Elizabeth Mariani learned the value of hard work and a Catholic education from her parents, who immigrated to the United States. This fall, she will share those values with the youth of the Diocese as the new principal of Sacred Heart School, Camden, a Catholic Partnership School.
“Growing up, my brother and I were instilled with the importance of education while also balancing family duties, such as helping with my father’s food truck,” Mariani recalled. “Witnessing their sacrifices and unwavering commitment to education left a lasting impression on me.”
An alumna of the Philadelphia High School for Girls, she attended the University of Pennsylvania’s College of Arts and Sciences, earning a bachelor of arts degree in psychology in 2012. She participated in a multitude of diverse activities, including as a research assistant for the Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology, and volunteered with Community School Student Partnerships in West Philadelphia.
“During this time, I often reflected on how blessed I was to have the opportunity to be part of such an institution,” Mariani said, once again citing her parents’ admiration for hard work and love for Catholic education. “I then attended Saint Joseph’s University Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) Program as an opportunity to give back to urban Catholic schools while earning my master’s degree in middle years education [in 2014]. I haven’t looked back since then!”
Mariani’s career as a teacher began in the Vincentian Academy at DePaul Catholic School, Philadelphia, followed by her work as a junior high teacher, then lead teacher of Gloucester Catholic High School, Gloucester City. She holds a Pennsylvania State teaching certificate in middle years education (fourth to eighth grades) and a certificate in leadership development from the University of Pennsylvania’s Robert A. Fox Leadership Program.
Mariani and her husband, Daniel, are parents to their infant daughter, Sophia. The family are members of Saint Mary Parish, Gloucester City.
Mariani’s goals for the upcoming school year are to build upon the legacies of her predecessors at Sacred Heart, Father Michael Doyle and retiring Principal Janet Williams.
“I hope to continue in their footsteps and strengthen the school’s relationship with the local community,” she said. “I plan to work with community leaders and sponsors to invest in our children so that, in turn, they will grow to be lifelong learners and stewards within their own communities.”
Her message to prospective students and parents is that a Catholic education “places a strong emphasis on both academics and the teachings of Jesus Christ. Sacred Heart and the Catholic Partnership Schools aim to develop well-rounded individuals who are spiritually grounded, socially engaged and academically prepared,” she said.
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