I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new principal of Diamond Valley Elementary School, and I am excited to become a part of this wonderful community. Personal Background: I am married and a proud parent of four children—two boys and two girls—all of whom have graduated from high school. They are now spread out from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Pocatello, Idaho, and I am eagerly anticipating becoming a grandpa in September! In my free time, I enjoy hiking and have fond memories of geocaching with my kids, though they have since outgrown it. As a family, we love camping at Beaver Mountain and Lake Powell, but my favorite place to relax is a nice sandy beach by the ocean. Professional Background: My journey in education has been both rewarding and diverse. I began my academic career attending Dixie Junior College at night, while working construction during the day, and later graduated from Southern Utah University with a Bachelor's degree and an elementary education license. Due to limited job opportunities in Washington and Iron County, and not being originally from the area, my wife and I moved to Las Vegas, where I started teaching. I taught 3rd grade and later became a Staff Developer (now called a Learning Coach) at Ira J. Earl Elementary. I then transferred to Daniel F. Goldfarb Elementary, where I taught 1st grade. An opportunity arose for us to move back to this area, and I joined Santa Clara Elementary, teaching 5th grade for one year before becoming the Staff Developer. There, we successfully implemented Professional Learning Communities, a system I became passionate about in Las Vegas. After two years at Santa Clara, I was selected to be the principal at Hurricane Elementary. During my seven years there, our students excelled, scoring among the top in the state, and we earned an A- on the State report card. We also pioneered the current model of Dual Language Immersion (DLI) in our district and were the first school in the state to earn a Gold Level STEM endorsement without additional district support. A highlight was our innovative projects, where students upcycled "trash" into anemometers, race cars, games, and more. Following my tenure at Hurricane Elementary, I opened Majestic Fields Elementary, where we maintained a strong STEM focus and initiated the district's first Portuguese DLI program. After five years, I transitioned to the district office as the coordinator for the Dual Language Immersion and World Language programs. While I enjoyed this role, I missed the close relationships formed as a teacher and principal. Therefore, when the opportunity at Diamond Valley arose, I eagerly embraced it. Diamond Valley Elementary: Diamond Valley is known for its strong STEM focus, a program designed for high-ability students, a successful Spanish DLI program, and excellent parent involvement. I am excited to contribute to and build upon these strengths, fostering a nurturing and innovative learning environment for all our students. I look forward to meeting each of you and working together to make this a fantastic school year!