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Scott Menzel named new Scottsdale Schools superintendent

Posted 2/22/20

The Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board voted unanimously Saturday, Feb. 22 to select Dr. Scott Menzel as the district’s next leader.

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Superintendent Search

Scott Menzel named new Scottsdale Schools superintendent

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The Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board voted unanimously Saturday, Feb. 22 to select Dr. Scott Menzel as the district’s next leader.

Dr. Menzel comes from Ann Arbor, Michigan where he serves as Superintendent of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District, according to a press release.

In January, the board narrowed a list of 29 applications to three: Dr. Kimberly Guerin, SUSD assistant superintendent of education services; Dr. Shelley Redinger, superintendent of Spokane Public Schools; and Dr. Menzel.

The board and five advisory committees interviewed the three finalists Friday, Feb. 21. Each committee then provided the board with its impressions of the candidates.

“In our search for a new superintendent — one who will continue to move the district forward and prepare our students for success in the 21st century --- we strived to create an inclusive process. We convened five committees with community members, students, educators, administrators and district staff to ensure their voices were heard,” SUSD Governing Board President Allyson Beckham said in a prepared statement.

“After considering a competitive field of candidates, we found our district’s next leader. On behalf of the Governing Board, I am excited to extend a warm welcome to Dr. Menzel. We look forward to welcoming him to our team and introducing him to the SUSD community.”

Ms. Beckham also thanked Dr. John Kriekard for his service to SUSD with a handshake.

“We’re grateful to Dr. Kriekard for leading our district through a turbulent time and supporting an inclusive search process for his successor,” she said.

Dr. Menzel is the superintendent of Washtenaw Intermediate School District in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Intermediate school districts in Michigan serve as a coordinating organization for local districts in Washtenaw County.

Prior to his appointment to WISD in 2011, he served as superintendent of Livingston Education Service Agency and Whitmore Lake Public Schools, both in Michigan, according to WISD’s website.

Dr. Menzel has a Bachelor of Arts from Vanguard University, Master of Arts from the American University and Ed.D from Eastern Michigan University. He was previously a finalist for superintendent at Peoria Unified School District.


Dr. Menzel will take over from Dr. Kriekard, who has served as superintendent since May 2018. His contract with the district expires June 30. SUSD brought in Dr. Kriekard after the Governing Board cut ties with former superintendent Dr. Denise Birdwell in March of 2018 for allegations of conflict of interest violations.

“I want to congratulate Dr. Menzel on his new post,” Dr. Kriekard said in a prepared statement. “I will do everything in my power to make the coming transition a smooth one. I look forward to seeing SUSD’s ongoing success under his leadership.”

The Governing Board appointed Vice President Patty Beckman and Board Member Jann-Michael Greenburg to work with Dr. Menzel and SUSD Legal Counsel Michelle Marshall to negotiate an employment contract.