Patrick Nelson, Associate Superintendent for School Operations, oversees school operations within the Amphitheater School District. This oversight includes responsibility for the daily activities, programs, and personnel issues for the district's 20 schools, K-12. Mr. Nelson serves on the Superintendent's Senior Staff and directly supervises the Executive Directors of Student Services and Chief Academic Officer, as well as the Director of Interscholastic Activities, the Director of Federal Programs, Title I and Language Acquisition, Advisor/Coordinator of Native American Education and the Program Assessment and Evaluation Analyst of State Assessments and Data Analysis.

National, State and District testing administrations and analysis, along with hiring, evaluation and supervision of school administration, fall in Mr. Nelson's purview. He oversees the programmatic planning for schools and coordinates the efforts of the district's long-term plan for student achievement.

Another area that falls under Mr. Nelson's supervision is REACH (Gifted and Talented). Mr. Nelson also coordinates efforts of the District's counselors and oversees Title II.