From playground to principal's office, Chip Pettit returns to Gilbert's Patterson Elementary

Patterson Elementary is welcoming a new principal this year who has walked those very same school halls.

As an alumnus 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.

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 third to sixth 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 six 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 campus he once attended.

"Leaving Towne Meadows was a tough decision, but returning to Patterson feels like it was meant to be," Pettit said. "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.

“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 said he 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 said 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.