Antonio Hernandez
Principal
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

My name is Antonio Hernandez, and I was born in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico.  I was fortunate to have a father and mother who modeled a strong work ethic for my family.  Both of my parents worked in the citrus orchards picking lemons, oranges, or grapefruits to provide for the family.  We spent most of our time in the Yuma County area while we usually migrated to California in the Summer for the tomato season.  I began school in the US at the age of 6 years old in Somerton Arizona, a town that was made up of primarily agriculture workers.  It was a great experience that laid the foundation to my journey as an educator. 

I have been in education for 17 years, making my teaching debut as a preschool teacher for almost 3 years.  In my journey I have been blessed to teach high school, middle school, and elementary classes and now I find myself in administration.  I came to Cottonwood after receiving an offer to teach at a boarding school and the good Lord called me to ICCS in 2013.  My wife, Kenya, and I fell in love with the Verde Valley and decided to start our family here.  We have two incredible children, Tony, and Ali who give us more reasons than ever to strive to be and do, better.

My life as a student and as a member of God’s family has had a tremendous impact on my life as an educator.  I believe that success starts with the right environment where students experience the joy there is in learning something new.  In order for school to be a place for children to grow and learn,a place to respect and be respected, a place to experience the excitement of learning, it is important that the students, parent sand school staff form a tri-partnership.Working together there is no limit to what we and our children can actualize. Building trust and respect in our campus is a priority.   We want our school community to experience the love of our Lord daily.  I believe that extending grace and mercy to each other while holding each other accountable will enable us to walk closer with Jesus. The school should be a supportive environment that is conducive to learning for all stakeholders. Both, students and staff should feel comfortable and safe at the school so that we can achieve a high level of academics.

I believe that students are the most important members of a school community. Under the appropriate conditions and with the appropriate strategies, all students can and will learn. The nature and quality of learning experiences must be exemplary. Creative thinking and analyzing skills are important in today’s technological society. Students must gain critical thinking skills along with knowledge. They must be taught how to learn and how to apply what they learn.