Her Story
About Sue
Dr. Sue Mariani is a distinguished educational leader who serves as Superintendent of the Duquesne City School District, a position she has held for nearly eight and a half years. Over the course of her 29-year career in education, she has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to expanding opportunities for students and strengthening the communities schools serve. When Dr. Mariani assumed leadership of the district, it served students only through sixth grade following the removal of the high school due to financial challenges. Under her leadership, the district has restored middle school grades, and she continues to advocate for the eventual return of high school education to the community.
A passionate advocate for educational equity and student opportunity, Dr. Mariani has secured more than $16 million in grants to support innovative programming and expand opportunities for students in the high-poverty community. She has developed electives, clubs, and learning experiences centered on student voice and choice while cultivating partnerships with organizations including the League of Innovative Schools, Digital Promise, Verizon Innovative Learning Schools, Carnegie Library, Pittsburgh Area Community Schools, Vision Girls Club, STEM Coding Lab, the Jefferson Foundation, the Grable Foundation, Remake Learning, the Consortium for Public Education, PIT, the Just Discipline Project, Aubberly, and the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. Through these initiatives, she has helped create a more innovative, engaging, and student-centered educational environment.
Dr. Mariani is a graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh and serves on the ASHIC Board as well as a local special education task force. She attributes her success to her unwavering commitment to ensuring that students in Duquesne have access to the same opportunities as their peers in other districts, often finding creative and innovative ways to leverage grant funding and community partnerships to make that vision a reality. Her leadership reflects a deep belief in equity, collaboration, innovation, and the transformative power of education. To young women entering the field of education, she encourages them to follow their hearts, pursue work that is meaningful to them, and remain true to their purpose—principles that have guided her throughout her distinguished career.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sue
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my students. They inspire me every day to ensure they have access to the same opportunities as their peers in other school districts, regardless of financial limitations. Because our budget does not always allow for the programs and resources I envision, I have learned to be creative and proactive, particularly through grant writing and building strategic partnerships that create new opportunities for our students. They motivate me to continually become a better leader and advocate, and I am driven by the knowledge that many of these opportunities may not exist for them unless I take the initiative to create them.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering education is to follow your heart and remain open to where your passion and purpose lead you. When I began my career 29 years ago, I never imagined that I would one day be serving as a superintendent, but each step of my journey grew from my desire to create greater opportunities for children. I began by asking how I could make a difference beyond my classroom, then pursued school leadership, and eventually expanded my vision to serving an entire district. By continuing to follow my heart and do what I believe is right for students, I have grown into each new opportunity along the way. The journey is not always easy, but it has been incredibly rewarding, and I encourage young women to pursue work they genuinely love and allow their passion to guide their careers.
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