|
2005 O'Neil D'Amour Award
MaryBeth Mueller
Superintendent of Schools
Diocese of Phoenix
As superintendent of schools in the Diocese of Phoenix, MaryBeth Mueller oversees 22 preschool programs, 28 elementary schools, five high schools and one private high school with approximately 15,000 students.
During Ms. Mueller’s 13-year tenure as superintendent, the Diocese of Phoenix engaged in a capital campaign, “Today’s Children, Tomorrow’s Leaders,” which raised $33 million dollars for school renovation, expansion and construction. In the past 10 years, 6 new elementary schools and one new high school have opened. Under her leadership, the diocesan school board has developed and implemented 3 different strategic plans focusing on Catholic Identity, board effectiveness, and keeping Catholic education available and affordable. In order to facilitate local board effectiveness, bi-annual in-services are offered to the local school boards on a variety of topics. Additionally, diocesan school board members are responsible to keep in contact with 4 schools throughout the year to facilitate ongoing communication.
Ms. Mueller’s spirited collaboration with the superintendent of the Diocese of Tucson, Rosa Maria Ruiz, CFMM, recipient of last year’s award, has furthered board development statewide. Her dedication and willingness to invest time and effort in sharing her expertise through forums such as NABCCCE whenever called upon have enriched boards nationally.
She has worked in Catholic education for 32 years and has held positions of associate superintendent, director of curriculum and personnel, principal, assistant principal, and teacher of schools in Zion, Ill., and the Dioceses of Duluth, Minn., Sioux Falls, S.D., and Phoenix, Ariz.
Ms. Mueller holds a B.A. from the College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, Minn. She also has a Masters in Education from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and holds a Specialist Certificate in Educational Administration from the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Ms. Mueller is a member of NCEA, Chief Administrators for Catholic Education, and National Association of Boards, Commissions and Councils of Catholic Education (NABCCCE). She is a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), Chair of the State Committee of North Central Accrediting Association and a Commissioner of both the Elementary and Secondary Association for Western Catholic Education. She also serves on the United Blood Services Community Leadership Committee.
Past memberships have included the Schools Division Advisory Board and the Supervision, Personnel and Curriculum Division of CACE; United States Catholic Conference Federal Assistance Advisory Commission; Pre-school Screening Advisory Board of the Scottish Rite; Committee of Practitioners, Chapter I, State of Arizona; Valley Forge Freedom Foundation; and the Arizona State University Hispanic/Mother Daughter Advisory Board.
Ms. Mueller feels that her educational service is a true call to ministry. Her work is very challenging but rewarding. It is her belief that Catholic schools are an opportunity to prepare the youth of our church to be disciples of Christ.
MaryBeth Mueller was born and raised in Walhalla, N.D. She has been married to her husband Bill for 30 years and has 2 young adult children, Matt and Elizabeth.
MaryBeth Mueller received the award from Dr. Art DeCabooter, chair of NABCCCE’s Advisory Committee, and Dr. Regina Haney, executive director of NABCCCE, at the NCEA Convention in Philadelphia.
Back to O'Neil Awards Index
|
