Dr. Scott Neil was born in Washington, DC and raised in Miami, FL. As the second oldest among four brothers, he shouldered the responsibility of assisting his mother in raising his younger siblings following the untimely demise of his father on the morning of his twelfth birthday.

Scott faced academic challenges during his middle and high school years. His sole connection to school was through playing football. However, the lax academic expectations of the 1980s left Scott unprepared for college upon graduating from high school. Consequently, he had to take several remedial courses in college due to the lack of preparation and guidance he received during his high school education.

Driven to effect change for others, Scott made the decision to pursue a career in education to enhance the educational experience for children. With remarkable swiftness, he transitioned from being a teacher to assuming a leadership role at the young age of 28. During his inaugural year as a leader, Scott encountered his mentor, Dr. Joe Bondi, who played a key role in teaching him how to effectively shape school culture and employ data to foster collective efficacy within educational institutions. As a result, Scott successfully spearheaded the turnaround of five different schools.

Scott's career trajectory was poised to lead him to the position of superintendent. However, upon completing his doctorate, he felt a greater calling and decided to pursue a role with New Leaders, an organization dedicated to developing transformational leaders on a national scale. Through his tenure at New Leaders, Scott established an exceptional network of school leaders. This afforded him the opportunity to assist schools in navigating the College and Career Ready Standards and improving instructional practices, thereby better preparing students for college and careers in the 21st-century workforce. Presently, Scott is wholly dedicated to leaving a lasting legacy of educational improvement for schools and student learning through his work with the EduCompass teacher planning platform.