Dear Sahuaro Eagles,

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! It is my honor and privilege to serve the Sahuaro Community as Principal of Sahuaro Elementary School. This will be my fourth year at Sahuaro, and I am looking forward to a great year with our staff and students! 

This is my 23rd year in education, and my 18th year in the Washington Elementary School District. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from University of Phoenix and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University. I hold Arizona educator credentials for Principal, Supervisor, and 1st-8th Grade Elementary Teacher, including endorsements in Early Childhood (Birth-Age 8), K-12 Reading Specialist, and K-12 Structured English Immersion.

I began my teaching career at the Union Elementary School District in south Phoenix, where I taught 3rd-8th grade and worked in the district office as the Federal Programs Director. I transitioned to WESD in 2007, where I served as Program Coach at Lakeview Elementary for 5 years, Instructional Coach at Lookout Mountain Elementary for 7 years, and Assistant Principal at Lookout Mountain Elementary for 2 years.   

I am a native of Phoenix, Arizona, and a proud former student of WESD, including Sweetwater Elementary and Desert Foothills Junior High. I grew up just a couple of miles away from the Sahuaro campus, and graduated from Moon Valley High School in 1993. I have been married for 28 years to my husband, Cesar, and I am a proud mom to three awesome adult kids, Nathanael, Benjamin, and Naomi. I am excited to be mother-of-the-groom for Ben's wedding this December, and look forward to adding his amazing fiance, Zeely, into our family very soon. In my free time, I love to travel, hike, kayak, eat out, watch TV, play games, and go to the movies. I also adore spending time with my sweet 12-year-old Chiweenie dog, Molly, my 8-month old Dachshund puppy, Maya, and my 4-year-old African Sulcata Tortoise, Magnolia. 

My staff and I are dedicated to guiding and supporting each and every Sahuaro student toward achieving excellence. We are also committed to ensuring that our students have a positive experience at Sahuaro where they can grow socially, emotionally, and academically.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if there is anything I can do to support your family.

Sincerely,
Crystal Bustamante
Principal, Sahuaro Elementary School