In addition to defending his own comments that the “white identity” is problematic, Superintendent Scott Menzel is now engaged in what many see as intimidation of a mother who brought curriculum concerns to the attention of school staff and district leadership. A review of the lessons in question showed them to encourage 3rd graders to protest for social justice and climate change, and teaches that a “mother is a parent who identifies as female.”
“I can only assume that Scott Menzel allows this type of curriculum in our school because he agrees with it. Menzel took the time to snail-mail a letter to me telling me that I was not to discuss my opinions on social media, but did not address that SUSD teachers, his employees, attacked and berated me and my children in public forums,” stated the mother. “Siccing his attack dogs on me, while simultaneously trying to silence my voice speaks to SUSD’s intimidation and message control tactics.”
Throughout Menzel’s two-page letter, dated February 3, 2023, he never once acknowledged the actual issue: that Pebble Go is teaching 5–8-year-old children gender identity and left-leaning political concepts that have no place in any serious academic program.
Menzel did, however, admonish the mother for sending her husband to meet with the teacher in her place, not considering the circumstances that may have made that necessary. Menzel used it as a back-handed attack on the mother, in stunningly misogynistic fashion.
In what was described as deflection, Menzel’s letter included copies of one lesson that made positive statements about being an American citizen, as if this would absolve gender ideology and left-leaning political indoctrination in the curriculum.
“When an agent of the government, which Menzel is, attempts to stifle free speech, there is certainly a First Amendment violation. It’s ironic that he would justify objectionable lessons by highlighting one speaking positively about America, while threatening my rights under the US constitution,” the mother continued. “Parents are told ‘your opinion is wrong’ and to stand-down, while staff who intimidate are protected and celebrated. This is how Menzel treats his customers. This is why the district is losing students.”
Menzel also claimed that the mother has been invited to participate in a curriculum committee charged with reviewing Pebble Go. While the committee was launched in January 2023, on December 3, 2022, Associate Superintendent Karen Benson emailed the mother stating her and the district’s decision that Pebble Go is “instructionally appropriate.”
Sadly, Scott Menzel has a history of attacking parents who get in the way of his self-stated goals of “dismantling systems.” For example, when parent Jan Dubauskas raised concerns that her kindergartner came home from Copper Ridge Elementary School kids’ club confused because a female teacher led 5-year-olds to believe she was neither a boy nor a girl, and caused some children to become confused as to whether their own genders could change, Menzel leveraged the next board meeting to admonish Dubauskas’ actions. To parents, Menzel’s message was that the teacher had a right to have sexual conversations with children, even very young children.
“When Menzel defended a nonbinary teacher who illegally taught my Kindergartener gender identity, he proved that he puts woke ideology first, students last. The latest news is another nail in the coffin. Menzel continues to prove that he cannot be a Superintendent that is focused on academic success for all students, regardless of their race. Menzel must resign or be fired for SUSD to provide the education our kids deserve,” said Dubauskas.
Similarly, when parents raised concerns about SUSD’s use of GLSEN curriculum for its sexuality clubs due to anti-police, anti-white, and critical race theory rhetoric, Menzel again lashed out leveraging school-wide communications and a school board meeting to label the parents as bullies.
“When parents raise reasonable concerns about the sexual and political nature of some lessons being taught, Menzel uses the bully pulpit of the Superintendent to attack parents, using talk of SUSD core values as his cover,” says parent Jill Dunican. “Instead of hearing us and acknowledging the concerns, in some cases possible violation of Arizona law, Menzel solicits like-minded community leaders to come to his defense and attack on his behalf. He is a zealot of left-wing politics and pushes that ideology down to his staff and into classrooms.”
In response to Menzel’s gaslighting of parents and the community over issues of great importance to many, a group of parents have formed a grassroots organization with a mission of supporting academic integrity and exposing parents’ concerns. Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity’s website states that their mission includes advocating for curriculum transparency, defending parental rights, respecting the needs of all students while protecting the rights and safety of girls. The organization offered an open statement on the call for Menzel’s resignation or removal from his position. Like-minded parents are invited to join the organization in a stand for a return to traditional academics free from indoctrination.
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