Alex Alba
Social Studies
Work Email: 
Amy Arias
English, Study Skills, Supervised Studies
Self-ContainedWork Email:
Bio
- Associates degree in History from Ricks College in 1993
- Bachelor’s degree in History and Special Education from Utah State University in 1996
- Educator since: 1996
- Jefferson since: 1996
- Mrs. Arias teaches English Language Arts with a specialty helping students with more needed services in academic learning or in emotional disabilities. Mrs. Arias has special proficiency in helping students make more than one year gain in language arts.
Jenacee Booth
Science
Work Email:
Paul Brennan
US History, Utah Studies, Civics
Utah HIstory, 20th Century, World Geography, GovernmentWork Email:
Bio
- Degree: Bachelor of Arts, University of Utah
- Major: United States History and Russian History
- Minor: Chemistry
- Competed professionally as a marathon runner for Nike International 1991 to 1993.
- Educator since: 1987
- Jefferson since: 1987
- Mr. Brennan has been at Jefferson since the second year it was opened. During that time he has influenced so many students in the classroom and on the track. Jefferson has won several division and district championships in Cross Country and Track with Mr. Brennan as coach.
Katrina Brighton
College and Career Awareness, FACS Sewing and Teen Living
Teen Living/Lifeskills/CTEWork Email:
Bio
- Degrees:
- Bachelor of Science Utah State University
- Master of Science Utah State University
- Educator since: 1996
- Jefferson since: 2001
- Mrs. Brighton has been a FACS and Business teacher for many years and has also had the opportunity to have her own children as students at Jefferson, which has given her great insight into the perspective of students and parents that has helped her in her career.
Courtney Brueckner
English 7, English 8, English GT
Work Email:
Bio
- Degrees:
- Masters of Arts in Teaching English - Westminster College
- Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, Creative Writing Emphasis - U of U
- Educator since: 2014
- Jefferson since: 2016
- Ms. Brueckner has been at Horizonte in the Salt Lake School District for the past two years teaching Adult ESOL classes and coordinating the Youth Alternative Language program. Ms. Brueckner has also worked for the Salt Lake City Public Library for seven years.
Eric Burton
Health and PE
HealthWork Email:
Bio
- Bachelor degree in Health - University of Utah
- Master degree in Educational Administration - 2016
- Educator since: 2013
- Jefferson since: 2013
- Mr. Burton began his teaching at Jefferson and has taught Health and PE. In addition to teaching, Mr. Burton has coached basketball, volleyball, and soccer. Mr. Burton has also interned as a Dean of Student as he pursued an admin license and is currently an Instructional Coach along with teaching Health.
Wendy Carnell
Department Chair | Science 8, Science 8 Honors, Science 8 GT
Work Email:
Bio
- Degree: 1975 AA Degree Anoka- Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids, MN
- 1979 BS Degree University of Minnesota, College of Biological Science, Biology
- 1981 BS Degree University of Minnesota, College of Education, Secondary Science
- 2007 M.Ed. Degree Lesley University, Curriculum and Technology
- GT Endorsement, Utah State University
- 2014 GT Endorsement
- Educator Since: 1997
- Jefferson Since: 1997
Fernando Cisneros
Spanish
Work Email:
Debby Conner
SPED Paraprofessional
Work Email:
Donna England
Math Aide
Work Email:
Adam Erickson
College and Career Awareness, Digital Literacy
Work Email:
- Degrees:
- Masters of Business Administration - University of Phoenix
- Bachelor of Science in Econ - University of Utah
- Educator since: 2016
- Jefferson since: 2018
Janessa Fano
English, Specialized Education
Work Email:
- Bachelor's of Science in Special Education Mild/Moderate K-12 from University of Utah
- Educator since: 2007
- Jefferson since: 2018
Brad Gibson
Math 7
Work Email:
Bio: Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education - Utah State University (2000) Master of Science - Computer Information Systems - University of Phoenix (2003) Educator since: 2001 Jefferson since: 2018 Mr. Gibson taught 6th and 7th Grade math at Spanish Fork Middle School for six years. After that, Mr. Gibson taught 6th Grade at Art City Elementary in Springville, Utah for 11 years and then taught 7th Grade Math at Spanish Fork Junior High School for one year before coming to Jefferson.
