More than 100 students walked out of their classes at Centennial High School this morning in support of former Principal William Sorensen, who submitted his resignation letter to district administration, Feb. 11.
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More than 100 students walked out of their classes at Centennial High School Wednesday morning in support of former Principal William Sorensen, who submitted his resignation letter to district administration, Feb. 11.
The letter states his resignation was effective June 30.
“I am so grateful to the Centennial Community and will forever cherish the love they showed me. At this time I need to prioritize the ability to provide for my children in the short and long term. Unfortunately, resigning is the best way for me to do that,” the letter stated.
PUSD spokeswoman Danielle Airey said Mr. Sorenson was placed on administrative leave Jan. 30. During an investigation that began about three weeks ago, he submitted his resignation. She said she could not provide details of the investigation because it is a personnel matter.
Assistant Principal Scott Hollabaugh has taken over as interim principal and will serve through the remainder of the school year.
Some students and parents are up in arms because there has been no reason given for Mr. Sorensen’s resignation.
Tammie Bond, a parent of two Centennial graduates and one current student, said everybody wants to know why he resigned in the first place and believes Mr. Sorensen was forced to resign.
He’s the best principal they’ve had and the students love him, she said.
“Everybody keeps saying it is a personnel issue but everybody on the (school) board will not say anything. I think he should have stood up to them but he didn’t want to take the chance to be able to be employed someplace else,” she said.
A petition was posted on change.org in support of the former principal with 628 signatures, asking to re-install Mr. Sorensen to his position.
The post states the former principal has been a phenomenal principal with sound ethics, quality communication, genuine care for the well being of students and families, and is creatively active in improving academics and the general culture of CeHS.
“Recently, he was put on administrative leave for what appears to be a communication error but those of us who have experienced the great improvement in CeHS since his arrival, are fully aware that no matter what the cause for administrative leave was, it is not sufficient to remove him as our principal,” the post states. “We want Dr. Sorensen as the principal of CeHS as his leadership, in this short time, is evidence-based results in academics, character, organization and an increased culture of excellence at CeHS. He is the best person for this job and we petition for Dr. Sorensen to be reinstated in good standing to continue the great work he has done at Centennial High School.”
Mr. Sorensen was appointed as principal to Centennial High School before the 2018-19 school year. He served as assistant principal for Mountain Ridge High School in the Deer Valley Unified School District from 2016 to 2018, and had previously been with Peoria Unified since at least 2011.
Responses from PUSD governing board members were not immediately available.
Report back for more details.
Philip Haldiman can be reached at 623-876-3697, phaldiman@newszap.com, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman.
Philip Haldiman is a third generation Arizona native with brief residencies on the east and west coasts.
He has bachelor’s degrees in Theater and Journalism at Arizona State University, and is an award winning journalist with more than 15 years worth of experience in reporting and editing.
Most recently, he took first place for investigative reporting and third place for best sustained coverage or series at the 2023 Arizona Newspapers Association awards.
In his free time, he produces an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.
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