New Principal Jean Susko
1. What is your background? Are you new to the diocese?
I have 34 years of experience in education. This includes 14 years in administration as a principal/assistant principal on both the high school and middle school level, as well as 20 years of teaching middle and high school mathematics.
My career in education began as a middle school teacher, then a middle school assistant principal and principal of Catasauqua Middle School. I decided to return to teaching mathematics at Catasauqua High School when my daughter began attending kindergarten. I had been serving as the assistant principal since November 2014.
While I have never been employed by the Allentown Diocese prior to my appointment as a principal, my husband, David, and I are consumers in that it has always been important to us to send our daughter, Michaela. She is a senior at Marian and has participated in a Catholic education since preschool.
2. Why do you believe in Catholic education?
The two most important things in life are our family and our faith. Despite being a public school educator, my husband and I always believed in the importance of a Catholic education for our daughter.
Catholic school provides a quality education with the teaching of Jesus as the center. Students are able to openly live each day modeling Christ’s teachings.
3. What are some new exciting things going on in your school?
Marian has a rich history of heartfelt traditions. It will continue to offer an excellent academic program with the Catholic faith as its foundation. Mass is celebrated weekly. A diversity of academic level programs is offered to our students to meet their needs. All students and staff members of Marian, as well as those in our partner schools, are invited to participate in school-spirited activities.
4. What is your goal for your school?
My goal for Marian is to maintain the Catholic identity through our offering of a quality academic education with emphasis on spiritual, moral and social development of our students. I believe the Marian administration and staff should have a shared responsibility toward helping students set expectations for their achievement.
5. Do you have any upcoming events you would like to share?
National Honor Society Induction was conducted after Mass on Nov. 9. A Veterans Day Assembly will be Friday, Nov. 11. Unity Mass is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 16.
