Meet Alondra Salazar, Principal of ASU Prep West Valley
ASU Prep West Valley is preparing to welcome its first scholars, and we’re excited to introduce Alondra Salazar, the school’s principal. With more than 15 years of experience in education, Alondra has served as a teacher, instructional coach and school principal, building learning environments where students are challenged, supported and empowered to reach their full potential.
A proud first-generation Latina college graduate, Alondra is passionate about creating schools where every student feels known, celebrated and capable of achieving big things.
As she opens the doors to the brand-new school, Alondra is bringing that passion to ASU Prep West Valley, where she hopes to build a joyful, connected school community from day one. “It is a combination of joy, rigor and high expectations,” Salazar said.
Leading a brand-new school
Taking on the opportunity to lead a new school comes with the chance to build something special from the ground up. For Salazar, that means creating a school culture rooted in community, collaboration and high expectations for every scholar.
That vision starts with making sure every student knows they belong from the moment they arrive. As Salazar explained, “Our kids will be seen the moment they walk in through the door because we greet them with a handshake, a smile and their name.”
The goal is to bring excellent education to them, give them the possibility of even wanting to achieve that.”
Building a community where every student can thrive
For Salazar, a successful school is about more than academics. It’s about creating an environment where students feel a genuine sense of belonging and have the support they need to succeed.
At West Valley, students will benefit from personalized learning, small-group instruction and one-on-one tutoring designed to give each child the attention and support they need. Data-informed instruction will help educators understand where students are thriving and where they may need additional support.
High expectations will remain at the center of that approach. “That student expectation will be high,” Salazar said. “The goal is to bring excellent education to them, give them the possibility of even wanting to achieve that.”
For Salazar, creating opportunity means making sure students can begin thinking about their futures from the start. “Whether a child wants to go to college or not, the choice should already be there from the start,” she said.
The goal is to create a school community where students are encouraged to be curious, take on challenges and see themselves as capable of accomplishing big things.
Bringing high-quality schools to the West Valley
With ASU Prep West Valley opening for the 2026–27 school year, Salazar and her team are preparing to welcome K–4 scholars and their families into a tuition-free public school designed for curious thinkers and big dreamers.
Located at 10215 N 43rd Ave. in Phoenix, West Valley combines proven teaching practices, innovative technology and a caring community to help students build strong academic foundations and confidence as learners.
For Salazar, bringing ASU Prep to West Valley is about responding to a community that has experienced significant growth. “We know the West Valley is growing,” she said. “I’ve been here for over 14 years and just the amount of growth that has happened in those 14 years is massive.”
That growth makes access to high-quality education especially important. As Salazar put it, “The most important reason is to bring high-quality schools to this area.”
Learning that sparks curiosity
West Valley is designed to make learning active, engaging and meaningful. Through hands-on projects, innovative technology and collaborative learning experiences, scholars will have opportunities to create, experiment and solve real-world problems together.
The school’s approach combines strong foundations in reading, math and other core subjects with opportunities for students to explore their interests and develop skills they’ll carry with them into the future.
And from the beginning, students will be part of an ASU culture that encourages big dreams. Through early connections to the university, West Valley scholars will begin seeing college and future possibilities as part of their journey from an early age.
A school built with families in mind
As a new school, West Valley is also an opportunity to build a strong partnership between educators and families from day one.
Salazar believes that family partnership is an essential part of helping students thrive, and she hopes to create a school where families feel welcomed, heard and connected to their child’s education.
For families, West Valley offers a combination of personalized academic support, engaging learning experiences and a caring school community, all within a tuition-free public school.
Looking ahead at West Valley
While the school is just beginning, Salazar already has a clear vision for what she hopes West Valley will become.
Her goal is to create a school where students are challenged to reach their full potential while knowing they have a team of educators and families behind them every step of the way.
As the first school year approaches, one priority stands above the rest: making sure students are excited to be there. “I’m just thinking about keeping the kids joyful, wanting them to come to school,” Salazar said. With doors opening soon, Salazar is excited to begin building that community alongside its first students, families and educators.
Welcome to ASU Prep West Valley
ASU Prep West Valley is now enrolling K–4 students for Fall 2026. The tuition-free public school gives young scholars a strong academic foundation, personalized support and an early connection to the college-going culture of ASU.
For families considering West Valley, Salazar’s vision is simple: create a school where students feel supported, challenged and excited to learn. “We want them to want to come to school every single day,” she said.
Big dreams start here.
Learn more about ASU Prep West Valley and enroll for Fall 2026.
