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Superintendent Change

Menzel already leaving mark at Scottsdale Schools ahead of official start

Posted 6/3/20

The 1,965 miles from suburban Ann Arbor, Michigan to Scottsdale are not proving to be an obstacle for incoming Scottsdale Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel, who officially takes over the post on July 1.

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Superintendent Change

Menzel already leaving mark at Scottsdale Schools ahead of official start

Posted

The 1,965 miles from suburban Ann Arbor, Michigan to Scottsdale are not proving to be an obstacle for incoming Scottsdale Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel, who officially takes over the post on July 1.

Technology has enabled Dr. Menzel to engage remotely with SUSD in multiple ways. These ways range from making an appearance in a March Governing Board meeting to virtual introductions with individual members of SUSD’s leadership team, the Student Advisory Council.

He’s also met with representatives from the Scottsdale Education Association, Scottsdale Affiliation of Administrators, the Scottsdale Parent Council and the Scottsdale Charros Education Committee, according to a press release.

Dr. Menzel takes part in cabinet and District Incident Command Team meetings, and was a contributor in the collaborative process to hire new principals for Pima Traditional School and Arcadia High School. He also spoke at least weekly with retiring Superintendent Dr. John Kriekard since just after his hiring became official on March 17.

Dr. Menzel says these conversations and collaborative, virtual work sessions are helping him formulate his approach for his first 90 days as superintendent, especially with decisions that will need to be made regarding the 2020-21 school year, amid ongoing concerns from the coronavirus pandemic.

“Right now, the focus is on the upcoming school year and all of the questions related to what that looks like for students, families, teachers and support staff,” he said in a prepared statement. “We are working on defining what Scottsdale Unified’s approach will be to the appropriate protocols to ensure the health, safety and well-being of students and staff.”

He says he and the district’s leadership team are looking forward to receiving the input of the Incident Command Team and its three subcommittees that began meeting last week to help develop back-to-school options in their respective focus areas.

Those subcommittees include:

  • The subcommittee on teaching and learning, which Assistant Superintendent for Education Services Dr. Kimberly Guerin chairs;
  • The operations and logistics subcommittee, which Building Services Director Dennis Roehler leads; and
  • The social-emotional support subcommittee, which has Clinical Services Coordinator Shannon Cronn at its helm.

“The timeline to complete this planning is compressed. We are reviewing state-level guidance received from the Arizona Department of Education, and will continue to take into account the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local public health agencies. We have to be prepared with multiple options that offer solutions for the diverse needs of the community we serve,” Dr. Menzel said.

“Our goal is to do everything we can to create safe, healthy and supportive learning environments while offering robust options for in-person and remote learning for the upcoming school year that take into account the unique needs of families. We recognize and respect the right for families to choose the learning model that best suits the needs of each student in their family. This will be an important and personal decision for each family.”

The Michigan educator, who has served as the superintendent of three school districts in that state during the past 18 years, says he is looking forward to the challenge of becoming SUSD’s 27th superintendent.

“When I look at Scottsdale, I see a district that has such amazing potential with its dedicated staff, engaged parents and supportive community,” he said. “These are essential ingredients in being a high-performing district. There is strength in our diversity and opportunities as a result of that community support that many other districts just don’t have.”

Dr. Menzel says he’s appreciated working with Dr. Kriekard since his hiring. Dr. Kriekard will officially retire for the fourth time on June 30.

“I am grateful for the leadership Dr. Kriekard has provided Scottsdale Unified over the past two-plus years. He brought a sense of calm that helped the district focus on its core mission and live its core values in every action and in every decision,” Dr. Menzel said.

“He didn’t have to come out of retirement to do it, but his character and commitment to children, families and community called him to take the reins of leadership to steer the district through a difficult time and prime it for even more great success. We appreciate the legacy that Dr. Kriekard has forged through his leadership.”

Dr. Menzel, who is also a parent of two college-aged daughters, says the idea that the collective work of the district and each employee is tied to the future of all SUSD students guides his work.

“What motivates me is knowing that the work we do matters: it matters for our children and their future,” he said.

“It matters for parents and families. And it matters to the future success of Scottsdale. We cannot be a thriving community if our children are not achieving at high levels and prepared to succeed when they graduate from SUSD.”