Superintendent
Dr. Scott A Menzel Welcomes You
Dr. Menzel became Scottsdale Unified School District’s 27th superintendent in July 2020, following 18 years of excellence in leadership with Michigan public school districts.
Driving Dr. Menzel’s work is the moral imperative to provide equitable and inclusive opportunities for all students. Upon arriving, he initiated a future-focused, strategic planning process that has set Scottsdale Unified’s course for the next five to ten years, engaging the district’s broad community of stakeholders to articulate a vision for the district’s future that is both aspirational and inspirational. This collaborative process served to ensure Scottsdale Unified remains focused on the success of its more than 20,000 students today and in the world tomorrow.
Always looking to the future, Dr. Scott Menzel’s approach to education is student-centered, with a relentless commitment to excellence and opportunity for all.
Prior to coming to SUSD, Dr. Menzel spent nine years in Ann Arbor, Michigan, serving as superintendent of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD), which includes many public school districts, academies, and facilities in Washtenaw County. At WISD, he oversaw the delivery of early childhood and special education, professional development, and technology and data management programs on behalf of nine area school districts. Prior to that, he was superintendent of the Livingston Educational Service Agency for four years and superintendent of Whitmore Lake Public Schools for the five years before that.
Dr. Menzel has a PhD in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University, a master’s degree in Philosophy and Social Policy from American University in Washington, D.C., and a bachelor’s degree in Religion from Vanguard University in California.
Dr. Menzel's commitment to community involvement is exemplified by his active participation in various organizations that serve the broader community.
Community Organizations
- Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce Board
- Community Celebrating Diversity (CCD) Board (Vice President)
- Scottsdale Blue Zones Steering Committee
Professional Associations
- Greater Phoenix Educational Management Consortium (Chair)
- Scottsdale Community College President’s Advisory Board (PAB) and Action Team
- Arizona School Administrators (ASA) Legislative Committee
- North Valley Education Consortium (NVEC)
- Grand Canyon University President’s Educational Advisory Board
- Arizona Business and Education Coalition (ABEC) Board
- American Heart Association National Superintendents Council
Honors
- Arizona School Administrators’ 2024-25 Superintendent of the Year
- Resilient Leader Award, Education Research and Development Institute (ERDI) (2024)
- Superintendent of the Year, Save Our Schools Arizona (2023)
- 2018-29 Outstanding Superintendent Communicator Award, Michigan School Public Relations Association (MSPRA)
- Eastern Michigan University Excellence in Scholarship Award (2017)
- Michigan Region 8 Superintendent of the Year (2014)
Education Credentials
- Doctorate – Educational Leadership, Eastern Michigan University
- Master’s – Philosophy and Social Policy, American University, Washington, D.C.
- Bachelor’s – Religion, Vanguard University, California
Married to Tammy for 32 years, the Menzels have two grown daughters.