Welcome to Riverside Traditional
Welcome to Riverside Traditional School, Home of the Pride! Riverside Traditional is a Performing Plus school dedicated to achieving academic excellence. Our motto is “Excellence in Education” for all students. We are proud to have all of our teachers “highly qualified” and SEI (Sheltered English Instruction) and ESL (English as a Second Language) endorsed. In an effort to keep all stakeholders involved, we welcome parents, community members, and business partners.
Here, in our website, you will learn a little more about us and find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. Be sure to check out our school calendar and our news and events page to stay informed. And if you need to contact us for any reason, you are welcome to do so.
A Message from Our Principal
Hello RTS Team,
Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year at Riverside Traditional School! I hope your family has enjoyed a safe, restful, summer break. My name is Jonathon Gonzalez, and I am honored to introduce myself as your new principal.
In this letter, you will find:
- A welcome from the principal
- New staff joining the Riverside Traditional School team
- Our Vision, Mission, and Goals
- Meet the Teacher Night & Annual Title I Presentation
- Our bell schedule & first day of school details
- How we communicate with families
- Transportation and parent/student pick-up cards
- Parent pick-up procedures and traffic reminders
- Student ID safety
- An overview of our 4Bs and Pride Ticket rewards
- Our student recognition assemblies and awards
- Dress code highlights
- School uniform vendor
- Bus transportation schedule
A Welcome from the Principal
My journey in our Riverside Elementary School District No.2 began six years ago right here at Riverside Traditional School as a fourth-grade teacher. During my time, I served as a grade-level team leader. After my time at Riverside Traditional School, I had the opportunity to teach sixth-grade math at King’s Ridge Preparatory Academy, where I was also team leader and math department chair. Most recently, I had the privilege of serving as the dean of students, an experience that strengthened my skills by supporting students, building behavior systems, and cultivating a strong school culture. I am especially proud of the work I did partnering with parents, families, and staff to build a strong, caring, school culture together.
Now, I’m proud to bring this experience and passion back to Riverside Traditional School. This community welcomed me when I moved to Phoenix, it has given me so much as an educator and leader. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had here, and I am committed to continuing to serve our students, families, and support my staff.
As your principal, you can expect me to be visible, approachable, and committed to working together with you. I will always listen to your concerns, communicate openly, and support our students, staff, and families every step of the way. My goal is to help every child feel safe, valued, and ready to learn each day, while we work together to improve student achievement and continue the community events that strengthen our relationship and school pride.
We invite you to continue reading this principal’s letter in full. Read more >>>
Sincerely,
Mr. Gonzalez
Mr. Gonzalez
Principal
Riverside Traditional School
