Pete Knittle runs for Moses Lake School District

MOSES LAKE — Former Lakeview Terrace Elementary Principal Pete Knittle announced he is running for Moses Lake School District position 4 this week.

“I’m committed to making sure our kids, in our district, continue to get a better education,” he said.

Knittle said he is aware the economy is a concern for parents who worry their children’s education could be affected. He said he wants to work toward improving and retaining the education system.

He has several goals for the position if elected.

Knittle said his primary concern is to make sure students are safe in school. He said it’s also important to insure students obtain a rigorous academic background to help them gain acceptance to major universities.

He said it’s important to be financially accountable to parents, especially with the construction of all the new school buildings being built.

“We need to be responsible and accountable to parents,” Knittle said. “With tens of millions of dollars being spent on new schools, including a new high school over the next few years, the Washington state budget crisis and the large numbers of students who drop out of our high school each year, our students and their parents are looking for a school board director with common sense and demonstrated experience that will lead our district to even higher levels of student achievement.”

He added that while he was principal of Lakeview Terrace, the school was nationally recognized in 2005 by the U.S. Department of Education, Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Knittle said he is no stranger to leadership roles.

“I’m very interested in serving the public,” he said.

Knittle was elected to the Olympia City Council as mayor pro-tem in 1982 and 1985. On the council he worked to help reform city government, balance a $65 million budget, developed strategies to get citizens involved with government actions and reinvested in community facilities and infrastructure.

He said he understands the school district and looks forward to being a leader. He said he won’t need “on the job training.”

“I have talked with people from every corner of our school district and it has become clear that there is a deep concern by parents about their children’s future and how their children will compete for jobs in a global community,” Knittle said. “We are at a critical point in our country’s history. Every parent I talk with wants the very best for their child, but they are concerned by the economic instabilities and the job layoffs in our community. We must meet this challenge and I know that my practical experience and leadership will make the difference.”

He has been honored with several awards including the 2005 Washington State Regional Distinguished Principal Award, the 2005 Moses Lake School District Excellence Award for Administrators and was recognized as citizen honoree by the Columbia Basin Audubon Society.

He now works as the director of federal and state programs in the Othello School District Administration Office. In the past he volunteered to serve the board of the Ridgeview Water Association, the Moses Lake Alliance Church Budget Committee and he was a Sunday school teacher at the Moses Lake Alliance Church.

Knittle earned a bachelor of arts degree from Central Washington University and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Puget Sound.

Originally published June 8, 2009