We are so excited to officially join the Roadrunner family! Over the past several days, we have had the pleasure of personally calling our families to introduce ourselves and share our excitement about becoming part of Town & Country Neighborhood School. As we begin the second quarter, we recognize that welcoming new leadership in the middle of a school year is a change for students, staff, and families. We want you to know that we are committed to making this transition a positive one, built on relationships, trust, and a shared belief that every child will learn.
A Little About Me, Your New Principal, Michelle Wambach
Sierra Vista has been my home since 1986, and I am proud to say that I grew up in the very district I now have the privilege of serving! I attended Pueblo Del Sol, was part of the opening years of Apache Middle School, and graduated from Buena High School in 1999. I went on to become a proud NAU Lumberjack, earning both my bachelor's and master's degrees, followed by a second master's degree in Educational Leadership from ASU. But as they say, once a Lumberjack, always a Lumberjack!
My career in education began at Bella Vista Elementary School, but in 2007, I joined Town & Country as a fourth-grade teacher. I spent the majority of my teaching career right next door, building relationships and making memories that have stayed with me. Now, in my 22nd year in education, including eight years as a building principal, I have the opportunity to return to a school that has meant so much to me. There is something incredibly special about returning to the place where so much of my journey began, and I couldn't be more excited!
Meet Your Assistant Principal, Mr. Skarhus
Mr. Skarhus brings a wealth of experience and a journey that has taken him from Texas to Alaska and back to Sierra Vista! A graduate of the University of Minnesota, where he studied English and Spanish, he began his teaching career in El Paso, Texas, before making Sierra Vista his home in 1999. For the next 15 years, he taught English and Spanish at Buena High School, while continuing his own education and earning master's degrees from the University of Arizona and ASU.
His leadership journey eventually took him to Unalakleet, Alaska, where he served as an assistant principal. Fortunately for our community, Sierra Vista called him back! Since returning, he has served as an assistant principal at Joyce Clark Middle School and Carmichael, as well as interim principal at Village Meadows. Most recently, he has supported Carmichael, Pueblo Del Sol, and Town & Country. His experiences across grade levels and school communities have shaped his commitment to students, staff, and families. We are excited to bring our experiences together as we begin this new chapter with you.
Our Promise to Your Family
At Town & Country, our mission is rooted in learning together respectfully, sharing ideas, solving problems, and celebrating success. Our vision, "Empowering ALL to be Successful Learners," is more than words to us. We believe every child is unique, every child has strengths worth celebrating, and every child will learn at high levels. As your leadership team, our commitment is simple: We want your child to feel safe, feel valued, love learning, and look forward to coming to school every single day. We know that we cannot do this work alone, and we look forward to building strong partnerships with you.
Thank you for the warm welcome you have already extended to us. We cannot wait to see our students' smiling faces on Monday, October 19! We are excited to learn alongside you, celebrate the little victories and big accomplishments, and make this a wonderful year for our Roadrunner family.
Sincerely Your Town & Country Administrative Team,
Michelle Wambach and John Skarhus