Office

Administrative Team

Principal Kristy M. Gill

Dear families,

Welcome to Desert Sage Elementary. We are an A-rated Pre-K through 6th grade Mandarin Immersion Elementary School and part of the Deer Valley Unified School District. We are excited to be a part of your child’s academic career and look forward to partnering with you throughout the journey. Our highly qualified, caring staff’s first priority is to meet your child’s needs academically, socially, and emotionally.

We have made a commitment to provide rigorous, quality, and engaging instruction to prepare your child with “future-ready” skills and knowledge. We are proud of our teachers and their ability to provide your child with a well-rounded education, but they cannot do it alone. Educational success can be achieved only through a working partnership between home and school. We hope you will take the time to visit us and become familiar with all areas of the school. We invite you to become an active member of the Desert Sage community. We offer many opportunities for parents to become involved at our school. We welcome you to become a member of our dynamic PTO, volunteer in classrooms and around the school, participate in school-wide programs, and attend informational presentations that relate to your child’s educational experience. Please be sure to inquire about the many ways to get involved by stopping in our office, contacting your child’s teacher, or reaching out to our Desert Sage PTO. You can also follow us on Twitter at @DesertSageElem to see what is happening at our school.

Thank you for choosing Desert Sage Elementary School for your child.

Go Geckos!

Kristy M. Gill

Proud Principal

Dean of Students Lindsay Race

My name is Lindsay Race. I am excited to be starting my third year here at Desert Sage. I have spent the past two years getting to know all your students, and I can’t wait to work with them again this year.

I earned my Bachelor's Degree from the University of Arizona in 2008 (BEARDOWN!). While teaching 4th Grade, I began my graduate work and completed my Master's in Educational Leadership - Principal in 2011.

This marks my 7th year in DVUSD. Previously, I served as an EL Teacher Specialist, collaborating with teachers and supporting English learners at 16 schools. Before that, I was the Writing Center Coordinator at ASU. However, my primary teaching experience comes from eight years as a general education teacher in the Washington Elementary School District, teaching 4th and 5th grade.

On weekends, I enjoy spending time with my two kids, Penelope (10) and Nicolai (8). You'll find me playing softball at Victory Lanes every Friday night. My husband Rob and I have been married for 12 years and share a love for sporting events, everything blink-182, and, of course, Disney.

I'm anticipating a fantastic school year ahead!

Mrs. Race

Nurse Gretchen Brunstein

Hi Geckos! My name is Gretchen Brunstein or Nurse Gretchen. This is my fifth year at Desert Sage. I became a nurse in 2015. I started my career subbing as a nurse in the Scottsdale School District and in geriatrics, and then I moved to pediatrics in 2017. I am looking forward to providing care and education for the students, staff, and families to keep everyone safe and healthy. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

(623) 445-4710

Secretary Elisa Anderson

Registrar Lucy Rodeman

Accounting Clerk Nicole Clipper

Office Hours

Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

For the safety and protection of your child, you must come to the office, with your ID, to sign him or her out. Your child will then be called to the office. To lessen classroom disruption at the end of the day, no students will be dismissed after 3:15 p.m. (1:45 p.m. on 2:00 p.m. dismissal days, 11:45 a.m. on 12:05 p.m. dismissal days).

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