Mrs. Knutson was born and raised in Montana where she grew up on a cattle ranch. She sttended Montana State University for three years before receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the College of Great Falls. She taught 7th and 8th grade math while obtaining her Library Science endorsement from Western Montana College. After moving to Washington she earned her Master's Degree in Education from Heritage College. Mrs. Knutson comes to Chief Joseph with 24 years of experience in all K-12 grade levels. She and her husband, Ken, have three adult children, two daughters living in Oregon and a son in the U.S. Marine Corps.