The Queen Creek Unified School District (QCUSD) broke ground May 21 on the district's 10th elementary school, Mountain Trail Academy (MTA). Erin Pillsbury, current principal for Desert Mountain Elementary, will be the new principal for MTA, which will be ready for student enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year.
"I am excited about empowering students to showcase their talents, be involved in their learning, and have hands-on learning experiences," said Pillsbury, adding that MTA will be a "Project Lead the Way school." This means the new school will be STEM-focused and will use hands-on learning to promote the exploration and discovery of talents.
At MTA, every student’s success is a priority, according to Pillsbury, who explained that 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.
In terms of school culture, Pillsbury’s vision is centered around the idea that “these kids are all of our kids.” Implementing this ideology creates a collaborative environment where teachers and staff work together to support all students attending MTA, 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,” noted Pillsbury, who said kindness, respect and integrity are the core values she holds and that she expects these values to be exhibited by both staff and students. These core values align with MTA’s positive behavioral interventions and support QCUSD's use of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program to help shape positive attitudes and behaviors of students.
Creating a learning environment goes beyond textbooks and lesson plans in the district. It also includes nurturing a positive environment where all students can thrive academically and personally. Throughout the school year, all QCUSD students can earn PBIS points whenever they show kindness, integrity and respect to their classmates, school staff and teachers, all pillars of the PBIS program.
Pillsbury explained 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."
This aligns with the four core practices of PBIS to create and implement a process used for training, coaching and supporting all faculty/staff in the implementation of the four core PBIS practices: teaching school-wide expectations, acknowledging expected behavior, correcting errors, and requesting assistance.
To learn more about PBIS and how it impacts QCUSD schools, visit the official Arizona PBIS website.
Pillsbury wants the community to know that “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. Being a new school, MTA will be open to new ideas to build that sense of community where everyone feels like they belong.”
MTA is ready for its bright future in the following years under leadership from staff, teachers and parents. Those interested in enrolling in QCUSD's newest elementary school for the 2025-2026 school year can visit the Mountain Trail Academy website or contact Pillsbury by email.
