North County Churches Uniting for Racial Harmony and Justice (NCCU) honored Mary Piper, retired assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, with an Outstanding Education Award.
Piper retired from the District in June.
“It’s a great way to end a career spent in a district that’s meant the world to me,” she said in a statement. “I think it means a lot to me because I was raised in North County. Most of my adult life has been spent here and it’s great to get an honor from a community that you were raised in.”
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Piper has more than 33 years of experience in education. She served as interim superintendent during the 2009-2010 school year. Before becoming associate superintendent in 2008, she spent two years as the assistant superintendent for curriculum and professional development. Prior to that, she served for five years as the principal at Lawson Elementary School.
According to NCCU, Dr. Piper has demonstrated her commitment to racial harmony and social justice for the students and community of the Hazelwood School District.
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Before coming to HSD, Piper served as a program coordinator, reading specialist and an English as a Second Language teacher in another school district. She also taught students diagnosed with learning disabilities and behavior disorders.
She earned her doctorate in educational administration and a master’s degree from Saint Louis University and she earned her bachelor’s degree from Fontbonne College. Dr. Piper completed the Turnaround Specialist program at the University of Virginia in 2011.
She is a member of the American Association of School Administrators, Association of Curriculum and Development and the National Staff Development Council.