Highland Park Welcomes New Assistant Principal

The Hornet family is excited to announce the appointment of Assistant Principal Angie Barnard in the upcoming 2026-2027 school year. Read on to hear about Angie Barnard's passion for education in her own words.

"I have been with Gilbert Public Schools for 20 years, as a paraprofessional, teacher, instructional coach, dean, and now an assistant principal. I love GPS and I am very excited to join the Highland Park family!

Education has always been a part of who I am because I grew up surrounded by educators who modeled the impact a great teacher can have on students’ lives. My mom taught 8th grade Math for 27 years, my dad was a high school English teacher for 35 years, and my grandmother dedicated 30 years to Special Education. Their passion, commitment, and belief in students inspired me from an early age.

That passion for education continues in my family today. My sister is currently a 7th grade Math teacher at Highland Jr. High School, and my daughter is a 3rd grade teacher at Meridian Elementary. Seeing multiple generations of educators in my family has reinforced the value of teaching, service, and building meaningful relationships with students.

I have always known I wanted to become an educator because I wanted to inspire young minds, support students in their growth, and make a positive difference in their lives every day.

When I was in 6th grade, I had the opportunity to help in a Kindergarten classroom several times a week. I read with students, helped them with writing and math activities, and supported the teacher and students in any way I could. That experience had a huge impact on me.

I loved watching students learn and grow, especially seeing the excitement on their faces when they read a word for the first time or solved a math problem independently. Those moments reinforced my desire to become an educator and showed me how meaningful it is to help students build confidence and discover what they are capable of achieving.

I'm passionate about leading a school in 2026 because there are great opportunities to positively impact students on a larger scale. As a teacher, I saw every day how meaningful strong relationships, high expectations, and quality instruction could be for the students in my classroom. As a school leader, I now have the ability to extend that impact across an entire campus.

I am passionate about building strong relationships with students, staff, and families and creating a school community where everyone feels supported, valued, and connected. I believe schools thrive when there is a shared commitment to student success, and I find great purpose in helping create systems, structures, and a culture where all students can succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.

Seeing students grow, teachers develop, and families feel connected to the school community continues to inspire and motivate me every day.

By the end of my first year in this role, I hope every student and parent can say that I was visible, approachable, and genuinely invested in the success of every child. I want them to know that I care deeply about students both personally and academically and that I worked to build meaningful relationships across the school community.

I hope students and families see me as someone who listens, communicates openly, and is supportive when challenges arise. Most importantly, I want them to feel confident that I consistently worked to create a safe, positive, and welcoming school environment where all students feel valued, supported, successful, and excited to come to school each day.

I believe the most important things a school can provide a child are safety, meaningful learning opportunities, challenge, a sense of community, and joy. Students learn best when they feel physically and emotionally safe, know they belong, and are supported by caring adults who believe in them.

Schools should challenge students to think critically, grow academically, and develop confidence in their abilities while also providing the support necessary for them to be successful. A strong school community helps students build relationships, develop character, and feel connected to something larger than themselves.

I also believe school should be a place where students experience joy and excitement in learning. Children should look forward to coming to school each day, feel proud of their growth, and create positive memories that stay with them long after they leave the classroom.

Fun facts about me: I love sports, especially teams in Arizona. I also love to color - I find it very relaxing!"