Erin Pillsbury, the current principal of Desert Mountain Elementary, will be the new principal of Mountain Trail Academy in the Queen Creek Unified School District when it opens for the 2025-26 school year.

QCUSD broke ground on MTA, the district’s 10th and newest elementary school, on May 21 in Mesa.

"I am excited about empowering students to showcase their talents, be involved in their learning, and have hands-on learning experiences," Pillsbury stated in a district press release.

MTA will be a Project Lead the Way school, meaning it will be STEM-focused and will use hands-on learning.

The school will provide daily opportunities for reteaching and enrichment, with weekly student data analysis to tailor educational strategies to meet each student’s needs, Pillsbury stated in the release.

Pillsbury’s vision is centered around the idea that “these kids are all of our kids” and teachers and staff will work together to support all students attending the school, not just the ones in their classrooms.

"The atmosphere of MTA will be a place where staff, students and parents collaborate to create a supportive environment” she stated.

Kindness, respect and integrity are the core values held by Pillsbury, which align with MTA’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support pillars. She added that the first year of MTA "will include putting effective systems in place, setting high expectations for learning, and taking time to get to know one another."

 “MTA will encourage active participation from parents. Opportunities such as the Parent Teacher Organization, classroom volunteers, art and science masterpiece programs, and guest readers are just a few of the ways parents can be involved,” Pillsbury stated. “Being a new school, MTA will be open to new ideas to build that sense of community where everyone feels like they belong.”

Those interested in enrolling in Mountain Trail Academy for the 2025–2026 school year, can visit the Mountain Trail Academy website, or contact Pillsbury at email.