Salt Lake City Public School Administrator Takes Helm of 175,000-Member Education Association
Assistant Superintendent Brings to ASCD Strong Background in Instructional Services, Working With At-Risk Students
Orlando, FL (03/16/09)—Linda Mariotti is the new president of ASCD, an educational leadership association dedicated to advancing best practices and policies for the success of each learner. Mariotti took office today, at the end of the closing general session of the ASCD 2009 Annual Conference and Exhibit Show in Orlando, Fla.
Mariotti is the assistant superintendent for Instructional Services in the Granite School District in Salt Lake City, Utah. She began her educational career teaching in California and Utah and has a strong background in working with both at-risk and gifted students. She also has experience as a secondary assistant principal, principal, and district curriculum director prior to her current assignment.
"Educators are charged with the monumental task of preparing our children to become successful in a complex, interconnected world. To become highly effective classroom instructors and administrators in our schools and districts, they need sustained, capacity-building professional development, which ASCD has long supported. It's an honor to lead an association of professionals so committed to the success of each learner."
Mariotti earned her bachelor's degree in English and French from the University of Utah and her master's degree in education from the College of Notre Dame. She also holds certifications in special education. She consulted for the Bay Area Writing Project, served as an instructor for the Utah Writing Project, and served on the Writers at Work Board. A governor's appointment to the Utah Board of Juvenile Justice and five years of volunteer teaching at the Juvenile Detention Center provided her additional opportunities to support students at risk.
Mariotti has been active in ASCD and its Utah affiliate, serving as UASCD president, chair of the Utah Teaching and Learning Coalition, and state conference chair. She joined ASCD's Board of Directors in 2003 as an elected representative from the Leadership Council and served for two years on both the Finance and Legislative Committees. She has also cochaired the ASCD Position Action Team and served on the Board Nominations Committee in 2004.
Mariotti replaces Valerie Truesdale, superintendent of the Beaufort County Schools, Beaufort, S.C., and now immediate past president of ASCD. Sara Magaña Shubel, superintendent of the East Grand Rapids Public School District, East Grand Rapids, Mich., is the president-elect.
New members of the ASCD Board of Directors elected to three-year terms from the general membership election are Nancy Gibson, superintendent of the O'Fallon Community Consolidated School District, District #90, O'Fallon, Ill.; and Donald Viegut, deputy superintendent, Wausau School District, Wausau, Wis.
Three members were elected to serve on the ASCD Board of Directors from the Leadership Council. They are Deana Lopez, superintendent of the Keller ISD, Keller, Tex.; Colin Cameron, executive director of the Oregon ASCD, McMinnville, Ore.; and Jane Cobia, former superintendent of the Sylacauga City Schools, Sylacauga, Ala.
ASCD members also elected six individuals to serve as members-at-large on the Leadership Council: Deborah Boyd, associate executive director, P–16 Initiatives, Tennessee Higher Education Commission, Nashville, Tenn.; Richard Call, secondary school director, Davis School District, Farmington, Utah; Laurel Eisinger, chief, curriculum and instruction branch, Department of Defense Dependents Schools – Europe, Wiesbaden, Germany; Anthony Frontier, director of instruction, Whitefish Bay School District, Whitefish Bay, Wis.; Michael Rettig, national consultant, professor emeritus (retired), James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.; Bhavna Sharma-Lewis, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, Addison School District 4, Addison, Ill.
Contact Information
Barbara Michelman, communications director, 1-703-575-5764 or bmichelman@ascd.org
Melissa McCabe, communications specialist, 1-703-575-5637 or mmccabe@ascd.org
Founded in 1943, ASCD is a nonprofit educational leadership association that develops programs, products, and services essential to the way educators learn, teach, and lead. We provide expert and innovative solutions in professional development, capacity building, and educational leadership. ASCD's membership comprises more than 175,000 principals, teachers, superintendents, professors of education, and other educators from 119 countries. Our association also has nearly 60 affiliates throughout the world.