Crystal Bustamante
Principal, Washington Elementary School District
Crystal Bustamante is a passionate educator who has served Arizona students and families for 23 years. She is an Arizona Native, and grew up attending schools in the Washington Elementary School District, including Sweetwater Elementary and Desert Foothills Junior High, then graduated from Moon Valley High School in 1993.
Crystal has an unending love for children that dates back as long as she can remember. In fact, she met her husband nearly 30 years ago while serving underprivileged children Granada, Nicaragua. They have been married for 29 years, and have three adult children, Nathanael, Benjamin, and Naomi, plus a beautiful daughter-in-law, Benjamin’s wife, Zeely. Some of Crystal’s personal interests include travel, volunteer work, movies, escape rooms, game nights, eating out, and spending time with her two dogs, Molly and Maya. Family is the most important thing in the world to Crystal, and she loves doing any activity that involves time with her loved ones.
Crystal is a passionate and dedicated educator who has served as Principal of Sahuaro Elementary School in Phoenix for the past four years. She has worked in the Washington Elementary School District for the past 17 years, and previously worked in the Union Elementary School District for 5 years.
During her 23-year career in education, Crystal has held various roles, including Teacher, Director of Federal Programs, Instructional Coach, Assistant Principal, and Principal. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from University of Phoenix, as well as a Master of Education Degree in Elementary Education and a K-12 Principal Graduate Certificate from Northern Arizona University. In addition to her standard teaching and principal certifications with the Arizona Department of Education, she also holds endorsements in K-12 Structured English Immersion, K-12 Reading Specialist, and Early Childhood (Birth-Age 8).
Throughout Crystal’s tenure as Principal of Sahuaro, she has been a tireless advocate for building strong, meaningful partnerships between parents, students, community members, local businesses, universities, law enforcement, health-care providers, and faith-based organizations.
Recognizing that her school’s success is deeply connected to the involvement of families, businesses, and community organizations, Crystal has worked diligently to create collaborative relationships that enhance student learning and focus on the well-being of students and staff. One example of this is the key partnership that she has built and fostered for the past four years with Calvary PHX Church, a church that is located within her school boundaries. Through this connection, Crystal has worked closely with Calvary to improve and support the Sahuaro School community in so many ways. Her vision has been to not only improve the physical appearance of her 60-year-old campus through holding more than one ‘Love Our Schools Day’ each school year, but to also improve the nurturing and supportive environment that makes her campus special. One example of this would be her vision for a Staff Wellness Room for educators to have a dedicated space for relaxation, rejuvenation, and stress relief during the school day, a vision that became a reality through the supportive partnership formed with Calvary.
Crystal seeks to get involved in every facet of the community around her school, participating in events and organizations such as the C28 Business Alliance, Block Watch, and G.A.I.N. She also strives to implement multiple school activities each year that promote Family and Community Engagement, including Trunk-or-Treat, Winter Wonderland, Family Literacy Night, Family Movie Nights, and Evening of the Arts.
Crystal leads her school with compassion, integrity, and dedication. She fosters a positive school culture where every student and staff member feel valued, supported, and encouraged to reach their full potential. Her approach to leadership is rooted in understanding and empathy, always taking the time to listen to the needs of others and lead with a solution-focused mindset. Her unwavering commitment to creating an inclusive and nurturing environment has helped to strengthen the bonds within the school community, making it a place where all feel welcome and successful.