As a new school year begins, we're introducing the leaders who help shape each campus across the district.
In this series, meet the principals behind local schools, learn about their experience, leadership style and goals for the year ahead, and discover how they're working to support students, staff and families in their communities.
This week features Principal Jorge Onitveros from North Canyon High School in the PVSchools district.
Tell us about your path into education. What led you to become a principal? My journey into education began right after high school when I started coaching football at 18 years old. That experience inspired me to pursue a career in education, and I've been fortunate to serve in a variety of roles, including security guard, student teacher, classroom teacher, dean of students, assistant principal, and now principal. Each position has given me a unique perspective and reinforced my passion for supporting students, empowering staff, and creating a school culture where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
What has been the most rewarding part of leading this campus? The most rewarding part of leading this campus has been serving a community that I've been connected to for nearly two decades. I taught at the elementary school where many of our students began their educational journey, and I later served as principal of the middle school that feeds into our high school. Watching students and families grow over the years has been incredibly meaningful. As someone who has worked closely with our large Hispanic community, I've also been able to build strong relationships with families and create connections that help support our students' success.
What values guide the decisions you make every day? The values that guide my decisions every day begin with ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and staff — that will always be my top priority. Beyond that, I'm driven by a passion for providing every student with the best possible school experience. That means creating a welcoming, supportive environment where students feel they belong while also maintaining a rigorous learning environment that prepares them for college, careers, and success beyond high school.
What does a successful school culture look like to you? To me, a successful school culture is one where every student, staff member, and family feels valued, respected and connected. It's a place with clear and consistent expectations, where relationships are built on trust, people hold one another accountable, and everyone is working toward a shared vision. In that kind of environment, students feel safe to learn, teachers feel supported to do their best work, and success becomes something we achieve together.
If you had 60 seconds to introduce your school to a family considering enrollment, what would you tell them? The beauty of school choice is that families have the opportunity to find the school that is the best fit for their student. Every school has strengths and areas of growth, but what North Canyon offers is a community that is welcoming, safe, educational, and incredibly proud of who we are. We focus on building strong relationships while providing students with opportunities to discover their passions through our academy model. Our goal is not just for students to earn a high school diploma, but to graduate with the skills, experiences, and confidence they need to be successful in college, career, and life.
What do today's students need most from their schools? Today's students need schools that prepare them for the world they will enter, not just the classroom they are currently in. As the world continues to change, we as educators must adapt and provide learning experiences that go beyond compliance and earning a grade. Students need opportunities to apply their knowledge, think critically, solve problems, communicate effectively, and become innovative thinkers. Our responsibility is to help students develop the skills, confidence, and mindset they need to be successful in an ever-changing world.
How do you measure success beyond test scores? I believe success is measured in many different ways. While data and test scores provide important insight into student learning and help us make informed decisions in the classroom, true success goes beyond academics alone. We need to see growth in our overall school performance, including improving our letter grade, achieving a graduation rate above 90%, increasing student involvement in activities and athletics, and creating a culture where students feel connected to their school. Success also means supporting our staff by building an environment where teachers feel valued, supported, and want to continue being part of our community.
What qualities do you look for when hiring educators? When hiring educators, I look for two things above all else. First, do they have a genuine passion for helping students succeed? The heart of education starts with relationships and a commitment to making a difference in students' lives. Second, are they willing to work hard, reflect, grow, and adapt? Education is constantly changing, and we need educators who are open to feedback, willing to improve, and committed to doing whatever it takes to provide the best experience for our students.
How can parents be effective partners in their children's education? Parents are one of the most important partners in a student's success. The best thing families can do is stay involved, ask questions, and stay connected through school communication, emails, and notifications. Most importantly, I encourage parents to experience high school with their students. Be in the stands at the games, attend the performances, celebrate their accomplishments, and be part of the journey. When families and schools work together, students feel supported and are more likely to thrive.
What moment in your career reminded you why you chose education? One of the greatest reminders of why I chose education is that no two days are ever the same. Every day brings new opportunities to make a difference, support a student, and redefine my passion for this work. As a parent myself, I believe every child deserves to be treated with the same care, support, and commitment that we would want for our own children. That mindset guides me every day and reminds me of the incredible responsibility we have as educators to impact students' lives.
At the end of the day, what do you hope students remember most about attending your school? At the end of the day, I hope students remember that North Canyon was a place where they belonged, where people believed in them, and where they were challenged to become their best selves. I want them to look back and remember the relationships they built, the experiences they had, and the confidence they gained. Most importantly, I hope they leave knowing they were valued, supported, and prepared to be successful beyond high school.
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.
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.
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