Inside Litchfield Elementary School District: Meet Principal Aaron Gould

By Stacy Mantle
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Before becoming principal of Western Sky Middle School, Aaron Gould was a professional trumpet player performing throughout the Valley.

Now in his 22nd year in education, Gould brings that same passion and discipline to school leadership.

Coming from a family of educators, Gould began working with children at 16. Today, his focus is on strengthening school culture, building relationships and helping students develop the skills they need beyond the classroom.

He originally studied music education before switching to elementary education and eventually moving into administration.

Gould became principal of Western Sky in 2026 and hopes to build a school community where students, teachers and staff feel connected and supported. 

What inspired you to pursue a career in education? I come from a family of educators and have been involved in teaching children since I was 16. Each leadership position I've held has helped prepare me to serve my community at the next level.

What has been the most rewarding part of leading Western Sky? We have amazing staff and even better students. I'm blessed to be part of a team that works so hard for kids.

What values guide your leadership? Kindness, strong relationships, accountability and learning from mistakes. I believe a strong school culture is one where everyone believes students can learn at high levels and works together to make that happen.

What makes Western Sky Middle School special? We have a wide range of opportunities to support the whole child, including strong academics, competitive sports programs, successful student leadership groups and clubs that appeal to nearly every interest.

What do students need most from their schools today? Students need preparation for high school and beyond. That means meeting grade-level standards, learning to advocate for themselves, navigating an ever-changing digital world and developing the communication, perseverance and problem-solving skills they'll need in life.

How do you measure success beyond test scores? Test scores are important, but individual growth and developing students of strong character who are engaged in their school community are far more important.

How can families help their children succeed? The home-school connection is critical. Parents can help by checking their child's progress weekly, providing structure at home and communicating with the school to ensure their child stays on track.

What is your biggest goal for this school year? I want every student, staff member and teacher to feel they belong to the Western Sky family. If we restore that sense of family and pride in our school, I'll consider this year a success.

What do you hope students remember most about Western Sky? I hope they remember the kindness they were shown, the friends they made, the activities they participated in and the staff who wanted nothing more than to see them succeed.

What's something people might be surprised to learn about you? My music tastes are incredibly varied. I have Metallica, Nicki Minaj, Martina McBride and Mendelssohn next to each other on Spotify.

Editor’s note:   A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Stacy Mantle
Education Solutions Reporter

smantle@iniusa.org

Meet Stacy
Stacy Mantle is joining the team at Independent Newsmedia, Inc. as an Education Solutions journalist, thanks to a grant from the Arizona Community Collaborative. She has a long history in education that ranges from teaching junior high and middle school to developing curriculum and standards-based assessments.

Community: A longtime advocate for animal welfare, Stacy is deeply involved in rescue efforts and volunteers with several nonprofit organizations.

Random Fact: Once upon a time, she shared her home with a pet coyote and two wolf hybrids. The experiences were wild enough to become the subject of her first book!

Education: She holds a BA in English with a minor in Political Science, a Post-baccalaureate in Secondary Education, and an MBA with a emphasis on Marketing.

Hobbies: In her spare time, Stacy writes fast-paced urban fantasy novels, crafts small-batch artisan soap, and is always up for hiking or off-roading through the Arizona wilderness with her husband of 23 years.