Always looking to the future, Dr. Scott Menzel’s approach to education is student-centric and rooted in equity and opportunity for all. Having delivered 18 years of leadership and excellence to school districts within the state of Michigan, Dr. Menzel became Scottsdale Unified School District’s 27th superintendent on July 1, 2020.

Dr. Menzel also initiated a future-focused, strategic planning process that will help 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 ensures Scottsdale Unified remains focused on the success of its 22,000 students today and in the world tomorrow. Driving Dr. Menzel’s work is the moral imperative to provide equitable and inclusive opportunities for all students, working collaboratively with parents to meet their students’ needs, and with local, state, and national partners.

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 The American University in Washington, D.C., and a bachelor’s Degree in Religion from Vanguard University of Southern California.

He has been married to his wife, Tammy, for 30 years. They have two grown daughters.