Lisa Harrison
English 7
Work Email:
Bio
- Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education, University of Northern Colorado
- Minor: Psychology
- ESL Endorsement
- Educator since: 2018
- Jefferson since: 2018
Anna Heath
Science
Work Email:
- Colleges attended: Utah Valley University, Westminster College
- Degrees:
- AA Culinary Arts
- AS University Studies
- BS Biology
- Educator since: 2019
- Jefferson Since: 2019
Wendy Hill
Aide
Work Email:
Brian Jacketta
Mathematics
Work Email:
- Degrees:
- B.S. in Mathematics from University of Utah,
- M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University (Orange, CA)
- Educator since: 2004
- Jefferson Since: 2019
Julie Jennings
Spanish, Reading, ESL, ALP Lead
Spanish/ALP LeadWork Email:
Bio
- Degree Bachelor of Science Brigham Youg University Family & Consumer Sciences
- Master of Arts University of Utah Linguistics/Bilingual Ed.
- Endorsements: Spanish, BYU ESL, UofU Level I Reading, USU Certificate, Nexts Steps & Early Steps Tutoring
- Educator Since – 1990
- Jefferson Since – 1993
- Mrs. Jennings has been an advocate of English Language Learners and students who are below reading level during her time at Jefferson. Her deep desire to help those in most need has motivated her to pursue additional degrees, trainings and endorsements. Throughout the school year Mrs. Jennings stays late after school coordinating and helping with a tutoring program for students, assisted by college students that she recruits and trains.
Sunhee Khang
SPED Paraprofessional
Work Email:
Amanda Lopez-Tibbs
English 7
EnglishWork Email:
- Bachelors in English Secondary Education from University of Utah
- Educator since: 2019
- Jefferson since: 2019
Angelee Luther
Department Chair | Math 7, Math 7 Honors, Math 8, Math 8 Honors, Secondary Math I Honors
Work Email:
Bio
- Degree Bachelor of Science University of Utah 2010
- Major: History and Mathematics
- Educator Since – 2009
- Jefferson Since – 2009
- Mrs. Luther has taught history, math, and AVID at Jefferson and has been involved with several extracurricular programs and sports such as track, soccer, and basketball.
Patti Jo Mazanis
Science 7, Science 7 Honors, Science 7 GT, Science 8, Science 8 Honors
Work Email:
Bio
- Degree Bachelor of Science Brigham Young University 1978 Chemistry
- Bachelor of Science Brigham Young University 1982 Chemical Engineering
- Master of Education Cal. State University, Hayward 1992
- Educator Since – 1986
- Jefferson Since- 1994
Alayna Moore
Para
Work Email:
Azaria Morris
Math, Reading, English, Life Skills
Work Email:
Bio
- Degree: Bachelors and Masters in Special Eduction with an emphasis in applied behavior analysis from the University of Nevada Las Vegas
- Educator since: 2013
- Jefferson since: 2017
- Ms. Morris began her teaching career in Las Vegas for the Clark County School District. She has worked with students with a wide range of learning and developmental disabilities and expertise with children with autism and also students with behavior challenges.
Sydnee Moser
Mathematics
Work Email:
- Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary and Math Education from Southern Utah University
- Educator since: 2019
- Jefferson since: 2019
Samuel Noyce
French Dual Immersion & French
French DLIWork Email:
Bio
- Bachelors degree in French and Music from the University of Utah
- Study abroad in France
- Educator since: 2016
- Jefferson since: 2017
- In 2015 Jefferson became a French Dual Immersion school.
