Scottsdale elementary school names new principal

At its March 5 meeting, the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board appointed Krisse Kelly to be Laguna Elementary School’s next principal, beginning July 1.

A longtime resident of the school’s Scottsdale Ranch neighborhood whose own children attended Laguna, Kelly said she’s thrilled to succeed Interim Principal Alice Spingola.

“I chose to work here because Laguna is a special place to work, teach, and learn. Every member of our staff treats our students with the utmost respect, care, and love,” she said.

Kelly is currently Laguna’s assistant principal, a post she previously filled from 2019-2022. She has also been a second and fourth grade teacher at the school.

Laguna, located at 10475 E. Lakeview Drive, is a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) and Cognia STEM-certified school with 400 students, from toddlers through fifth grade. In its most recent rankings, the Arizona State Board of Education awarded Laguna an “A” school letter grade for the 2022-23 school year.

“We are elated to have Krisse on board as our newest SUSD principal,” said SUSD’s Executive Director of Elementary Education, Margaret Serna.  “She embodies the spirit of the Laguna learning community, and the roles she has played there – as a teacher, assistant principal, parent and past PTO president – make her uniquely qualified for this post.”

Kelly received a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles. She also holds a master’s degree in administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills and a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in bilingual education from University of California, Santa Barbara. Her work experience includes teaching and administrative positions at several California elementary schools.

“I am excited to continue many of our existing programs and also bring fresh, new ideas to Laguna,” said Kelly.  “We have high standards for all students, and we help all of them achieve their goals every step of the way."