Shapiro: Pat yourself on the back Scottsdale public education community

By Gary Shapiro | Point of View

Pat yourself on the back.

We live in a divided country, but Scottsdale is unified with its respect and appreciation for our public schools. Congratulations on electing “builders” versus “disruptors” to our school board.

We are the gold standard for communities and school systems. We’re not broken. We don’t need to be fixed.

We always need qualified and talented leaders to keep their eye on the ball and look for opportunities to improve what we do.

Over the past six decades I’ve been involved with SUSD, I’ve come to recognize some fundamental unchanged truths about our public schools in Scottsdale.

1. Our teachers are amazing. It’s a tough job and they sometimes are under appreciated. They care about their students, go the extra mile, and even spend money out of their pocket to ensure results.
2. Our mission is student driven to give each and every child the best possible education to prepare them for their future. Unlike other school choices, public schools can’t cherry pick who they enroll. There’s a mandate to take care of every student and personalize their instruction.
3. Our principals are awesome. If you thought being a teacher was tough, go shadow a principal for a day. They take ownership for their campus and are responsive to their students and stakeholders. As an example, one principal I know invited a particular student each week to meet and walk the campus. That extra level of attention ignited a spark in that child to excel.
4. Our Superintendent Scott Menzel and his leadership team are among the best in Arizona and America. If you take the time to attend a meet and greet with him, or go to a board meeting, you’ll walk away impressed.
5. There are programs in place to address specific needs of families. For example, if a parent doesn’t want their child to read a specific book, something else can be substituted and tailored to meet that need. That policy is transparent and dynamic; but it does not and should not allow one parent to dictate everyone else’s syllabus.
6. Communities are defined by their schools. Homes located in the best school systems command higher prices and are more desirable. Even homeowners without children know this cardinal rule and will strategically purchase and own something in those coveted areas. In Arizona, it happens to be within the attendance area of SUSD.
7. Everything in life is a teachable moment. What we say and do, how we vote, and what energies we devote send an unmistakable signal to our entire community, including children and grandchildren and it impacts future generations.
8. There is no limit on what we can accomplish as a community when we work together. If we all row the boat versus rock the boat, we’ll be astonished on what we can achieve. Rowing the boat also allows everyone to focus on outcomes versus wasting valuable energy putting out fires.
9. We just elected three outstanding citizens to serve our community on our governing board for the Scottsdale Unified School District. Donna Lewis, Matt Pittinsky, and Mike Sharkey are well qualified, experienced and credentialed, and up for the challenge. They’re dedicated to our students and will be excellent stewards and leaders.
10. The culture of our school district and our community is affected by the people who sit on the dais. The direction they take, the quality of their civil discourse, their preparation for meetings, and their skills and energies make all the difference. I predict we’ll see and will appreciate the difference Lewis, Pittinsky, and Sharkey will make after they take office.

Let’s do an experiment. Save this op-ed and let’s check in a year or two from now. If I were a betting man, I predict we’ll be on the winning side watching the future successes of SUSD.

Editor’s Note: Gary Shapiro is a community steward, lifetime member of the Scottsdale Charros and local Realtor.