By james art 
Dr. Lisa Hirsch, EdD. | Scottsdale
As a recently retired SUSD principal, I know firsthand that the Scottsdale Unified School District will only benefit from continuing the trajectory of success it has been on since the hiring of Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel.
Upon arrival, Dr. Menzel and his team navigated the COVID restrictions and wasted no time in creating a strategic plan, something Scottsdale lacked. The strategic plan led to COGNIA accreditation and the distinction of being globally recognized as a high performing area.
Just this week, Dr. Menzel was awarded the Arizona School Administrators National Superintendent of the Year Award. He will be the first to say that this award is possible because of the district’s entire leadership team and that the strategic plan is transparent and focused on student achievement, school safety and attracting and retaining the best teachers.
Stability and consistency keep SUSD moving forward and outperforming neighboring districts. Grades are up, and the schools’ unique programs, such as STEM, the arts and the International Baccalaureate program, are the best in the state and the country. Special education is also stabilized with consistent leadership. For two decades, stability and consistency have been sorely lacking in the field. Before Dr. Menzel, there were more than 10 superintendents in just 15 years.
We all know that SUSD needs stability and continuity. Why then would board candidates Beasley, Jacobs and Hassler make it clear that they intend to fire Dr. Menzel? Not only does it cost taxpayer dollars to buy out a contract and look for another superintendent, but it also wastes valuable learning time in a volatile environment.
I support Mike Sharkey, Donna Lewis and Matt Petinsky because the stability that Dr. Menzel brings to the breed is a success. These candidates will make decisions based on data, performance and facts, not politics or personal goals. I congratulate Dr. Menzel and the SUSD team on their stellar performance.
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