Many are aware of the Arizona Republic stories including 10 senior baseball players quitting the Pinnacle High School Baseball team as well as now three coaches quitting. This includes Coach Gonzalez who left the program, and Chad Smith submitted his resignation last week, effective at the end of this school year. And now Messina has stepped down. But what many are not aware of is the alleged aggressive physical actions and threats made by Principal Dr. Chad Smith who also has a son on the team. Nor are many aware of the allegations that nepotism, favoritism, corruption, and a pattern of behavior by Smith and the coaches directly led to and escalated the situation and allegations that “10 seniors chose to leave the baseball team and it had nothing to do with athletics, but because their concerns expressed respectfully and through the proper channels were completely ignored by Chad Smith…”
In an interview with Adam Marazzo, the father of a Varsity Baseball Senior Player, he stated in a first-hand-witness account: “I was three feet away and saw Chad Smith as he lost his mind and moved aggressively towards a player (Dr. Jill Besemer’s son), lunged and pointed his finger in the kids face. Spit was literally coming out of his mouth as Chad was screaming. Chad said towards the player ‘Don’t you give me those eyes Joey or you’ll be suspended’. The Baseball Team Captain then had to physically restrain Chad Smith away from the other player (chest to chest ‘Principal Smith calm down. Principal Smith you don’t need to do this calm down’). Chad was red faced completely out of control and lost it. Smith then grabbed the Team Captain who was trying to deescalate by the arm. He grabbed his bicep white-knuckled and started trying to pull him away towards the dugout and isolate him. I told Chad, ‘You cannot Grab him like that. Son he can’t grab you like that.'” I told Chad he doesn’t need to take him away and to let the Team Captain speak in front of everyone. Chad looked at me with wild eyes and said “That’s it, you are trespassed off this property.”
Marazzo added that before this, “The players were pulling me aside saying ‘Chad is gonna try and gaslight this thing. It’s what he does’.”
In an interview with Dr. Jill Besemer, she said “My son told me Chad Smith ‘came at me saying ‘You don’t want this. I will suspend you for defiance’. He was in my face and I put my hand up in defense’. He told the Morazzos he was going to have them arrested for trespassing. My son has never had any behavior issues and has a 4.0 GPA.”
Allegation that Chad Smith’s Own Son ALSO Had to Hold Him Back
The player mentioned above wrote a letter provided by the parent stating that he did not feel safe from threat or retaliation by Smith and alleging that Smith’s own son also had to physically hold back Smith as the player retreated. Further, it alleges that Smith then used his son and others to spread slander. See the excerpt of the statement below:
“Dr. Smith told me and my mom that he could and would absolutely suspend me and keep me from walking at graduation based on how I looked at him. No one of us feels safe from this threat at this point, as we are all afraid of retaliation. The fact that Dr. Smith’s son had to physically hold him back while I continued to walk backwards speaks volumes. It is evident that this divide within the program has been manufactured by the administrative and coaching staff, and is continuing to be perpetuated by some of the non-seniors on the team. Dr. Smith called players into his office and told his son, those conversations who then spread them around the school in an attempt to slander us and detract from the true intent of our actions. At this time we will no longer tolerate the blatant abuse of power and the misconduct propagated by the entire organization. The culture is toxic, degrading, and beyond repair for this season.”
10 Baseball Players Send A Letter Calling Out Chad Smith
Ten of the Baseball Players sent a letter saying “We will not return until it is official that Coach Rex Gonzalez is dismissed from the program and Dr. Smith has agreed to stay away from the field during practice, and removed from making decisions in the lineup.” Parents also corroborated the allegation that Chad Smith “made playing time decisions with the Coaches including involving his Son’s club team coach and giving favoritism to Smith’s son.”
Listen to Pinnacle Parent Comments Regarding Principal Chad Smith at a May 1st School Board Meeting:
At a May 1, 2025 School Board Meeting many parents spoke. One parent said: “I have had my own disappointing experiences with Principal Chad Smith. I found my interactions with him lacked integrity.” and “…Principal Chad Smith has repeatedly not met those standards.”
