Jackson: A bright future ahead for Scottsdale Schools under Dr. Menzel leadership
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By George Jackson
I would like to add Yes To Children to the chorus of voices welcoming Dr. Scott Menzel as the new superintendent of the Scottsdale Unified School District.
Our organization is looking forward to working with you and your management team to help keep the school district moving in the right direction.
I believe this is an exciting and wonderful time for SUSD.
Besides inheriting the support of the community from the overwhelming victory last November to renew the maintenance and operation budget override, Dr. Menzel will take the helm of a strong school district that is performing at an exceptionally high level.
There have been many recent academic achievements across the district that continue to make SUSD one of the most highly rated school districts in the state. We have rebuilt many of our aging elementary schools and many more are scheduled to be rebuilt in the coming years. And, of critical importance, teachers have received much needed and deserved pay raises.
From my perspective as a former member of the SUSD Governing Board, the school district has taken significant steps in rebuilding the trust of the community.
All of these accomplishments would not have been possible without the outstanding leadership of Dr. John Kriekard, our interim superintendent.
Speaking on behalf of Yes to Children, and I’m sure for many other groups as well, I can not thank Dr. Kriekard enough. He has proven to be the perfect person to guide SUSD through a time of transition.
I can say without the shadow of a doubt, Dr. Kriekard will be leaving SUSD a much better place than how he found it two years ago.
Dr. Kriekard will be with us until June when Dr. Menzel will pick up where he will leave off. I expect this transition in leadership to be seamless.
I truly believe our Scottsdale public schools have a very bright future and the school district’s best days are ahead under the leadership of Dr. Menzel.
Editor’s Note: George Jackson is a member of Yes To Children and a former member of the SUSD Governing Board.
