Dr. Sue Mariani

Dr. Sue Mariani is a dynamic, self-motivated educator with more than 23 years of experience in public education who always puts the needs of her students first. Since 2018, she has served as superintendent of schools at the Duquesne City School District. Prior to her service at Duquesne City, , Dr. Mariani was an elementary teacher for 10 years and a preschool program specialist for the Pennsylvania Department of Education, where she monitored preschools in a variety of settings. Dr. Mariani served as an assistant principal at the Steelton-Highspire School District, and later served the School District of the City of York in many capacities including assistant principal, principal, McKinney-Vento liaison and foster care point of contact. In addition to these duties, Dr. Mariani served as the district’s federal programs coordinator and was responsible for the equitable disbursement of more than $5 million in federal funds.

Dr. Mariani is a school turnaround leader who has been able to change the trajectory of Duquesne City School District since becoming the superintendent. She has been able to provide a path for returning students from charter and cyber charter schools, including the creation of the district’s own online learning academy. In addition, Dr. Mariani has successfully petitioned for the return of the community's 7th grade students who have been assigned to neighboring school districts since 2012. It is hoped that 8th grade students will also return in the 2022-2023 school year.

Dr. Mariani is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania and holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She earned both her principal’s certification and her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Gannon University. Dr. Mariani holds her Superintendent Letter of Eligibility from Shippensburg University and is a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania with her doctorate in Educational Administration and Leadership.

In February 2021, Dr. Mariani married her beloved husband, Mark. She also has one daughter, Kennedy, who is 6 years old.

The Superintendent of Schools has received an Annual Performance Evaluation for 2020-2021 and has earned an overall Performance Evaluation rating of "Distinguished.

As well as my goals:

1. The Superintendent will complete, by June 30, 2022, the course catalog for middle school students, complete the master schedule for PreK-8, register the district to participate in the PIAA/WPIAL, and continue to market the school district to bring back students from cyber charter and charter schools.

2. The Superintendent will begin working on a comprehensive plan for what learning will look like in the School District by 2025. In conjunction with AASA and the Grable Foundation, a draft of the comprehensive plan and/or outline will be provided by June 30, 2022.

3. The Superintendent will consult, engage, and strategize with the Health & Safety Committee (ESSER Advisory Committee) during the 2021-2022 school year to plan for the conservative use of ESSER II and ESSER III (ARP) funds in cooperation with the Business Manager and subject to the final approval of the Receiver.