Amy Sanchez-Martinez is serving District 49 as Campus Director at Sand Creek High School.

Sanchez-Martinez is eager to demonstrate to the Colorado Springs community that SCHS offers high quality education. She comes to D49 from District 11 where she served Mitchell High School for 18 years as assistant principal, dean of students and master teacher coaching other educators. Sanchez-Martinez completed her master's degree in organizational leadership from Regis University.

"I believe in servant leadership, and District 49's cultural compass enables me to stick to this belief, while learning new skills in a new position," shared Sanchez-Martinez. "I look forward to learning, working and leading alongside everyone in the Sand Creek and D49 community."

Sanchez-Martinez and her husband have four children. They enjoy spending time together at home and in the great outdoors.

Welcome to Horizon Middle School, home of the Panthers!  Our school is full of dedicated and passionate individuals who are committed to our students. Horizon was built in 1985 and is primarily a walk-in neighborhood school serving students in 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade.  

I am excited to begin my thirteenth year as a principal, and my ninth as a Horizon Panther.  This will be my twenty-seventh year in District 49.  All of my time in District 49 has been in the Sand Creek Zone feeder system.  I began my teaching career at Evans teaching 4^th grade.  After two years teaching 4^th grade, I spent seven years as the physical education teacher at Evans.  Following my nine years of teaching at Evans, I spent one year as a Dean of Students at Sand Creek High School.  I then returned to Evans and spent three years as the Assistant Principal before taking over as principal where I spent four years.  I then spent one year working with all schools in the Sand Creek Zone, but missed being a principal and working with kids everyday.  The opportunity at Horizon has been perfect for me and has allowed me to spend each day doing something I truly enjoy.

As principal, I take great pride in Horizon, our students and staff.  We are devoted to supporting each student's social, emotional, and academic development. My expectation is that together we will go above and beyond in meeting the needs of all children and we will provide your child with an outstanding education in a fun and caring school environment.  I am especially proud of our Renaissance program, which recognizes students for their academic accomplishments and good behavior.  Last year we had over 400 students, over half our student body, make Renaissance each quarter.

We deeply value and encourage parents and the community as partners in the development and education of all our students. As a school community will work together to create a learning environment that supports individual students in fulfilling their potential as learners.

I encourage you to talk with your child daily about their experiences at school: their friends, daily activities, and anything else they would like to share with you.  As a parent, there is a lot of joy in knowing about your child’s day!

Please feel free to contact me at any time to discuss your child’s education or to learn more about Horizon.  Our website always contains a lot of important information about school procedures, programs, and upcoming events, please visit often. Also, if you haven't visited Horizon, please contact us to set up a time to come see us.  GO PANTHERS!

Welcome to Evans Elementary School, home of the Wildcats! I am honored and thrilled to serve as the principal and embark on this new journey with the Evans community. My husband and I are raising four children who are all proud students in the Sand Creek Zone and my most recent administrative experience was right around the corner at Horizon Middle School. 

Hello,

My name is Jim Kyner and I am honored to serve as your principal at Springs Ranch Elementary. I have been the principal of SRES for 7 years. Whether you are exploring elementary schools or are already a member of the bobcat family, we welcome you and encourage you to come check us out in person. Here is a little more about my background.  

I grew up in Northeast Ohio and attended Ohio Wesleyan University where I earned my bachelor's in Elementary Education.  I also played football while at OWU, was a leader in a Big Sibling program, and a leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  After graduating, I moved to Virginia, where I would spend the next 23 years teaching, coaching, and leading public education.  I have taught 4th, 6th, and 8th grades.  I coached football and wrestling.  I earned a Master's in Administration and Supervision from the University of Virginia.  As a leader in schools, I have been an assistant principal, principal, and district level coordinator.  I moved to Colorado Springs in July of 2016 to become the principal of Springs Ranch Elementary and am excited about each new year of learners!

I am married and have 6 children.  We enjoy being together as a family.  Some of our favorite activities are hiking, camping, and kayaking.  We like playing board games or watching a family movie.  My favorite movie is "It's a Wonderful Life".  I enjoy sports and competition.  

I am committed to serving the students, their families and the staff at Springs Ranch Elementary.  I want all stakeholders to work together to provide the best environment possible for our students to learn and grow.  I appreciate you trusting us with your children and want you to know that my door is open if you ever have any questions, concerns or just want to say hello.

Sincerely,

Jim Kyner, Principal

Springs Ranch Elementary

Dear Raider Families:

Welcome to the 22-23 school year!  Staff have been working hard to plan and prepare for our students and are excited to meet them soon.  This year we are continuing to build our community of excellence through utilizing strong instructional practices and creating a culture of care and trust for our students, staff, and families. We are excited to be a part of the Sand Creek Zone and all of the wonderful opportunities and support that comes with it.  I am also happy to announce our new assistant principal, Lori McCoy, and our Dean of Instruction, Kay Rudy, who have joined the Stetson team.

I welcome your involvement in your child’s education and encourage you to find ways to connect with our school and your child's teacher.  Consider volunteering in our classrooms or library, joining PTA or attending our School Accountability Committee (SAC) meetings where you can learn more about these two organizations and have a voice in these groups.  Get to know your child’s teacher through open lines of communication to better allow you to work in partnership to support your child's success at school.  

This is my fourth year as principal at Stetson. I have been an educator for over 23 years as a teacher, school counselor, RtI coordinator, and an assistant principal. I believe all children can learn and succeed, and it is through a collaborative effort amongst school, families, and community that this will be achieved. My goal is to model the beliefs and mission of Stetson Elementary to provide a highly engaging and rigorous learning environment built and maintained on positive and supportive relationships amongst all stakeholders.  

My philosophy of education is to support the whole child.  I believe that social-emotional and physical wellness are critical to academic success and must be a part of a well-rounded education.  This has been my mission since I began my teaching career in Fairfax, VA. The US Navy then took me to Norfolk, VA to teach and then to Colorado Springs where I taught in Harrison School District 2. After earning my counseling degree I took a position as a school counselor and resource coordinator at Divine Redeemer Catholic School. From there I became the school counselor at Douglass Valley Elementary School on the United States Air Force Academy in Academy District 20.  Prior to coming to Stetson, I was at Prairie Hills Elementary where I served as the assistant principal for six years. I have a BS in Elementary/Middle School Education, an MA in Human Services and Counseling, and a MEd in Administrative Leadership. I am the proud mom of three young adults who are all Sand Creek High School graduates: My son works in the Lewis-Palmer school district, his twin sister is a junior at UNC, and my oldest daughter is in her second year of law school in Iowa. They are by far my best accomplishment!

I look forward to continuing building strong and positive relationships with the students, staff, and families of Stetson Elementary, and I welcome your support, questions, and feedback. Through a strong, respectful partnership we will continue to build a community of excellence to ensure Stetson Elementary is the best school to learn, to work, and to lead. Go Raiders!

In partnership,

Beth Dowdy

Principal