Media Releases

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (August 2, 2024) – With so much information today communicated and shared widely on digital platforms, empowering students with skills to navigate the digital world safely, responsibly, and with a critical eye has become an essential element of classroom instruction.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (July 31, 2024) – In a concerted effort to enhance the safety of its students, Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) is launching a school bus safety campaign to coincide with the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year next week.

The campaign follows the disturbing findings of a one-day survey on May 1, 2024, that was conducted by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS). On that day alone, 57 SUSD bus drivers reported 144 instances of drivers illegally passing stopped school buses that had their stop sign arms extended.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (July 17, 2024) – Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) is pleased to welcome two new members to its leadership team.  Dr. Heather Cruz will oversee the district’s Human Resources department; Lea Mitchell will direct SUSD’s instructional and professional development programs.  Both hold the title of Assistant Superintendent.  Their appointments were confirmed by the SUSD Governing Board in June.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (July 9, 2024) – It takes a strong team of dedicated professionals to deliver the world-class, future-focused education for which Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) is known, and the district is looking to add to that team at a Job Fair set for 3 – 6 p.m., Wednesday, July 17, at the district’s Mohave District Annex, 8500 E. Jackrabbit Rd., Scottsdale.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (June 12, 2024) – Tapping into the district’s deep pool of experienced education leaders, the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) Governing Board has appointed Melinda Splitek as Coronado High School’s next principal and Amy Hardy as Mountainside Middle School’s new principal.  The action was taken at the Board’s June 11 meeting.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (June 6, 2024) – Earlier this year, Scottsdale Unified School District’s Superintendent, Dr. Scott Menzel, was named the first recipient of the Education Research and Development Institute’s (ERDI) Resilient Leader Award. The newly established award recognizes K-12 leaders who demonstrate exceptional courage and effective leadership amidst adversity. As part of the award, Dr. Menzel was granted a full-ride, master’s level scholarship at the American College of Education to bestow upon an emerging Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) leader. In return, the scholarship’s recipient commits to work in the district for a minimum of three years following the master’s degree’s completion.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (May 31, 2024) – Echo Canyon School is contributing to a healthier Scottsdale and setting the bar for other local schools by recently achieving Blue Zones Approved™ status. Part of the Blue Zones Project Scottsdale, this prestigious recognition marks a significant milestone in Echo Canyon’s commitment to foster a culture of well-being and better health within its school community.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (May 22, 2024) – Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) is pleased to be able to offer a new meal service option at four schools next school year that will streamline the process for families to secure no-cost breakfasts and lunches for their students.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (May 20, 2024) – The assistant principal’s challenge? To hide nearly 500 elementary school students and more than 70 teachers and staff from their principal for 30 minutes. Why? To surprise him with a special celebration for having been named a 2024 Maricopa County Exemplary Principal. The best hiding place? The school’s multipurpose room.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (May 17, 2024) – Cherokee Elementary School was honored to host Governor Katie Hobbs last week for a momentous occasion during National Nurses Week and, even more appropriately, on School Nurse Appreciation Day.  Surrounded by Cherokee third grade students, Governor Hobbs signed into law House Bill 2174, legislation championed by Cherokee school nurse Will Graham.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (May 16, 2024) – In Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD), our commitment is simple: everything we do is "because kids." Annually, SUSD takes the opportunity to express gratitude to its employees for their unwavering dedication to our students and community. It is these individuals who truly set Scottsdale apart as a district of excellence.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (February 28, 2024) – Families and caregivers seeking information about community services and education options for special education students after high school are invited to attend an information fair next week, hosted by Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD). The Transition Fair takes place Thursday, March 7, from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. in Room 222 of Scottsdale Community College’s (SCC) Indigenous Cultural Center, 9000 E. Chaparral Rd., Scottsdale. SCC is the new home of SUSD’s Special Education SCORE program, which provides vocational training opportunities to young adults with disabilities up to the age of 22.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (February 16, 2024) – The Arizona Educational Foundation® has named Scottsdale Unified School District’s Desert Canyon Elementary School as one of its 2024 A+ Schools of Excellence®. The starting point of Scottsdale Unified’s optional Mandarin Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program, Desert Canyon is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Principal Kim Mills says the school is all about community.  “We are proud of our inclusive, close-knit family and the robust support and engagement we receive from our community,” she says.  “We foster a sense of community and inclusivity as students from diverse linguistic backgrounds come together to learn, grow and become proficient in a second language.”

