New principal at Oquirrh Hills Elementary

Karen Marberger returned to the Kearns community this year as principal of Oquirrh Hills Elementary School.

Marberger spent five years as South Kearns Elementary's principal, though she was most recently principal of Cottonwood Elementary in Holladay, and started her career in education as a Jordan District teacher.

"It's been great coming back," she said. "There are challenges, but every school has its challenges."

One of the biggest challenges she and the school will be tackling together this year is the extra pressure and responsibility that has been placed on teachers due to the school's loss of its Title One status. The lost status means lost funding, fewer classroom aides, and no help from a Title One specialist.

"They're a great staff here, and they're already going forward," Marberger said.

Oquirrh Hills' teachers already had their hands full even, while they were a Title One school, partly because parental involvement is harder there than in some other areas, she said. However, Oquirrh Hills parents are just as concerned about their kids as Cottonwood parents or any others, and do everything they can to make sure they have the best education possible, she said.

"We have the same high expectations here," Marberger said. "We're always focused on academic achievement, and making the progress we need to."

Oquirrh Hills already has many programs in place to help students meet expectations, and Marberger has particularly emphasized her own personal focus of making sure all students are reading on grade level. To that end, teachers are closely tracking students' progress so they can give individualized help where and how it is needed.

"Whatever level of support we have, that is still our goal," Marberger said.

Marberger hails from a family of educators, and that career path fit her well because she enjoys learning and helping children learn, she said. She prefers to do so from the front lines, through teaching and direct administration, where she can work with students face-to-face every day.

"That's always the bottom line--just trying to help the kids."