Alexis Huicochea
Arizona Daily Star

As a child, Elizabeth Redondo knew her calling in life - to deliver babies.

She read Dr. Spock as a preteen and was inspired.

By the time she had enrolled at Pima Community College, Redondo still had her heart set on bringing babies into the world. But she needed a part-time job, so she applied to be a bilingual teacher's assistant.

Little did Redondo know that the temporary gig would put her on the path to helping children make their way through the world rather than bringing them into it.

Redondo, now 50, is the principal at Mission View Elementary School, 2600 S. Eighth Ave. She has been selected as a Rodel Exemplary Principal - an honor that comes with a $5,000 savings bond and the opportunity to mentor three aspiring principals for the next two years.

She still recalls working as a teaching assistant and learning all of the responsibilities educators had in the classroom.

"It was really like a 'wow' feeling," Redondo said. "It sparked this whole new desire for me and when I transferred to the University of Arizona, instead of applying to the college of nursing, I applied to the college of education."

Redondo spent several years in the classroom, teaching grades K-7 before receiving her masters in library science.

She began working as a bilingual librarian at Grijalva Elementary School, where she went from having a class of 30 students to working with 800.

Redondo later became the librarian and curriculum specialist at Safford Elementary School, which had been labeled "underperforming." Working through the school improvement process inspired her to become a principal.

"I realized the changes that are necessary in our schools in order that all students reach their academic potential, and the integral role that the school leader plays in the process," she said.

Since earning her principal certificate, Redondo hasn't looked back. She focuses on her mission - to provide students with the best education possible and to provide leadership to her faculty.

Redondo visits classrooms at her South Tucson school daily and takes time to make positive comments on the accomplishments of students and teachers.

It was her own upbringing that made Redondo gravitate toward working in a high-needs school - 96 percent of students at Mission View qualify for free or reduced lunch.

"I feel like I am one of those students," she said. "I went to high-needs schools. I understand and can relate and communicate with this community."

TUSD Assistant Superintendent Maggie Shafer believes Redondo would serve any school well.

"Liz sets high expectations for all students, regardless of background or past achievement, and is relentless in improving the achievement of each child at Mission View," Shafer said. "As a result, during her tenure, student achievement has dramatically improved in reading, mathematics and writing."

A look at AIMS scores from Mission View are evidence of Redondo's hard work.

When she started there in 2005, only 49 percent of students were mastering reading. Last school year, that number increased to nearly 73 percent.

During the same time period, the number of students mastering writing increased from 56 percent to nearly 82 percent.

There also were gains in math, from 57 percent mastery in 2005 to 65 percent last year.

On StarNet: Go to azstarnet.com/news/ local/education for more on schools, teachers and education.

Contact reporter Alexis Huicochea at ahuicochea@azstarnet.com or 573-4175.