Inspirada’s Pinecrest Academy gets new principal

Inspirada, the master-planned community in Henderson, has a lot to look forward to this school year, which officially begins Monday.

Inspirada welcomes a new principal, Michael O’Dowd, who brings a wealth of experience to Pinecrest Academy, which enters its second calendar year operating as Inspirada’s only elementary and middle school. It opened last summer with approximately 700 students and will add an eighth-grade class this year. As a certified STEAM school, student curriculum puts a heavy emphasis on science, technology, engineering, art and math.

“Within walking distance of Inspirada’s largest park, Aventura, Pinecrest is one of many testaments to the partnership between the community and the city of Henderson, and residents with children have truly enjoyed the proximity of their kids’ school from their front doors,” said Deanna Konrad, community manager for Inspirada. “Principal O’Dowd has successfully held principal positions for nearly 20 years, making his leadership vital in the ongoing development and investment in our children’s education. We are also already hearing a lot of enthusiasm from residents and builders because four additional school sites within Inspirada are planned for the coming years.”

Inspirada also will sponsor a garden at Liberty High School, which is zoned for residents. Through a partnership between the school and Green Our Planet, a nonprofit conservation organization, volunteers from Inspirada’s builders and the association showcased their green thumbs when they installed and planted soil into garden beds alongside fellow students on Aug. 26. Over the school year, volunteers and select students will attend monthly garden team meetings to track the progress of their plants and ultimately will learn about the economic impact and how to benefit financially from the fruits of their labor.

“This is such a unique and interactive way to engage students with Mother Nature and our team members are looking forward to getting their hands dirty, all for a great cause,” said Jim Rizzi, project manager for Inspirada. “The program aims to create positive impact in environmental education and change within schools, and we are honored to be a part of this initiative.”

In addition to its 85-acre system of parks, trails and open spaces, Inspirada is the gateway to Sloan Canyon National Recreation Area that includes more than 1,700 petroglyphs.

There are more than 66 model homes ready to tour in 17 new Inspirada neighborhoods featuring one-, two- and three-story single-family homes and townhomes designed for every lifestyle and ranging in price from the high $100,000s to $500,000s. The builders of Inspirada include Beazer Homes, Century Communities, KB Home, Pardee Homes and Toll Brothers.

With a projected build-out of 8,500 homes, Inspirada is home to more than 2,500 residents who have access to programs and activities managed by a full-time staff that creates social calendars to bring neighbors together in the parks and the Inspirada Community Center. For more information, visit inspirada.com or follow the community on Facebook at facebook.com/InspiradaNV.