A statement was read by Dr. Jill Besemer “Formally requesting that he (Chad Smith) be immediately removed from his duties.” and “It is unacceptable that Dr. Smith remains on campus following an incident in which he aggressively confronted my son Joseph, threatened suspension and had to be physically held back. This behavior was witnessed by multiple students and parents and has been documented in at least 20 incident reports. While it has been announced that Dr. Smith will resign at the end of the school year, that is not addequate or a fair resolution. Allowing him to remain in his position until then after such a serious incident sends a message that this behavior is tolerated. These students are expected to continue seeing him every day, even at graduation, as if nothing happened. This is not accountability. Dr. Smith told me directly that he would absolutely suspend my son Joseph, not for any threat or rule violation but simply because of a look that Chad Smith interpreted as defiance. He even stated he could go as far as preventing my son from walking at graduation. This abuse of power sparked a chain reaction. 10 seniors chose to leave the baseball team and it had nothing to do with athletics, but because their concerns expressed respectfully and through the proper channels were completely ignored by Chad Smith, the rest of the administration and the coaching staff.”
and “They should not have to walk at graduation with someone who threatened and used his position to silence them.”
A third parent said: “In 2017 Principal Smith left his previous district under similar scrutiny. Parents were speaking out and his departure came amid controversy and now we are hear again. With the same exit, the same pattern, and the same lack of accountability.”
Several of the parents have commented “A reduced role at graduation is not enough; Chad Smith should not be allowed to be there.” In a letter, Dan Courson, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Leadership and member of the Superintendent’s Cabinet and also the District’s Title IX coordinator, wrote regarding graduation: We are working with the PHS administration on the logistics of that evening. While Dr. Smith will be in attendace that night, other administrators will be taking a more active role in the ceremony, including delivering the commencement address, handing out diplomas, and taking photos with the graduates.” and Regarding (Coach) Gonzalez’s status with PVSchools, his eligibility to serve as a volunteer or employee with PVSchools in the future has been revoked, per our Human Resources department.” and “Dr. Smith will still be in attendance and may participate in other parts of the ceremony other than the ones mentioned.” Parents are asking that you contact Dr. Dan Courson at 602-449-2100 dcourson@pvschools.net and demand that Chad Smith not be allowed to attend the Graduation in any way.
Principal Dr. Chad Smith’s History of Scandals:
According to several parents, “Chad Smith has anger management issues and is engaging in corrupt activities.”
San Gabriel Valley Tribune (August 2015) Article report Chad Smith’s involvement in the misuse of $15,000 in student body funds at South Hills High School, including $500 for a personal seminar. His tenure there was also marked by multiple staff misconduct incidents, contributing to a controversial leadership record.
Staff Misconduct: Multiple incidents occurred under his leadership:
- January 2015: Teachers Melody Lippert and Michelle Ghirelli were arrested for having sex with underage students during camping trips. They took a plea deal in June 2015.
- February 2015: Three other teachers were placed on leave due to legal issues, and a coach convicted of theft faced minimal punishment.
These issues led to a parent petition at Capistrano Valley High School (July 2015), where Smith was briefly principal, demanding his removal after learning about his rocky tenure at his previous school.. The petition, signed by 100 parents, cited his leadership failures at South Hills. Smith was reassigned to Capistrano Unified School District’s education division in August 2015.
The Capistrano Unified School District announced Thursday afternoon that it appointed Joshua Hill as principal of Capistrano Valley High School, replacing Chad Smith. Hill has worked as the principal of Junipero Serra Continuation High School in San Juan Capistrano the past two years. Smith has been reassigned within the Education Division, according to a district news release.
Video of High Five Prior to Incident:
Smith’s son was a starting junior on the team. Gonzalez’s son was a starting freshman on the team. Several of Gonzalez’s T-Rex club players were part of the team. Only two of the 10 seniors who quit were starters.
REPORTING IMMORAL OR UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
The next School Board meeting is May 15th. More plan to show up and speak.
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Governing Board meetings are scheduled on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 6:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) in the District Administrative Center Governing Board Room, 15002 North 32nd Street, Phoenix. Doors open to the public 30 minutes prior to the meeting start time. The 2024-2025 Governing Board Regular meeting schedule is as follows:
www.pvschools.net
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The Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board is holding its Fourteenth Regular Meeting of the 111th year on Thursday, May 1st 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
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My son played there. That program has always been an absolute shit show. I believe the worst, most corrupt HS baseball program the state. Has been for years.