Meet the Principal

For more than 15 years, Kelly McQuaid has worked in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) charter management organizations, first as a secondary English language arts department chair and later at the district-level, overseeing the English language arts and English language learner programs at seven STEM schools. Programs at schools under her supervision have consistently been recognized as America’s Best High Schools by U.S. News and World Report and have received ‘A’ labels from the Arizona Department of Education, in addition to one school being named Arizona Charter School of the Year. Dr. McQuaid first came on board with Highland Prep Schools in July 2017, as a director of school development, helping to develop one of its new charter schools. In addition to holding a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in writing, Dr. McQuaid holds a Ph.D. from Grand Canyon University with an Emphasis in Cognition and Instruction. She is dedicated to increasing student participation in STEM fields.