Sonoran Foothills Principal, Mrs. Darlene Baumgartner

Dear Sonoran Foothills Community,

It is both a pleasure and an honor to become a part of the Sonoran Foothills community and introduce myself as your principal, Darlene Baumgartner. I have been dedicated to the education profession since 2002 serving as a teacher, mentor, assistant principal, and principal. I graduated from Northern Arizona University (Go Lumberjacks!) in 2002 and quickly began my journey as a teacher. I had amazing opportunities to grow professionally as a first and third grade teacher in a Title I community. Shortly after I began my career, I pursued my passion for lifelong learning and earned my Masters in Curriculum and Instruction through Arizona State University (Go Devils!). Additionally, during my time in the classroom, I had the joy of mentoring teacher candidates through a district partnership with the ASU iTeach program. This experience ultimately prepared me for a position in 2011 as a full-time New Teacher Mentor. Working with our newest educators was inspiring and refreshing, and once again, led me back to ASU where I received my second Masters in Educational Leadership. After completing my Masters, I spent one year as an assistant principal and then went on to serve as the principal of Liberty Elementary in PVUSD for four years. I collaborated with teachers, students, and families in order to positively impact student achievement and engagement.

It is with great excitement I look forward to the 2020-2021 school year in the Sonoran Foothills community and getting to know the students, their families, and the amazing teachers and staff who dedicate themselves to this wonderful profession. I believe in working hard to foster a culture that is always focused on doing what is best for students and ensuring that they have a positive educational experience that will impact them for a lifetime. With that being said, even though our current distance learning situation could be creating a sense of uncertainty, please know that I will be working hard to collaborate with the staff and community in order to make the transition back to school smooth and successful. I greatly look forward to the time when I can start to connect with you all in person. When I’m not at school, my husband, Jeff, and our two amazing children, Billy Bob (11) and Haley (9), truly help me to keep a balance with everyday life. As a family we enjoy staying active by hiking, bike riding, and playing sports (especially baseball!). We also enjoy traveling and taking on new adventures. Most importantly, we believe in quality time as a family and cherish each moment that we have together. Once again, I am honored to be a part of Sonoran Foothills and greatly look forward to meeting each and every one of you!

Sincerely, Darlene Baumgartner