New middle school principal to apply HS experience

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The new principal of Desert Wind Middle School, Renita Myers, brings both experience and enthusiasm to the position.

Since 2012, Myers has been an assistant principal at Maricopa High School. She came to the district in 2006 as a Spanish and English as a second language teacher at the high school.

Myers began her career in Arizona in 2003 as a Spanish and English as a second language teacher at Independence High School in Glendale. “We are very excited to have Renita (accept the position),” Superintendent Steve Chestnut said.

“She has done an excellent job as an assistant principal at Maricopa High School.” Dee Reid, president of the Desert Wind Middle School Parent Teacher Organization, said she has heard “a lot of great things about Myers.”

Reid has a son who will enter eighth grade next year at Desert Wind.

“I’m excited she is coming,” Reid said.

“Coming from the high school, she has the experience to prepare the kids in middle school for attending high school in Maricopa.”

Myers earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish at Sonoma State University. In high school, she went to Argentina as an exchange student. After graduating from college, she returned to Argentina to teach English for two years.

She said she planned to continue to teach in Argentina but made a return trip to the United States to sell her belongings. On that trip, she met her now husband and her plans changed.

She has two master’s degrees from Northern Arizona University — one in bilingual and multicultural education and the other in educational leadership.

In 2003, she and her husband moved to Maricopa. The couple have two children, ages 9 and 5.

The children will attend Butterfield Elementary School next year, she said.

“I am very excited about the new position,” she said. “Dr. Chestnut approached me with a great opportunity — I see it as just that — it is an opportunity to contribute to the community I live in.”

Part of the middle school’s academic focus is the Science Technology Engineering Arts Math curriculum. Another focus is the blended learning program.

Myers said the school will redevelop its blended learning program because it has two new teachers this year. Blended learning combines online with traditional instruction.

“Our goal is to make learning more project-based,” teaching students how to problem solve, she said.

***ADVERTISEMENT***Renita Myers
Principal
Desert Wind Middle School

Education: BA from Sonoma State, two masters’ degrees from NAU
Family: Married with two kids and two dogs
Hobbies: Sightseeing and relaxing with the family
High school GPA: At least 3.5; I struggle with a ‘B’ in math
First job in education: I taught kindergarten, second grade, fourth grade and high school English at San Miguel de los Andes in Argentina
Favorite Spanish phrase: “Beep beep bocina.” I learned this in my first year of Spanish from my ninth grade teacher Kathy Bates, who inspired me to be a teacher.
Best excuse a student has given for missing class: A student at Maricopa High School was 25 minutes late for class because he was rounding up their peacocks.
Top 3 changes you’ll make at Desert Wind: 1. Improve its appearance 2. Instill a sense of community and family 3. Increase the academic rigor