“Mrs. Valerie Mara is an administrator, teacher, and community builder who brings a wealth of academic training and hands-on experience from both the classroom and principals’ office,” says Archbishop Blair. “We are pleased to have her lead our schools, especially in these difficult times for all academic settings as COVID-19 offers many struggles.” 

Mrs. Mara is the author of the current curriculum utilized by the Archdiocese of Hartford as well as by many other U.S. Catholic Dioceses and internationally. “Her vision for Catholic schools, combined with her leadership experience, translates into the necessary intellect and skills to navigate our elementary and high schools in these turbulent times: from the pandemic to the changing student landscape—she provides the calm in the storm with the necessary skills to communicate the many benefits of a parochial education: one based on academic excellence, faith, and personal accountability to the common good to our teachers, students and parents,” said Father Michael Whyte, Vicar for the Archdiocese’s Office of Education, Evangelization and Catechesis. 

The Office of Education, Evangelization and Catechesis of the Archdiocese of Hartford invites, supports and accompanies parish and Catholic school leaders in their efforts to inspire educational excellence and transformative lifelong faith formation.