From Playground to Principal’s Office, Chip Pettit Returns to Patterson
Tristan Chavez
The start of a new school year often carries an Olympic-worthy atmosphere, a time when students embark on a journey of training, dedication, and pushing themselves to be their best. Patterson Elementary is “going for gold” this school year with a new principal who has walked those very same school halls. As an alumni of the school, Chip Pettit goes from Patterson’s playground to its Principal’s office as he strives for academic excellence while connecting with and supporting the community.
Chip Pettit has a rich history and background with Gilbert Public Schools. After arriving in Gilbert in 1985, Pettit attended Neely Traditional Academy and Greenfield Elementary before transferring to Patterson Elementary where he went to school from 3rd to 6th grade. He would then walk the halls of Mesquite Junior High and ultimately graduate from Gilbert High.
Pettit would continue his journey with Gilbert Public Schools, making the transition from student to educator. Pettit spent his first 6 years at GPS as a 6th grade teacher at Burk Elementary and Highland Park Elementary. He then moved into an administrative role, serving as a Dean at Mesquite High and South Valley Junior High before becoming the Assistant Principal at Greenfield Junior High and the Principal at Towne Meadows Elementary - a role that he was in for 12 years. Now as the Principal at Patterson Elementary, his journey comes full circle as he leads the very campus he once attended.
"Leaving Towne Meadows was a tough decision, but returning to Patterson feels like it was meant to be. I love walking the halls and remembering my time here as a student. It is great to see that some of the events I came to are still happening and I’m excited to build on Patterson’s over 50-year history,” said Chip Pettit. “As a student, I made lifelong friends and I have a lot of positive memories here. My desire is for students to come to Patterson and have the same amazing experiences that I did."
Although Pettit recognizes the importance of the school's history and traditions, he is also looking ahead with a vision for an even brighter future. One of his key priorities is fostering a strong school community, where he aims to bring parents, staff, and the local Patterson community all together. He believes that by working collaboratively, Patterson Elementary can earn its authorization for the IB Primary Years Programme and be named an IB World School, which will help students become lifelong learners.
In addition to Patterson Elementary, 5 other GPS schools have welcomed new leaders, each dedicated to academic excellence and fostering strong communities. Similar to the Olympics celebrating athletic achievement, Gilbert Public Schools is committed to providing a gold-medal education for all its students. To learn more about all of Gilbert Public Schools’ new principals, visit GilbertSchools.net.