June Spotlight: Every Woman of Action Makes a Difference!
This month we’re excited to highlight Jill Dunican, a true Woman of Action who fights not only for her own family but for all families in her community. She and her team are the eyes and ears on Scottsdale Unified School District. When she sees false and damaging materials and policies affecting kids and parents, she’s informing everyone in her newsletters. It’s frankly shocking to learn what gets pushed into schools without parents’ knowledge! That’s why we’re grateful for Jill, and we need MORE parents like her in every school district. Contact us to learn how you can help.
Why did you start Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity?
Scottsdale Unites is a grassroots group for parents, educators, and community members focused on academic excellence. The organization works to highlight critical issues that often go unaddressed by local media and other district-affiliated groups. We also realize that it can be overwhelming for parents to navigate a large school district, and to that end, we provide helpful resources at www.ScottsdaleUnites.com.
A concerning statistic underscores the need for action: barely half of Scottsdale Unified School District’s graduating seniors demonstrate proficiency in reading, math, and science. Parents deserve full transparency regarding the quality of education their children receive. With a 50/50 chance of leaving school without essential academic skills, families must be informed about the educational standards shaping their children’s future.
What is Scottsdale Unites’ goal or mission? What are some current issues are you working on or have recently worked on?
Scottsdale Unites is committed to advocating for accountability and meaningful improvements within the district to ensure students receive a robust, high-quality education.
One example, just weeks after Superintendent Menzel signed the U.S. Department of Education’s “No DEI” pledge, governing board members Mike Sharkey, Donna Lewis, and Matt Pittinsky voted to allocate $674,000 toward social sciences curriculum packed with DEI-driven content, including anti-law enforcement and anti-American themes disguised as education. In response to concerned parents and community members who spoke before and after the vote, the Arizona Department of Education has launched an investigation into the district for potential Title VI violations.
You’ve accomplished a lot to help SUSD families, what success/successes are you most proud of?
We feel that our successes stem from the shared goals of our members to bring common sense back to the district.
A great example that we are very proud of is our successful efforts to remove vulgar and educationally inappropriate books from SUSD libraries. Imagine books sitting on shelves available to children for years, that even SUSD ultimately agreed were too vulgar and inappropriate to be there. Our team systematically identified offending books, assessed their potential harm to children, highlighted relevant laws and policies, and provided specific examples of inappropriate content. When the district convened a committee to evaluate the flagged material, they ultimately concurred with our assessment and removed the books. That was a big win for our kids.
Another success was the American Pride Library initiative. Our community came together to raise funds for the placement of pro-American books in all 29 SUSD libraries. We commend the governing board for their unanimous 5-0 vote approving the donation and empowering our kids with material that highlights the good that the United States has brought to the world.
One of the immediate impact initiatives that warms the heart, was our clothing and food drive to fill Coronado High School’s “The Closet” program. This great program, led by former Coronado principal Amy Palatucci, provides essential supplies to low-income and struggling students and their families within our community. We are so proud of the generous contributions from Scottsdale Unites members that lead to carloads of clothing and food to help those in need.
What is the best way for parents and the community to have an impact on their schools/school district?
Parents play a vital role in ensuring their children receive a strong education. To stay engaged, families should:
Define the type of education they want for their kids.
Join curriculum committees, attend school events, review classroom materials, and connect with teachers.
Follow organizations like Scottsdale Unites to stay informed without a heavy time commitment.
When the district’s decisions do not align with parental expectations, speaking up is essential - email govbrd@SUSD.org, attend board meetings, and engage with like-minded parents.
Active involvement helps shape the district’s priorities and ensures students receive the education they deserve.
What are some problems/issues that parents need to look out for in their schools?
Scottsdale Unified School District faces several pressing concerns, including declining enrollment and curriculum quality and the concerning implementation of equity programs that prioritize certain student groups over others based on immutable characteristics. Additionally, some district-approved clubs encourage students to engage in discussions on sensitive topics like sexuality and political activism (always in one direction)—often without parental awareness or consent.
Parents must remain vigilant about activism and ideological content presented as neutral curriculum. SUSD teaches gender identity as a choice and stocks school libraries—including those for young children—with books discussing sexuality and gender identity. To ensure education aligns with family values, parents must actively review classroom materials, monitor district policies, and advocate for transparency in curriculum decisions. Staying informed and engaged is key to preserving a balanced and academically strong learning environment.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since starting Scottsdale Unites.
The governing board plays a crucial role in shaping the vision and direction of a school district, yet many parents and voters overlook the significance of their choices during elections. Enrollment data shows that the current board is not meeting parents’ needs. Fewer than half of the district’s children enroll in Scottsdale’s public schools, as families vote with their feet and seek alternative education options that better meet their expectations.
Additionally, Scottsdale teachers report feeling unsupported by the current administration, citing restorative justice policies that fail to address students’ disruptive or even violent behavior. With little accountability, classrooms experience ongoing interruptions that hinder learning. To drive meaningful change, parents must remain engaged—know who you are voting for, attend board meetings, review policy decisions, and advocate for leadership that prioritizes both academic excellence and student safety.
How can others help Scottsdale Unites?
Sign up for our newsletter at www.ScottsdaleUnites.com/newsletter to stay informed about updates and developments that may not be prominently featured by the SUSD marketing team. We provide useful information about opportunities to get involved in issues that are relevant for your family. With well researched information you are armed to make your voice heard by emailing the board, speaking at school board meetings, sharing social media posts and rallying your friends and community members to support common sense change.
At times, the district appears to obscure important information – and that’s where Scottsdale Unites’ members step up. For example, without public discussion, SUSD quietly removed “navel” from the list of private body parts that students must cover under the dress code. As a result, students now attend school in bra tops that fully expose their midriffs—an oversight not seen in other large Arizona school districts. Involved parents discovered this change and are now speaking out, demanding accountability and stricter enforcement of dress code policies.
Many districts don’t have an active parent group like Scottsdale Unites, what advice do you have for them to get organized and gain members/interest from the community?
The members of Scottsdale Unites would be happy to partner with and support parents in other districts. An informed and active community is key to having schools that reflect our values. Contact us at Connect@ScottsdaleUnites.com.
Anything else you’d like to share with our subscribers?
Many parents hesitate to speak up, unsure if their voices will make a difference—but every voice matters! The governing board reads every email, and when parents remain on the sidelines, the teachers’ union drives the conversation by mobilizing members to flood the board with comments. Board members already inclined to support union and admin policies, use these astroturf-ed numbers to justify their left-leaning votes. When we show up in numbers with a simple email in support of common sense, we can take that argument away from them.
If we want to safeguard the quality of our children’s education, silence is simply not an option. Active engagement ensures that decisions reflect the values and priorities of families, not just special interest groups.
Jill Dunican is a Scottsdale mom of two Scottsdale Unified students, one who recently graduated. She juggles family and career with her advocacy through Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity.