I've been an educator for 14 years, and this is my fourth year teaching 6th-grade Chinese DLI classes. I enjoy helping students explore the Chinese language and culture. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is hearing my students speak with me in Chinese—it makes me so proud to see their confidence and progress grow.

Outside of school, I enjoy playing with my kids, reading, camping, swimming, listening to podcasts, and watching TV shows. I'm currently watching The Mentalist. I'm excited to partner with our students and families for a wonderful school year!

08/17/2026

Our teacher spotlight is our amazing kindergarten teacher Brittney Iverson! Her classroom is always filled with love and joy! Mrs. Iverson has a wonderful way of creating meaningful learning moments in every aspect of the school day. We are so lucky to have her at Southland!
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Mrs. Iverson shares:
Hello Families!
This will be my 7th year teaching kindergarten at Southland, and I can't believe my very first class will be in 6th grade this year! When I'm not in the classroom, I enjoy traveling, trying new restaurants, learning new hobbies, and spending time with my family and friends. I look forward to seeing you all again soon and welcoming the new families to our Southland community!