Parents and students clash publicly over Pinnacle High principal; board hears competing accounts but takes no action

Several parents, students and community members used the meeting’s public-comment period to air sharply divergent views about Pinnacle High School principal Chad Smith. The board listened but, in keeping with open meeting law, did not respond or take action during the call-to-the-public segment.

Speakers critical of Chad Smith described confrontations and alleged misuse of authority. Karen Conway read a statement from Dr. Jill Bessemer, who asked the board to immediately place the principal on administrative leave while an investigation is ongoing. The statement said the principal "aggressively confronted" her son, threatened suspension and that the behavior was documented in at least 20 incident reports; it also said 10 seniors left the baseball team in reaction to the incident. Conway, reading on Dr. Bessemer’s behalf, called the principal’s remaining on campus until the end of the school year "not adequate or a fair resolution."

Multiple parents and former players also described what they called a culture of intimidation and said the district should protect students and finish the investigation before allowing the principal to remain on campus.

Other speakers defended the principal. Kealey Call and Nisha Shah — parents with long ties to Pinnacle — said Smith helped welcome new students, supported extracurricular activities and consistently attended school events. Kealey Call said Smith "made every student feel seen, valued and important" and described the principal as having "character" and "heart." Several speakers warned against allowing a small group of critics to dictate outcomes without full context.

Emily Albert and Natalie Marquez spoke on behalf of students who left the Pinnacle baseball program, saying those students acted out of concern over leadership and that the district should hold its leaders to the same standards it expects of students. Patty Gonzales, the mother of a freshman on the team, told the board she believed principal Smith had handled a particular situation appropriately and instead criticized senior players for bullying underclassmen.

Board members and staff did not act on the matter during the meeting. At least one speaker said they had since communicated with district staff, and the transcript records that some parents had later conversations with administrators. The meeting packet referenced that the principal had written a public resignation letter that will be effective at the end of the school year; speakers on both sides referenced that letter and current investigation status.

Because the call-to-the-public period is not a forum for board response under Arizona open meeting law, board members listened but did not debate or vote on personnel matters at the meeting.