Chandler High assistant leaves for Florence post

Chandler High assistant principal Chris Knutsen is leaving the Chandler district to be principal of Florence High School for the upcoming school year. “It’s quite an opportunity. I’m excited about it,” said Knutsen, who begins his new job July 1.

“It’s hard to leave the (Chandler) district, but it’s kind of the next step in my career.”

Knutsen leaves the district as Haley Knutsen Elementary School opens in July in Gilbert’s Layton Lakes community. The school was named in honor of his 9-year-old daughter who died in September 2005 following a seven-year battle with leukemia.

“As we went through our struggles with Haley, it’s bittersweet, but also it’s time to take that next step,” said Knutsen, who has worked in the Chandler district for 13 years.

Haley Knutsen’s battle with leukemia prompted an outpouring of support from the East Valley as the community raised more than $175,000 to help the family with medical expenses.

The Knutsen family has strong ties to the Chandler district. Haley’s mother, Angie Knutsen, is a sixth-grade teacher at Chandler’s Navarrete Elementary School. Younger brother Jayce is a kindergartner at Navarrete and Kylene Knutsen will be a freshman at Chandler High.

Chandler district spokesman Terry Locke said the district is sad to see him leave, but has nothing but accolades for him.

“Gosh, we sure hate to see him leave, but we also understand it’s a career opportunity and a chance to be a principal,” Locke said.

Chris Knutsen has been assistant principal at Chandler High for eight years, where he oversees athletics and discipline. Originally from Iowa, he has a bachelor’s degree in English from Iowa State University, and a master’s degree from Northern Arizona University in educational leadership.

He is pursuing his doctorate degree, and said he decided this year he wanted to become a high school principal.

When the Florence job opened, he jumped at the chance.

“The growth is tremendous out in that area,” Knutsen said. “The thing that makes it exciting is it’s very similar to Chandler 25 years ago.”

Knutsen is replacing Tony Jimenez, who will resume his position as the district’s associate superintendent for administration and human resources. Jimenez, a former Florence High principal, was asked to step in after Arlissa Crank-Townsend left the school in October.

Knutsen has a good friend in the Florence district.

Florence superintendent Gary Nine hired Knutsen 19 years ago for his first teaching job at Apache Junction Junior High School, when Nine was principal of the school.

Knutsen also worked at Mountain Pointe High School in the Tempe Union High School district for three years.