Principal Jamila Thomas
Dear Skyview Elementary Staff, Families, and Community:
I’m honored to serve as the principal of Skyview Elementary School. It is great to be a part of a community where students, teachers, and parents care for each other and strive to build meaningful relationships that support academic and social-emotional growth.
I come to you with nineteen years of experience as an educator and campus leader in rural, urban, and suburban settings ranging from the elementary, middle, and high school levels. My experiences have helped me see the social, academic, and behavioral transitions from Kindergarten to their senior year of High School.
It is my belief that relationships are the foundation of every strong school community and I am committed to working hard to continue the legacy of success by building strong relationships with parents, students, and community partners.
I consider my most important job to be that of a child advocate. I will spend a lot of time with your children, getting to know their personalities, learning styles, and interests. I will celebrate their successes, small and large. I will encourage them every day and let them know they are valued and have a special place in our school.
We will continue to focus on character education initiatives, the use of data to drive instruction, and provide consistent implementation of the curriculum in a rigorous manner so that we can continue to increase all of the students’ achievements.
I wholeheartedly believe that great schools are the result of great teachers and my primary goal is to continue to support the teachers of Skyview Elementary and provide them with the tools they need to continue to be successful and help your children grow and prosper.
I encourage all of our parents to become active members of our PTA. With your support, our staff and students can have amazing events, school supplies, and field trip opportunities.
Partnering with families is crucial and we encourage families to stay connected and informed by following our district website for important updates and information.
Also, remember to update your personal contact information in the Parent Portal. For more information on how to update your parent information please call the school at 469-593-2400.
I look forward to working with you as a team to help each student at Skyview Elementary meet their goals and have a successful school year!
Warm Regards,
Jamila Thomas,
Assistant Principal Tiffany Merrell
Dear Skyview Elementary School Community,
I am honored and excited to introduce myself as the new Assistant Principal of Skyview Elementary School. My name is Tiffany Merrell, and I am thrilled to join this wonderful community. I bring with me a diverse and rich background in education, spanning over 20 years of dedicated service and leadership.
I am originally from the southside of Chicago and began my teaching career in Las Vegas, Nevada, where I was as a 4th-grade teacher covering all content areas. My passion for data-driven instruction led me to a role as a Data Strategist, where I honed my skills in analyzing student data to improve educational outcomes.
In pursuit of new challenges and growth, I moved to Dallas, where I continued my teaching journey in the Richardson Independent School District. Over the next ten years, I had the privilege of teaching 2nd grade at Hamilton Park, serving as a Math Specialist for four years at both Jess Harben and Forestridge, and gaining valuable administrative experience as an Intern at Audelia Creek Elementary.
Most recently, I have served as the Assistant Principal at Springridge Elementary for the past three years. During my tenure, I focused on refining Professional Learning Community (PLC) practices and restructuring disciplinary procedures to create a more supportive and effective learning environment.
In addition to my role as Assistant Principal at Springridge Elementary, I’ve had the privilege of serving as the lead facilitator for Springridge’s Special Education Services. Guiding a team dedicated to meeting the diverse needs of our students, I’ve championed inclusive practices and spearheaded initiatives to enhance support for learners with exceptionalities. This experience has honed my ability to collaborate with educators, parents, and external specialists to develop tailored interventions and accommodations, ensuring every student receives the individualized attention they deserve. My commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive educational environment extends beyond administrative duties, as I actively engage in the implementation of evidence-based practices to maximize student success and well-being.
I am passionate about fostering a collaborative culture among teachers, students, and parents. I believe that strong partnerships and open communication are key to creating an inclusive and successful school community. My goal is to support the exceptional work already being done at Skyview Elementary and to contribute to the continued growth and success of our students and staff.
I look forward to meeting each of you and working together to ensure that Skyview Elementary remains a place where every child can thrive. Together, we will achieve great things.
Thank you for welcoming me into the Skyview family. I am excited about the journey ahead and the opportunities it holds for all of us.
Warm regards,
Ms. Tiffany Merrell
Assistant Principal
Skyview Elementary School 2024-2025
Assistant Principal Valarie Garza
Dear Skyview Elementary Staff, Families, and Community,
It is an honor to have the opportunity to serve the Skyview Elementary school community.
Skyview Elementary students, educators, parents, and community stake holders are what make
our school soar!
I have over twenty years of experience in education serving in various roles and leadership
capacities to include assistant principal, instructional coach, TAP Master Teacher, TAP Mentor
Teacher, and a Classroom Teacher for Title 1 campuses. I have had the privilege to serve for the
Richardson Independent School District for the past 7 years.
I hold a Master of Science in Human Resource Development from The University of Texas at Tyler.
I have a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a Principal Certification from
Texas A&M University – Commerce and I earned my Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary
Studies from Sam Houston State University.
Every day I have the privilege to serve, learn, and grow alongside the best educators and team
members as an instructional leader at Skyview Elementary! I believe in fostering a safe and
positive learning environment, and I am committed to working collaboratively with our school
community families.
I welcome each Skyhawk and their family to Skyview Elementary! I look forward to meeting you
soon. Please feel to contact me at 469-593-2400 and/or valarie.garza@risd.org. I look forward to
a great 2024-2025 school year! Thank you for partnering and soaring with Skyview Elementary!
Warm regards,
Valarie Garza
Assistant Principal
Skyview Elementary