Mark Pierce
PE, Athletic Director
Work Email:
Bio
- Degree Bachelor of Arts and Masters in Exercise and Sports Science, PE - University of Utah
- Educator Since: 1979
- Jefferson Since: 2013
- Mr. Pierce was an All-American defensive back for the University of Utah football team. After graduating from college Mr. Pierce began teaching high school along with being the head football coach at Bear River High and Viewmont High before moving to the coaching staff at the University of Utah. After finishing coaching Mr. Pierce returned to teaching PE at Centerville Jr. High where he taught for many years before coming to Jefferson with his experience and love of teaching at the middle school level.
Kathryn Prater
Dance, Utah Studies, US History
Work Email:
Bio
- Degree: B. A. in History from the University of Utah and a M. A. in Teaching from Westminster College
- Educator Since: 2013
- Jefferson Since: 2013
- I started teaching dance for a private studio at the age of 15. I was on both my junior high and high school dance companies. I studied Modern Dance and History at the University of Utah. While there, I performed in student produced concerts and was involved in two dance education outreach programs. Also, I preformed in the opening ceremony of the 2002 Paralympic Winter Games.
Karen Quinn
Math 7, Math 7 Honors, Math 8, Math 8 Honors
Work Email:
Bio
- Degree: Mathematics
- Educator since: 2009
- Jefferson since: 2016
- Before coming to Jefferson, Ms. Quinn has taught math at Granite Park and Kennedy Jr. Ms. Quinn is excited to bring her years of math experience and her commitment to students to Jefferson.
Douglas Roberts
Drama, Theatre, Stage Production and Technology
Work Email: Website: To audition for musical theatre & intermediate theatre classes, click on this link and type in the code: ige4sib
Website: To audition for musical theatre & intermediate theatre classes, click on this link and type in the code: ige4sibBio "It wasn't until I was in college that I really started doing theatre. I'm so thankful to the friends that invited me to try it out."
- Arizona State University, BFA - Theatre in Education, with emphasis in stage techology
- Lesley University, MA - Technology in Education
- Educator since: 1993
- Jefferson since: 2013
- While attending Arizona State, Mr. Roberts received the "Excellence in Education" award and felt he found what he loved to do the most. After teaching high school theatre in Texas for two years and 13 years of high school theatre in Colorado, he moved to Utah and taught at two different schools in the Jordan district before coming to Granite and Jefferson. Mr. Roberts has continued a great tradition of theatre at Jefferson adding his own strengths to make the program and productions even stronger. Mr. Roberts coordinates the stage crew for all assemblies and performances, directs the school musical and with his students (and some parent volunteers), designs and creates all of the sets used.
Kayla Rowberry
English 8, Honors
Work Email:
Bio
- Degree: Bachelor of Arts in English-Ashford University
- Educator since: 2018
- Jefferson Since: 2018
Michael Schulle
Art
Work Email:
Kiersten Smith
Resource
Work Email:
- Education:
- BYU Special Education degree
- University of Phoenix Elementary Education degree
- Weber State University ESL Endorsement
- Educator since: 2005
- Jefferson Since: 2019
Pamela Tafili
Science 7, Science 7 Honors
Work Email:
Bio
- Degrees: Science
- Educator since: 2011
- Jefferson since: 2016
- Ms. Tafili worked for years with the Navy working with her physics degree. After working with her kids beginning their own schooling Mrs. Tafili chose to become a science teacher. Before teaching at Jefferson, Ms. Tafili taught at Midvale Middle and Butler Middle school.
Allison Taft-Johnson
English 8
Work Email:
Bio
- Degree: Bachelor of Arts in English - Utah Valley University
- Educator since: 2016
- Jefferson since: 2016
June Wilson-Wright
English 7-8 Special Education
Work Email:
Bio
- Bachelor of Education – 1995 from University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Master of Education – 1999 from University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Majors – Curriculum and Instructions
- Minor – Special Education
- Endorsements: ESL , Numeracy, SIOP, (currently Administrative License)
- Educator since: 2005
- Jefferson since: 2005
- In addition to teaching math, Mrs. Wilson-Wright is very involved in extracurricular activities coaching volleyball and basketball and serving as the MESA advisor. Mrs. Wilson-Wright also holds an administrative license and has expertise and experience with school community engagement.
