Because Kids Need Us to Reclaim the Narrative with Dr. Scott Menzel

An Imperfect Leader

INTRO: When I was a superintendent, we created a geometry and construction class. Kids would take geometry on A days and then apply those principles to building a tiny home on B days. And I loved asking a student who was out there working on the home in the dead of winter why it was important to be out there working when it was so cold outside. “Today, I’m cold. Tomorrow, someone will have this home and will no longer be cold.” I loved that response. Our kids were learning, geometry, home building, empathy, and compassion. We had another class where on A days kids learned algebra and on B days, they applied their learning to a small business, a t-shirt company, they were operating. Finding ways to build relevance and entrepreneurial opportunities. These weren’t my ideas. I just was smart enough to support the educators who came to me and pitched these classes. My guest today reminded me of the importance of reclaiming the narrative about public schools - how innovative they really are and how they support opportunities previously unheard of in traditional schools (an entrepreneurial hub for students, internships, real world experiences, early college for juniors and seniors to graduate high school with an Associate Degree, debt free). Please welcome Dr. Scott Menzel.

In Part 1, we talk about creating opportunities for kids and the importance of reclaiming the narrative when it comes to public education. Scott’s rallying cry is a simple one: Because Kids. He believes the misinformation and disinformation must be confronted because otherwise false narratives take root. In our conversation, I give the example of a State Representative in Missouri who continues to claim that children are allowed to identify as cats and use litter boxes at school. Scott responds with a strategy for leaders on how to reclaim the narrative.

In Part 2, Scott talks about a technology initiative, a three-year pilot, using VR technology to improve middle school and high school math achievement. He describes the difficult decision to pull the plug on the initiative and what he learned from that.

BIO: Scottsdale Unified School District welcomed Dr. Scott A. Menzel as Superintendent on July 1, 2020. Always looking to the future, Dr. Menzel’s approach to education is student-centered with a relentless commitment to excellence and opportunity for all. Having provided 18 years of leadership to school districts within the state of Michigan, Dr. Menzel became Scottsdale Unified School District’s 27th superintendent on July 1, 2020. In 2023, he was named Superintendent of the Year by Save Our Schools Arizona and in 2024 received ERDI's Resilient Leader Award.

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Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by Ian Varley.

Sam Falbo created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly.

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My book, An Imperfect Leader: Leadership in (After) Action is available at Amazon.com or peterstiepleman.com.