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In this episode of "SUSD Spotlight," we are joined by Melinda Morrison Gulick, the Chief Executive Officer of First Things First – a partner and advocate for SUSD children. A proud SUSD legacy, Melinda brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to early childhood education and community development, especially here in Scottsdale. She shares her journey from her extensive background in nonprofit management and community service to leading Arizona’s early childhood agency. Listen in as we learn about Melinda’s story, the impact of early childhood programs, and her dedication to fostering a strong foundation for Arizona’s youngest learners and the impact on Arizona.

In this episode of "SUSD Spotlight," we take a deep dive into the career and contributions of Dr. Duane K. Sheldon, a former superintendent of Scottsdale Unified School District. Dr. Sheldon shares his insights on embracing school choice, building educational opportunities, and navigating challenges during his tenure. From his early days in Michigan to his impactful years in Scottsdale, Dr. Sheldon’s journey highlights his commitment to student-centered education and community engagement. Join us as we explore his experiences and the legacy he left behind.

In this inspiring episode of the "SUSD Spotlight" podcast, we dive into the extraordinary life of SUSD parent, Minda Dentler, a powerhouse of determination and inspiration. Minda, the first female wheelchair athlete to complete the Ironman World Championship, shares her incredible journey from an orphanage in India to the global stages of advocacy and athletics. SUSD is proud to have her as a parent and a role model within the community. Tune in to hear Minda discuss her trailblazing path, the impact of her children's book "The Girl Who Figured It Out," and her powerful message of perseverance that challenges us all to redefine identity beyond disability. Join hosts Dr. Menzel and Kristine Harrington for an unforgettable conversation with a woman who lives by example, showing what it means to overcome adversity and achieve the unimaginable.

Join us as we explore the groundbreaking initiatives led by Dr. Watt and her dedicated team, focused on aligning technology and education through strategic planning and pioneering partnerships including the newly launched Magic School AI-tool for students and staff.

Across the nation, National Board reviews the practice of accomplished teachers to evaluate whether they represent the values and standards of excellence in education. In SUSD, we have nearly 70 National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) across our 29 schools. On this episode of Spotlight, we sit down with NBCT Susan Leonard, an Ingleside Middle School educator and SUSD’S lead trainer for NBCT candidates. We dive into a fun conversation about education excellence and how teachers in 2024 can feel appreciated and recognized for their achievements. 

It was 13-year-old Nina Bhatia who emerged as the champion of the January 19 Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) Spelling Bee, spelling the word “indemnity” correctly.

Among the words she also had to spell were “megaron,” “coccidiosis” and “innards.” How did the Cocopah Middle School eighth grade student prepare for the 2024 Bee? “For the easier words, I usually just skimmed over them and made sure I practiced them,” said Bhatia.

“For the harder words, though, we had to kind of associate with the picture and also definitions. It took a really long time for the hard words,” she added.

Bhatia credited her mother with helping her study and shared that she doesn’t plan to change her approach for the Region II Spelling Bee that SUSD will host at Coronado High School on February 9. There, she will be joined by the district bee’s five runners-up:

• Gabriel Roxas, fifth grade, Hohokam Elementary School
• Dhruv Bansal, sixth grade, Desert Canyon Middle School
• Raquel Charlesworth, eighth grade, Mountainside Middle School
• Jak Boudi, fifth grade, Hopi Elementary School
• Promise Elhassan, fourth grade, Yavapai Elementary School

Bee winners from the Cave Creek, Deer Valley and Paradise Valley Unified School districts, as well as northeast Valley charter, private and homeschools, will also participate in the Region II Bee. The regional bee winner will head to the March 16 Arizona Spelling Bee at the Madison Center for the Arts in Phoenix. The state bee champion will be Arizona’s representative in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee which will be held May 26 – June 1 in National Harbor, Maryland. As for Bhatia, she reads more nonfiction than fiction these days. Her favorite fiction author is J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame. Her favorite Harry Potter character? Gryffindor’s Hermione Granger, but, she added, “I’m a Slytherin.”

A day earlier, SUSD conducted its second middle school Spanish Spelling Bee. Eighth graders swept the top three spots.

Echo Canyon School’s Adrián Fernando Alvarado Padilla out-spelled 16 other students, winning with the word “embarazoso.” Cocopah Middle School’s Matias Lagos Pucllas finished in second place; Ingleside Middle School’s Angel Gomez finished third.

In this episode of the "SUSD Spotlight" podcast, we spotlight the amazing early learning opportunities available within the Scottsdale Unified School District. Dr. Christine Bonow, Director of Early Learning & Community Education, and an esteemed SUSD alum, joins us to discuss the array of programs aimed at the youngest learners, from two-year-olds through pre-kindergarten, including gifted programs and the exciting Dual Language Immersion starting in preschool. Let’s have a conversation about nurturing the seeds of education from the earliest stages with a real product of the SUSD system.