Superintendent Menzel's Blog
Wishing You a Happy New Year: Celebrating Our Accomplishments and Looking Ahead
We hope everyone had a wonderful and restful winter break. The new year is the perfect time to reflect on the remarkable achievements of the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) in 2024 and get ready for all that lies ahead in 2025.
First off, January is School Board Recognition Month. We are most grateful to our five SUSD Governing Board members, who volunteer to invest their time and energy to add to our district’s outstanding legacy through their partnership, guidance and wisdom. We also want to take this opportunity to welcome our three new members to the Board: Dr. Donna Lewis, Dr. Matthew Pittinsky, and Mr. Mike Sharkey.
Many annual events take place during the month of January. They include:
- District Middle School Honor Band Concert, Jan. 14, Desert Mountain High School, 6 p.m.
- 25th Annual MLK Youth Voices, Jan. 16, Saguaro High School, 9 a.m.
- Spanish Spelling Bee, Jan. 23, Coronado High School, 9 a.m.
- SUSD Spelling Bee, Jan. 24, Coronado High School, 9 a.m.
- District Middle School Orchestra Festival, Jan. 30, Chaparral High School, 10 a.m.
Fall Semester Highlights
The fall semester of the 2024-2025 school year was nothing short of extraordinary. Thanks to our talented students, dedicated educators, and supportive families, SUSD continues to elevate excellence.
Here are just a few of our recent standout moments:
- Championship Athletics: Congratulations to our Desert Mountain boys swim and dive team and to Chaparral’s badminton singles player and pom and cheer teams for securing state championships. Additionally, we celebrated the inaugural season of girls flag football, marking a milestone in our high school athletics program.
- Coronado Marching Band Victory: Under the leadership of first-year teacher Brett Bell, the Coronado High School marching band earned first place in the Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association (ABODA) state competition.
- International Recognition: Desert Mountain High School’s talented marching band proudly represented SUSD on the global stage, participating in London’s New Year’s Day Parade.
Excellence in Education
Our educators continue to be recognized at the highest levels for their dedication and impact:
- Arizona History Teacher of the Year: The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History honored Saguaro High School’s Ashley Crose as its Arizona History Teacher of the Year.
- IB Teacher of the Year: Angie Griffith, 5th grade teacher at Anasazi Elementary, was named Arizona International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme Teacher of the Year.
- Thespian Teacher of the Year: Dr. Tim McCandless, Saguaro High School Theatre Director, was named Arizona Thespians Central Region Theatre Teacher of the Year.
- SUSD Students Outperform Peers: SUSD significantly outperformed state averages on the 2024 Arizona Academic Standards Assessments (AASA): 61% of grade 3 ‒ 8 students tested passed the ELA measurement (AZ, 40%) and 56% passed the math assessment (AZ, 33%), making SUSD a top performer in Maricopa County. Additionally, all SUSD school sites earned an A or B state letter grade for the 2023-24 school year from the Arizona State Board of Education. The district itself received an A for the second year in a row.
- Anasazi Elementary School Blue Zones-Approved: Recognized for contributing to a healthier Scottsdale, Anasazi Elementary joins SUSD’s Echo Canyon K-8 School in achieving Blue Zones-Approved™ School status. A special school celebration will take place Jan. 22.
Innovative Programs
SUSD continues to expand opportunities for our students to grow and thrive:
- Fire Science Academy: Coronado High School, in partnership with the EVIT Fire Science program and the Scottsdale Fire Department, will launch a Fire Science Academy to inspire the next generation of first responders.
- Expansion of the Scottsdale Math and Science Academy (SMSA): The highly regarded SMSA program will expand to Mohave Middle School in the fall, providing a premier STEM education to even more SUSD students.
Spotlight on Safety and Security
In November, we conducted a Safety and Security Town Hall, bringing together families, law enforcement, and district leaders to discuss and strengthen our shared commitment to further secure our campuses. Together, we are enhancing the safety of our schools where students can learn and grow.
Honors and Recognition
It is a profound honor to have been named 2024-25 Superintendent of the Year by the Arizona School Administrators association. This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire SUSD community. Together, we are elevating excellence and inspiring a brighter future for our students.
We are also proud that Scottsdale Unified School District was named the winner of the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce Sterling Award in the Big Business category! This award is based on business excellence and positive community impact. We are grateful to the students, staff, parents, and partners who work tirelessly each day to provide wonderful opportunities for all students.
Looking Ahead
With a strong foundation from the fall semester, we are excited to continue building on our successes in 2025.
Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous 2025!
