marykiscoan

“The best part of Marian–which is hard to put into words–are its intangibles.” To Marian’s new principal, Mrs. Susie Sullivan, the school’s “intangibles” include the spirit in the halls, the unique confidence in each Marian girl, and the camaraderie of the community that is so clearly evident throughout Marian.

Considering the way Sullivan speaks about the school, it is no surprise that she is an alumna, for she is all too familiar with the spirit of Marian. A young Susie Spethman journeyed her way through her Marian Field Days as a Freshman Flea (4th place), a Sophomore Squaw (4th place), a Junior Genius (1st place), and a Senior Wrangler (3rd place).

As Sullivan walked through the halls as a student in the late 70s, she never imagined being principal of Marian someday. She had actually stated on her college transcript that she wished to be a social studies teacher when she grew up. Sullivan then went on to attend Carroll College in Montana, where she graduated with history and English majors.

After marrying and raising three boys, Sullivan began teaching and earned her Master’s degree. She began to consider finding a job as a principal, but concluded that Marian was the only school that she stood by 100 percent.

“I have absolutely nothing against other high schools, but there is no other high school–other than Marian–that I can truly sell,” she said.  As soon as the job opened up, the rest was fate.

Now, Sullivan walks through the halls inspiring young women to be the confident, independent, thinking leaders that Marian aims to form.