Desert Vista Elementary

Welcome to Desert Vista Elementary School!
My name is Kelly Fant, and I’m so excited to introduce myself as the principal of Desert Vista Elementary School. I bring 26 years of experience in education, and this is my second year in the Apache Junction Unified School District. Throughout my career, I’ve served as a teacher, instructional coach, dean, and principal, and I continue to love this work because of the relationships I get to build with students, families, and staff. Now, as a proud member of the Desert Vista community, I’m thrilled to welcome you to the 2025–2026 school year! We are a K–5 school located at the base of the beautiful Superstition Mountains, and we’re on a mission to “Lead with Heart, Learn with Purpose” as we grow into a leadership-focused campus.

Our goal is to empower students to discover their strengths, build confidence, and grow as communicators, problem-solvers, and community-minded leaders. All students will use leadership binders to track personal and academic goals, reflect on their learning, and celebrate progress throughout the year. We also offer a variety of enrichment and leadership opportunities, including after-school sports, Student Council, band, orchestra, and our new Young Leaders Club. Families are an essential part of our community, and we invite you to get involved through PTO, Site Council, volunteering, and events like our annual Spooktacular.

Small District, Big Heart, Endless Possibilities.