Principal's Corner

Dear Roadrunner Families and Community,

Welcome to Halecrest Elementary School! My name is Krista Cardenas, and I am honored and proud to serve as your principal. The 2026–2027 school year marks my third year serving as principal of Halecrest, a role that is especially meaningful as this is the school where my own educational journey began. I proudly attended Halecrest from kindergarten through sixth grade, and it is truly special to continue serving this community in my first principalship.

This is my 29th year in education. I have served as a classroom teacher in grades 3–6, a resource teacher, academic coach, and associate principal, with 21 years in Chula Vista (Otay Elementary, Heritage Elementary, McMillin Elementary, Camarena Elementary) and 8 years in Maryland. I am deeply committed to supporting the whole child and ensuring every student has access to a safe, inclusive, and high‑quality learning environment.

Outside of school, I am a wife and mom to my son who is a junior in high school and attended school in the Chula Vista Elementary School District. He keeps us busy with high school football and volleyball, you’ll often find us at the field or in the gym, cheering him on. I also enjoy attending Padres baseball games and Raiders football games, as well as traveling and camping with my husband and son.

At Halecrest, we live by our motto: “We get an education to better ourselves. We use our education to better the world.” As Halecrest Roadrunners, we RISE each day by being Ready, acting with Integrity, staying Safe, and showing Empathy—values that support both academic success and social‑emotional growth.

I look forward to partnering with our students, families, and staff to continue the strong tradition of excellence at Halecrest. Thank you for being a valued part of our school community.

Warmly,

Krista Cardenas, Principal

Roadrunners RISE!