Queen Creek Unified recommends three for board vacancy

The Queen Creek Unified School District has announced the three candidates that it is recommending to the Maricopa County School Superintendent’s Office to fill the vacancy on the governing board left by the resignation of James Knox.

The recommendations for Christina “Chrissy” Gust, John Kliethermes and Sarah Purcell will now be considered by Maricopa County School Superintendent Shelli Boggs.

Under state statute, Boggs is not obligated to choose from among the three recommended candidates.

Gust, Kliethermes and Purcell were chosen by a district team made up of Board President Samantha Davis, QCUSD Superintendent Perry Berry, a teacher and members of the community.

“I’m looking forward to the future of the school board and working with any of the candidates that applied for the position,” Davis said. “They’re some really wonderful people.”

Gust and Purcell taught at QCUSD. Purcell was at Gateway Polytechnic Academy and Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary. Gust was a teacher at Silver Valley Elementary.

Kliethermes is “knowledgeable financially and brings a lot of experience to the table,” Davis said.

She added that all three candidates have or have had children in QCUSD schools.

“I believe it’s important because it brings a unique insight into what’s going on in the campuses and the day-to-day of the district and the operations and how curriculum is being taught and received by the students,” Davis said. “I feel like you have a vested interest, because as parents we all want what’s best for our children and so why would we not want to see the public system thrive?”

Candidates for the position could have applied for the post two ways — through the district or directly through the county school superintendent’s office.

Davis said of the 11 candidates the district interviewed nine had also applied directly to the county school superintendent’s office.

With the recommendations now in Boggs’ hands, Davis said the district does not have a timeline on when the board replacement will be selected. The successful applicant will finish Knox’s term, which will expire Dec. 31, 2026.

Knox abruptly resigned from the five-member board on Jan. 7, just hours before a scheduled board meeting.

A controversial figure on the board, Knox often clashed with fellow members Jennifer Revolt, Patty Campbell, Matthew Riffey and Davis.

During the 2024 election cycle, Knox recruited and supported candidates Heidi Lee and David Dehority, who challenged Campbell, Riffey and Revolt. Both Lee and Dehority lost on Nov. 5.

“I am unwilling to continue in this fight as it appears I no longer have community support. I have endured disgusting emails from the Satanic church and various pro-pedophile groups and other sickening messages that are too foul to publish in this letter,” Knox wrote in his resignation letter. “The whisper campaigns and continual attacks on my character from those who do not want to improve QCUSD, and the high turnover of teachers and administrators in an otherwise stable profession, is a sign of fear within the district.”

During a school board meeting in August, a district employee called out what she deemed “vile, sexist, misogynistic and borderline racist” Facebook posts made by Knox.

The posts drew a sharp rebuke from other board members, as well as the public, while Knox defended the posts.

Knox, who homeschools his children, was elected to the board in 2022.

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