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Leadership

Heidi Banuelos

School: 602-449-3000

Ms. Heidi Banuelos is the proud Principal of Shadow Mountain High School. As Principal, she is responsible for leading instructional initiatives, fostering student achievement and learning, and ensuring educational equity and access across the Matador community.

Ms. Banuelos continues bringing her extensive leadership experience to the Matador community and remains dedicated to connecting deeply with PVSchools students, staff, and families to support a thriving, high-achieving school culture.

Prior to joining PVSchools, Ms. Banuelos previously served as both the assistant principal for student achievement and the assistant principal for student learning within the Phoenix Union High School District, following over a decade of teaching K-12 ELA, ELD, and the Arts both in Arizona and overseas in South Korea.

She holds a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies from Arizona State University, a Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction from Arizona State University, and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership & Administration from Grand Canyon University.

Onquanette Nowels-Pierce

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL HS
School: 602-449-3000

Onquanette Pierce is an Assistant Principal at Shadow Mountain High School. She oversees student services, student activities, athletics, and the AVID program.

During her years with PVSchools, she has focused on driving campus excellence by removing barriers to learning and ensuring every student has the support they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Her leadership at Shadow Mountain is deeply grounded in student advocacy and creating structured pathways for student success.

Before joining PVSchools, she served as a middle school principal in the Chicagoland area for 13 years, where she led school improvement efforts, instructional leadership, and comprehensive student support systems. Throughout her career in education, she has remained committed to creating positive learning environments, empowering staff, partnering with families, and helping students reach their fullest potential. She firmly believes that strong relationships create opportunities for mentorship, accountability, and long-term student success.

Assistant Principal Pierce holds a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in educational administration. Her extensive experience is paired with specialized professional training in school safety, crisis planning, student-centered leadership, Professional Learning Communities (PLC), Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), restorative justice, and trauma-informed learning.

Assistant Principal

Amber Strang

Amber Strang is the Assistant Principal for Shadow Mountain High School. She assists in overseeing the school's daily operations, supports instructional staff, and ensures a safe, engaging learning environment for all Matadors.

Assistant Principal Strang spent 20 years teaching math at Horizon High School, where she also served as an instructional department leader and dual enrollment instructor. Following her time in the classroom, she served for six years as the district's secondary math curriculum specialist, supporting all middle and high school math teachers across PVSchools. This deep, multi-level district experience gives her a comprehensive understanding of student growth from middle school through graduation.

As a long-time educator and community member, she has dedicated her entire professional career to the district and is a proud parent of two sons who successfully went through PVSchools. This deep personal and professional investment reinforces our reputation as a true community-centered environment where families and educators thrive together.

Assistant Principal Strang is deeply passionate about creating engaging learning experiences that inspire students to find their unique voice and purpose. Her ultimate goal is to ensure that every Matador steps out into the world thoroughly prepared, confident, and ready for their next big adventure.

Michel Candela

DEAN OF STUDENTS
School: 602-449-3000