Scott
Dear SUSD Families,
It’s hard to believe we are nearly halfway through the school year! As we approach winter break, I want to take a moment to reflect on recent highlights and share exciting updates that impact our students and community:
- We celebrated our first season of girls flag football.
- The Coronado marching band won the Division IV ABODA State Marching Band Championship
- Saguaro teachers Ashley Crose and Dr. Tim McCandless were named, respectively, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History’s 2024 Arizona History Teacher of the Year and Arizona Thespians’ Central Region Theatre Teacher of the Year.
- Anasazi teacher Angie Griffith was named the Arizona IB Primary Years Teacher of the Year
- The district’s Native American education program received national recognition.
- Teams from Desert Mountain and Chaparral won state championships in swim and dive, badminton and Spiritline.
Please make sure to check out the Source Academics, Athletics and Arts blogs, where you can learn more about these accolades and more.
We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our outgoing Governing Board members, Dr. Libby Hart-Wells, Julie Cieniawski, and Zach Lindsay, each of whom has dedicated the last four years in service to our students, staff, and community. We wish you the best and look forward to welcoming our three new Board members, Dr. Donna Lewis, Dr. Matt Pittinsky, and Mike Sharkey, in the new year.
Culture and Climate Survey
This year, we launched our annual Culture and Climate Survey earlier than usual. Your participation is important and will help inform school and district improvements as soon as second semester.
We encourage every family, staff member, and community partner to share their insights. If you have children attending more than one SUSD school, please complete a separate survey for each student and school to ensure all anonymous feedback is captured. You can begin the survey here. The survey closes on Monday, December 9.
SUSD Honored with Sterling Award
We are proud to announce that Scottsdale Unified School District was named the winner of the Sterling Award in the Big Business category by the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce! This award is based on business excellence and positive community impact. We are grateful to all the students, staff, parents and partners who work tirelessly each day to provide wonderful opportunities for all students. Be sure to check out the Source Partnership blog and about the multitude of partners who spent last month supporting SUSD schools!
Giving Tuesday, December 3rd, is a global generosity movement of people who make a choice to help others and impact their communities positively. This Giving Tuesday, we hope you might consider making a tax credit donation to support the school or program of your choosing. We are grateful for all those in our community who recognize and value the potential in our students and choose to support their educational and extracurricular opportunities. Read about the SUSD tax credit program here.
Enrollment for 2025-26 is Open!
Enrollment is now open for the 2025-26 school year! Families #ChooseSUSD for a variety of reasons, including our strong academics, robust arts and athletic programs, along with our commitment to community engagement and parent involvement.
Last month, we hosted our first SUSD Expo, highlighting the outstanding schools and programs available to students, from toddlers through high school. This event showcased the many pathways we offer for students to thrive in their educational journeys.
With nearly 500 attendees and overwhelmingly positive feedback, the Expo was a tremendous success. But there is no need to wait for the next Expo to learn more about our 30 schools and unique offerings! We encourage you to tour our schools and reach out with any questions.
Finals and Winter Break
As the semester wraps up, we encourage our students to stay healthy, focused and finish strong. Finals kick off on December 18th. The last day of the semester is Friday, December 20th.
Finally, I want to wish all of you a joyful winter break and a happy New Year. Thank you for being part of the SUSD community and for your continued support #BecauseKids!
With warm regards,
Scott
Dear SUSD Families,
November marks an important time as we open doors for new families to join our community. Open Enrollment begins on November 1, and in-boundary enrollment starts December 1. We invite you to join us in welcoming families to “Choose SUSD.” We know families choose SUSD for so many reasons: our outstanding academics, arts, athletics, extracurriculars, and, most of all, for the strong community that supports meaningful engagement in learning.
In just a few days, you'll receive a link to participate in SUSD’s annual Culture and Climate Survey. This is a valuable opportunity to share your insights and feedback, helping us continually improve the experiences of students and families across our schools. We are sending it earlier this year in order to allow for 2nd semester efforts to implement changes that may result from the feedback.
This month, our schools are buzzing with events that celebrate the variety of programs and achievements that make SUSD unique:
- Middle School Sports Festival – November 2
- Schedule and locations in Athletics
- Marching Band Exposition – November 4
- More information in Arts
- National Native American Heritage Month Celebration – November 14 at Coronado High School
- Honoring the rich cultures and contributions of Native American communities within our district.
- IB Day of Service – November 15
- Our Anasazi Elementary School International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) students lead by example through a day dedicated to community service.
- Family Thanksgiving Feast – November 21 at all SUSD elementary and K-8 schools
- SUSD Education Expo – November 21, 5–8 p.m. at Coronado High School
- Discover the many opportunities available for students across all 30 SUSD schools, presented for both current and prospective families.
