Sarah Thornell

My educational career has taken me to amazing schools alongside incredible individuals. I began my journey teaching kindergarten in Arlington ISD. In 2008 I joined Northwest ISD and the new Sendera Ranch Elementary staff as a first grade teacher. After a few years in first grade I decided to broaden my horizons and make the jump into middle school, teaching 6th ELA and serving as Department Chair at Tidwell Middle School. 

I stepped into administration in 2013, joining the O.A. Peterson family as an Assistant Principal. In 2015, I was blessed to take on a principalship of a wonderful elementary school in a neighboring district. I attended the Ron Clark Academy professional development in 2017 and that experience changed my life as an educator. We sent over 24 staff members to the RCA training, and it completely transformed our campus and community. The excitement, passion and growth of our students and staff was amazing! 

After three incredible years in a principalship and much prayer, I decided to follow my passion for teaching and return to the classroom. I wanted to put into practice all that I had learned through RCA and my administrative experiences. I chose to put my administrative work on pause for a few years, head back to teaching, and spend more time with my young children.

I returned to Northwest ISD as a 7th ELA teacher and in 2019, I joined Lizzie Curtis family teaching kindergarten and then second grade. I loved teaching at the campus my sons were at, using new engagement strategies, and the "post-administrative" classroom experience gave me a whole new approach to teaching. With a desire to eventually return to a leadership role, I began my doctoral degree through Baylor University in 2021, working towards an Ed.D. in Learning and Organizational Change. 

In the spring of 2022 an opportunity presented itself to once again serve NISD through an assistant principal role at J.C. Thompson Elementary. The shift back into administration after four more years in the classroom and post-pandemic has enabled me to lead students, staff and families with a unique understanding and perspective. I love serving at J.C. Thompson, and next year I'm stepping into the principal role at Sendera Ranch Elementary!