It was 13-year-old Nina Bhatia who emerged as the champion of the January 19 Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) Spelling Bee, spelling the word “indemnity” correctly. Among the words she also had to spell were “megaron,” “coccidiosis” and “innards.” How did the Cocopah Middle School eighth grade student prepare for the 2024 Bee? “For the easier words, I usually just skimmed over them and made sure I practiced them,” said Bhatia.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (January 12, 2024) – Comparing today’s current “Gen Z” youth to the nation’s World War II “Greatest Generation,” the dean of Arizona State University’s (ASU) Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication encouraged a group of Valley high school students to be of service to their communities, now and in the future. Dr. Battinto Batts Jr. was the keynote speaker yesterday at the 24th annual MLK Youth Voices program at Saguaro High School, part of the City of Scottsdale Community Celebrating Diversity’s 2024 events commemorating the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (December 20, 2023) – The holiday season may be upon us, but Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) is already planning ahead for the 2024-2025 school year, with multiple opportunities available in January for families with young learners. Parents who will be enrolling first-time students can get them off to the perfect start with SUSD’s Community Education programs. The district’s learning opportunities cater to the unique needs of 2-year-olds, preschoolers and pre-kindergarten students. Priority online registration for SUSD early learning programs runs from January 10 – 17, 2024, but registrations will continue to be accepted after that. Read more at https://www.susd.org/earlylearning.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (December 15, 2023) – Scottsdale Unified School District and Northern Arizona University (NAU) have joined forces with a groundbreaking initiative, the Arizona Teacher Residency Program. This dynamic partnership between SUSD and NAU marks a significant milestone in shaping the future of Arizona public education by providing aspiring educators with a comprehensive, two-year expedition toward teacher accreditation. The Teacher Residency Program offers aspiring educators a comprehensive training experience. Upon successful program completion, participants earn a master's degree from NAU and commit to teaching in their partnering district for an additional two years, all without incurring any student debt.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (December 14, 2023) – There is more to preparing students for the future than what takes place in the classroom, and Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) is making that happen for high school students in two new ways. Both offer students opportunities to explore possible careers while at the same time contributing to the community’s economy and social well-being. Part of the district’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings, SUSD’s new Work-Based Learning (WBL) program provides internship opportunities that seamlessly integrate classroom learning with real-world, practical work experience through local employers. Under the guidance of experienced mentors or supervisors, students intern in professional settings, allowing them to apply what they learn in school and develop valuable workplace skills. They also get to experience what it is like to work in a field they may be interested in joining in the future.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (December 4, 2023) – In a notable achievement, the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) is outperforming the state in retaining first- to fourth-year teachers, showcasing the district's commitment to building a committed and experienced teaching staff. According to the latest data, SUSD's retention rates for early-career teachers surpass state averages. In 2022, early-career teachers in SUSD stayed at a rate of 76%, versus the overall Arizona rate of 69%. Additionally, just 2.45% of SUSD teachers switched school districts; the state rate was 5.24%, a demonstration of the district's success in creating an environment that encourages educators to stay with the school district and grow in their careers.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (November 20, 2023) – Working in collaboration, students in Scottsdale Unified School District’s (SUSD) three International Baccalaureate (IB) schools – Anasazi Elementary School, Mountainside Middle School and Desert Mountain High School – assembled learning kits last week to support some new Valley residents.