Leadership Team
Glenn Duncan
President & CEO
To change the world would be impossible for just one person, but to change the world one person at a time is not only a possibility, but a personal mission for Glenn Duncan. As the President and CEO since 2004, Mr. Duncan has led Southlands Christian Schools to become a premier private Christian school in Southern California. During his tenure, Southlands Christian has experienced dynamic growth and the changing of many lives.
In his previous occupations, Mr. Duncan pioneered marketing and brand management success for a number of companies, including a four year stint in Melbourne, Australia as the Director of Business Development for Linfox Distribution Group. After working closely with a pastor who encouraged him to learn the importance of waiting on God, a passion awakened in him to live his life to please God, which eventually led him to Southlands Christian. It is Mr. Duncan’s mission to raise up global leaders by first bringing each student to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and envisioning them to fulfill their God-given destinies. His dream is to see Godly, passionate students graduating and becoming agents of change in the world.
Brandon Shultz
Superintendent of Schools / Interim High School Principal
Brandon Shultz began working in education over 20 years ago when he moved to Taichung, Taiwan, and studied Mandarin while serving as a missionary, associate pastor of a local church, and an administrator in a bilingual school over a 7-year stay. In 2007, Mr. Shultz and his family relocated to Southern California to continue working in ministry and education. It was at this time he joined the team at Southlands and has served as a teacher, administrator, high school principal, and currently as the Superintendent of Schools.
Mr. Shultz has a passion to see Christian education made more accessible to families through effective Kingdom schools with unique delivery models. He firmly believes in the mission of Christian education for reaching the next generation and bringing sustainable, generational change to families and communities through the truth and power of God’s Kingdom.
Sara Gaylord
TK-8 Principal
Mrs. Gaylord has been a part of Southlands Christian Schools for over a decade. During her seven years in the 5th-grade classroom, she also served as the Upper Elementary Department Head, NEHS Advisor, and Math Olympics Coordinator. She stepped into the role of Elementary and Middle School Vice Principal in 2020 with the desire to support and encourage the teaching faculty. Mrs. Gaylord has a calling and passion for servant leadership; in addition to serving the teachers, she strives to help students succeed both in and out of the classroom and enjoys working alongside the SCS administration team to continue bringing excellent Christian education to families. Mrs. Gaylord believes wholeheartedly in the SCS mission of teaching to the whole child. She sees that the Lord has blessed every child with special gifts and talents and that through the environment and education provided at SCS, each student has the opportunity to grow in and glorify the Lord with these blessings. Mrs. Gaylord is a proud Alumni of Azusa Pacific University where she received her BA in Physical Education and MA in Educational Leadership.
Holly Duncan
Spiritual Formation Director and Brand Manager
Holly Duncan serves as the Spiritual Formation Director and Brand Manager for Southlands Christian Schools. Holly carries the heart and vision of Southlands within her, guiding her actions in all that she implements and does both for the spiritual development of our students, staff, and families, as well as in upholding and promoting the Southlands brand image. Mrs. Duncan is passionate about creating opportunities for staff and students to experience God and grow in their relationship with Him.
Wendy Shultz
Business Development Administrator
Wendy Shultz has been working in the field of education and Christian ministry for over two decades. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature and Culture and began her career as a teacher and an administrator of an international school in Taiwan. In 2007 she joined the team at Southlands Christian Schools and she currently serves developing new school programs both onsite, offsite, and around the globe.
Her ultimate goal is to promote the advancement of God's kingdom through Christ-centered education. Wendy believes that every child of God should be aware of their identity and purpose in Jesus Christ. She is committed to collaborating with churches, schools, and educational organizations in the USA and abroad to increase the number of Christian education programs available to families. This will enable more families to provide their children with a rigorous and Christ-centered education. Her objective is to see every child fulfill their calling and destiny for the glory of God.
Hanna Kim
TK-8 Vice Principal
Mrs. Kim holds a BA in Education from the University of California, Irvine and a MS in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Since 2016, she has been an integral part of the Southlands family, starting as the Elementary ELL Teacher, then transitioning to the 6th-Grade Teacher, Mentor Teacher, and finally assuming the role of Elementary and Middle School Vice Principal. Mrs. Kim has a wealth of experience in education, having previously taught in the Garden Grove Unified School District for six years. Committed to lifelong learning, she aspires to be a compassionate leader, drawing from her diverse background in both public and private education sectors. Mrs. Kim's mission is to ensure that students have a fulfilling educational journey at every stage. She firmly believes in the power of Christian educators to inspire and empower students in every moment and for every opportunity.
Mary Sheriff
High School Vice Principal
Mary Sheriff has been in Christian education for over 33 years at Southlands Christian Schools. During her career at Southlands, she has served in a variety of capacities: teacher, the high school Associated Student Body (ASB) advisor, and an administrator in elementary, middle, and high school. Mary holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership and a John Maxwell Leadership team coaching certificate.
Mrs. Sheriff’s passion is to see Southlands’ mission statement fulfilled. “Our mission is to educate students in excellence and integrity, to lead and impact society by fulfilling their destinies for the glory of God.” When students graduate from high school, she desires them to have academic awareness, leadership skills, and a vibrant relationship with God that will enable them to impact others and succeed wherever they go.
Lorraine Smith
Preschool Director
Mrs. Smith has been a part of the Southlands family since 1988, initially as a teacher’s aide, then a teacher and ultimately became the director. Always having a passion for children’s ministries, she knew upon graduation from high school what her life’s calling would be. Her desire is to instill in our students the knowledge that they are children of the One True King; that they are beautifully created, loved, equipped and empowered to influence the world for Christ.
Jesse Gentile
Senior Director of International Schools
Jesse Gentile oversees all aspects of Southland's overseas partner schools. He has been involved in all levels of education for much of the last two decades during which he taught a variety of middle and high school courses in the humanities. He received a B.A. in Social Science education from the University of South Florida. In 2008 he received an MS in Instructional Design from Florida State University. While there he taught undergraduate courses on Technology in Education. Jesse worked as an instructional designer for an IT security company (Mile2) and has run a small nonprofit for 10+ years. In 2013 he completed an MA in philosophy (Biola University) and went on to complete a PhD in 2023. The focus of his research was on "Critical realism" which looks at how we know things in various fields. He has been married over 20 years to Ella, an Orange County attorney and is the father of two school age children. He enjoys new technology applications and thinking about the big questions of life.
Candace Johnson
Assistant Director of International Schools
Candace Johnson is a veteran, educator, and advocate for special education. She served for nine years in the California Army National Guard, where she developed leadership skills and a strong sense of service. During her military career, Candace earned a Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies from Grand Canyon University, a renowned Christian institution. She began her education career teaching middle and high school special education, where she focused on creating inclusive and supportive learning environments. Her dedication and leadership led to her promotion as an administrator, overseeing all Special Education teachers. In this role, she worked to ensure students with special needs received the resources and support they needed to thrive. Candace’s career reflects her passion for service, justice, and education. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and four legged friends.