President of Oakland Catholic High School to Step Down at End of School Year

Pittsburgh, PA, November 22, 2022 – Oakland Catholic High School President Mary Claire Kasunic has announced her decision to step down from her position on June 30, 2023.  She has served Oakland Catholic High School for over 30 years, with the last nine years as the school’s President.

“It has been one of my greatest privileges to work alongside some of the most dedicated and exceptional educators, colleagues, and board directors, in support of a community of students, parents, and alumnae who are equally talented and devoted to the mission of Oakland Catholic High School,” Kasunic said. 

The move will allow her to pursue new opportunities, and respond to a calling to do something different for the last leg of her working career.  Kasunic believes that it is the right moment for both her and Oakland Catholic to start a new era. 

During her time at Oakland Catholic, the school has evolved through several initiatives that Kasunic designed, spearheaded, and/or facilitated, including the Joan of Arc Society of Scholars, the 1:1 laptop program, the Global Competence Initiative certificate program, the establishment of the Student Ambassador program and Eagle for a Day admissions event, the construction of the John McGonigle Innovation Lab, the addition of stained glass windows in the Chapel, and the expansion of mission and service trips, travel opportunities for students and teachers. 

Bishop David Zubik has expressed his gratitude to Kasunic for her many years of service, saying, “Mary Claire’s passion for all-girls high school education has been evident in her dedication to Oakland Catholic.”

Secretary of Catholic Education and Evangelization Anna Bamonte Torrance echoed those sentiments, saying, “Mary Claire has dedicated her life to Catholic education. Her leadership has been a source of inspiration to the Oakland Catholic community, its students, families, alumnae, faculty and staff.” 
 
Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Michelle Peduto, expressed her appreciation, saying, “We are so grateful for the unwavering dedication that Mary Claire Kasunic has shown both Oakland Catholic and the Diocese of Pittsburgh.  Mary Claire’s love of her school and community and incredible leadership are unsurpassed.  May God bless her as she moves onto the next adventure. She will be sorely missed.”

Kasunic is committed to fulfilling all her responsibilities for the remainder of the school year and assisting the Oakland Catholic High School Board of Directors and the Diocese of Pittsburgh with the transition of leadership. 

She will continue to help to establish a strategic vision and clear roadmap of new endeavors and initiatives that will carry Oakland Catholic forward in its legacy of excellence.

Oakland Catholic School Board Chair Kelly McDonnell noted that Kasunic has worked tirelessly for the benefit of Oakland Catholic. 

A national search will be conducted for the school’s third president by the consulting firm Partners in Mission.  The objective is to install a new president by July 2023.