Dr. Chris Dunning has been an educator in Pasco County for over 30 years. He started his career as an elementary school teacher and quickly advanced to elementary Assistant Principal and then Principal. He also spent time as the district’s Chief Negotiator in the Office for Employee Relations.

Dr. Dunning was selected to open Paul R. Smith Middle School, where he led his team to become the highest-scoring Title I School in the district. Following this, he went to Seven Springs Middle School and led them to become the highest-scoring school in the entire district. Given his successes, Dr. Dunning was asked to move to our only double “D” high school and in just one year, his leadership assisted the school in raising their grade and getting them off the state watch list. Currently, he is the Principal at Wendell Krinn Technical High School, the district’s first magnet high school that has been recognized as a Demonstration Magnet School and provides opportunities for students in 14 career areas. 

Throughout Dr. Dunning’s professional life, he has been an active volunteer in the community. Even before having kids of his own, he coached at the YMCA and was a leader of a cub scout pack. He has served on multiple chamber boards as chairman and has been a member of multiple rotaries. Dr. Dunning continually gives back to our community in meaningful ways. He and his wife Jeannie are also first responders in the foster care system and have hosted almost 40 children in the past three years.