Mrs. Kimberly Mills is the proud principal of Desert Canyon Elementary School. She is beginning her 19^th year in education and 4^th year leading Desert Canyon Elementary. She is honored to have the opportunity to lead a school with such a tradition of educational excellence and parental involvement. Prior to becoming principal of Desert Canyon Elementary, she served as the assistant principal at Pima Elementary School, as well as a Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) Coach. Mrs. Mills led schools in designing and implementing positive behavior programs to impact students' academic and social/emotional growth. Mrs. Mills' passion for serving students stems from her 11 years in a classroom, teaching 1^st, 2^nd, 4^th and 5^th grades.

Mrs. Mills is a native of Arizona and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Masters of Education in Principal Leadership from Arizona State University. Mrs. Mills believes in having a solid partnership between parents and staff, and understanding that it takes a village to raise a child.  She values the support and crucial role families have alongside staff in ensuring high student achievement and personal success for every child. As a mother of two school-aged children, she understands the impact of the home-school connection and the importance of working as a team to ensure students receive the best education every day. As the instructional leader, she will ensure that Desert Canyon Elementary maintains its tradition of excellence and continues to show social-emotional and academic growth in all areas.

Colleen Love is the assistant principal. She feels incredibly honored and proud to be serving the Desert Canyon Elementary School Community. Her passion for teaching and learning has been a guiding factor in her life and began at a young age. She first discovered her passion for education teaching swim lessons. She was born and raised in Long Island, New York, and enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, and traveling.  She moved to Arizona to attend college at Arizona State University, where she earned a Bachelors in Elementary Education and Masters in Educational Leadership. She also holds endorsements in Gifted Education and Structured English Immersion. The 2021-2022 school year will mark her ninth year in education.

Assistant Principal Love believes the connection between home and school is vital to a child’s education. Each child has a special gift and can learn and grow when given the correct tools to guide their learning. Assistant Principal Love feels it is her job as an educator to give children these tools and a safe and nurturing environment to reach their fullest potential. Student safety and success are a priority for her, and she believes in creating environments where students feel supported and valued. Her goal is to work with families to create a positive school culture where students receive equitable opportunities to achieve excellence in their learning.