We are also grateful this month to recognize the many individuals who serve and support our students and schools. Join us in celebrating:
- Veterans Day – Monday, November 11
- World Kindness Day – Wednesday, November 13
- American Education Week – November 18–22
- Education Support Professionals Day – Wednesday, November 20
- Substitute Educators Day – Friday, November 22
If you haven’t already, please remember to vote and make your voice heard. Regardless of the outcome of the election, we are committed to maintaining focus and elevating excellence each and every day #BecauseKids.
As we settle into the cooler temperatures and the season of giving, I hope you’ll take a moment to reflect on all the good in our schools and community. Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with fun, gratitude, and quality time with family and friends.
Dr. Scott A. Menzel
Superintendent
Scottsdale Unified School District
Dear SUSD Community,
As we move into October, I want to highlight several key areas that reflect our ongoing commitment to safety, security, and student well-being.
Safety and Security
First and foremost, school safety remains a top priority. We take every situation seriously, and we never assume that any threat is a joke. In case you missed it, we recently held a SUSD Safety and Security Town Hall at Chaparral High School. You can watch the recording here.
School safety is a shared responsibility, and we deeply appreciate the collaborative efforts of our parents, students, staff, and our partners in law enforcement. Together, we are committed to ensuring that our schools remain safe places for learning.
New Partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale
I’m excited to share that the Governing Board has approved a new partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale. This partnership will result in a new gym and other facility renovations at Tonalea Middle School, providing a safe and enriching environment for neighborhood children with the creation of a new Boys and Girls Club in south Scottsdale. We are grateful to our partners for helping us create a valuable community asset that will support the success and well-being of our students. You can learn more about the project details in the Partnership blog.
October Recognitions
This month, we are also celebrating several important recognitions:
- National Principals Month: Our principals are instrumental in guiding our schools and ensuring the success of every student. Please join me in recognizing and thanking them for their tireless dedication.
- Cybersecurity Awareness Month: As we continue to emphasize the importance of keeping our digital spaces secure, this ties directly into our Keeping It REAL campaign (Research, Evaluate, Analyze and Lead with respect). It is critical that we remain vigilant and proactive in protecting our information and teaching our students to do the same. Parents, students and staff each play an important role in helping our students learn how to navigate the digital world safely and effectively.
- National Bullying Prevention Month: We are committed to creating a culture of respect and kindness in all our schools. Bullying has no place in SUSD, and we encourage everyone to actively participate in fostering a safe and inclusive environment.
Finally, a reminder that Fall Break is next week. I wish all of you a restful time away. Please take the opportunity to recharge and enjoy time with family and friends. We look forward to welcoming everyone back, ready to rock the second quarter and continue to #ElevateExcellence across SUSD.
Scott
September is here. With four weeks under our belts, routines have been established, rosters have been set, clubs have been “rushed,” and now the rigor and competition are really heating up, both in and out of class. It is a joy to see all the ways students and staff are #ElevatingExcellence around the district.
As a district leadership team, we recently identified and presented to the Governing Board our Wildly Important Goals (WIGs) and updated Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). These are the areas most critical to SUSD’s success and they include the leading indicators and summative measures to help track our progress.
District departments and schools will be adopting WIGs of their own, aligned to the Strategic Plan, and we are excited to see how this hyper-focus will improve outcomes for our students. On September 10th, the Governing Board will finalize the district WIGs and KPIs, and then we will compile the complete list of WIGs across the district in order to ensure we are holding ourselves accountable for elevating excellence.
We know that none of this extraordinary work happens in a silo. Families play a vital role in supporting our students' success, and we want to take a moment to celebrate one special group: grandparents!
National Grandparents Day is next week, and we invite everyone to join us in honoring the incredible impact grandparents have on our SUSD learners. We encourage you to share stories, photos, and memories on social media that showcase the love and support that grandparents provide.
Don't forget to use the hashtag #SUSDGrandparentsDay so we can include your posts in our district-wide celebration on September 8th. Let's come together to recognize the amazing grandparents who make a difference in our students' lives!
This month we also celebrate:
- Library Card Sign-Up Month
- National Arts in Education Week (September 9 - 13)
- Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15)
Please make sure to check out other sections of the September SUSD Source. There is important information in the Security update regarding the troubling trend of “deep fakes” that are circulating among middle school students. Our #KeepingItREAL campaign emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and verifying sources. As AI advances, it's crucial to stay alert to the misuse of technology that can harm students and staff. If you encounter a deep fake, please report it to Security or IT immediately, so it can be investigated by local law enforcement.
We appreciate everyone’s support in keeping our schools safe and our students focused.
Regards,
Scott