MUSD Superintendent Steve Chestnut. Photo by Michelle Chance

The superintendent of Maricopa Unified School District has a place to land when he leaves Maricopa this year.

According to Scottsdale Unified School District spokesperson Erin Helm, the position of associate superintendent was created between the superintendent and the large district’s four assistant superintendents. Steve Chestnut was hired for that new position Thursday.

“I have greatly enjoyed being the superintendent of MUSD for the past six years,” Chestnut said. “I had the opportunity to work with an excellent Governing Board, outstanding teachers, administrators and support staff. I am very proud of the things we have accomplished by working together as a team.”

The MUSD board opted not to offer Chestnut a contract renewal after he was twice a finalist for superintendent in other districts.

SUSD is comprised of 22 schools enrolling 23,000 students.

“I had a long-term professional goal of being an administrator in a large school district, so I was very interested in the opportunity at Scottsdale Unified and am pleased to be hired for that position,” Chestnut said.

A resident of Province, Chestnut has overseen the post-recession economic struggles of MUSD and the growth of programs and improving curriculum.

“I have also been very appreciative of the community’s support and the passage of the override in 2016 was a wonderful example of that,” he said. “My wife and I have greatly enjoyed living in Maricopa.”