PRSD Appoints New Superintendent

(Gibsonia, PA) The Pine-Richland School District (PRSD) Board of Directors appointed a new superintendent at its meeting May 5, 2009.

The board appointed Dr. Mary Bucci, who is not new to PRSD. She began serving as the assistant superintendent/elementary May 1, 2007.

“I am honored and excited to serve Pine-Richland as the next superintendent of schools,” Dr. Bucci said. “My two years in the district have been the most invigorating and inspiring of my career. This is a special place – because of the special people who live, work, and learn here. We have a dynamic community with the hallmarks of excellence at every turn – excellence in the arts, in athletics, in academics and in our relationships.”

As an assistant superintendent, Dr. Bucci directed the K-6 academic program including all curriculum, instruction and assessments, professional development and the integration of technology.

Since her appointment at PRSD as assistant superintendent/elementary, Dr. Bucci has tackled several initiatives, which include:

• Adding enrichment and advanced reading for first through sixth grades
• Co-Chairing the World Language Task Force with Teacher CC Kelly (PRSD now has an after-school world language program for K-6)
• Overseeing standardized elementary handbooks
• Working with Special Education Director Paula Schmitt to provide researched–based reading interventions for struggling readers (Foundations & Spell Read)

She also taught a course in the Masters of Curriculum program during two summer sessions in 2007 and 2008 for Penn State University, Beaver Campus in Monaca, PA.

Prior to Pine-Richland, she served as assistant superintendent at New Brighton Area School District, where she was responsible for many areas including the K-12 academic program. There, she also served as director of curriculum and instruction.

She also served as coordinator of general studies at the Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh and was a curriculum specialist, staff development leader and teacher for the Rhema Christian School in Moon Township, PA. In addition, she served as a teacher in New Castle at Shenango Elementary School.

Dr. Bucci earned a Doctor of Education from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Arts in Education from Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA and a Master in Education and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Slippery Rock University.

Dr. Bucci and her husband Rick, who works for Hewlett Packard, will celebrate their 34 th wedding anniversary this month. They have three grown/adult children; Melissa is the General Manager for Ulta in Pittsburgh; Jeff works for Full Service Network in Downtown Pittsburgh; and Keren works for Lender Service International in Moon. All three live in the area.

Dr. Bucci will be filling the shoes of Dr. James C. Manley, who will retire in June of 2009, after serving PRSD for nine and a half years.

“It is my intention to preserve this culture of respect and achievement,” she said. “Dr. Manley, you have set the bar high. As a team, we will build upon the strong reputation that you, this board, and those who have served before us have worked so hard to establish.”