Marci Catlett, deputy superintendent for Fredericksburg City Public Schools, received the Patricia Lacey Metzger Distinguished Achievement Award at the UMW Leadership Colloquium on Thursday, Nov. 2.
“Her character, including her personal and professional integrity, are beyond reproach,” said Martha O’Keefe, dean of Workforce and Development for Germanna Community College, who presented Catlett with the award. “Throughout her professional career, she has been recognized as a leader with high integrity who never places her character nor that of her peers, or the community at risk. She will always err on the side of going beyond the call of duty in ensuring that integrity is never called into question.”
Catlett has been employed with the Fredericksburg school system for 36 years, serving in varied roles, including administrative assistant, director of instruction and assistant superintendent for instruction and personnel. In addition, she has served as an adjunct professor at UMW and Shenandoah University.
“She has dedicated her entire professional career to ensuring the highest achievement of children from all backgrounds and at every level,” O’Keefe said.
Active in the Fredericksburg community, Catlett has volunteered with numerous agencies, including the Fredericksburg Area Youth Development Foundation Sunshine Ballpark, the Fredericksburg region’s Boys & Girls Club, Fredericksburg Festival of the Arts, Fredericksburg Food Bank and the James Farmer Scholars program at University of Mary Washington.
Earlier this year, she was recognized with the Women Education Leaders in Virginia Spirit Award. She also has been honored with a 2015 excellence award by Women in Worship Ministries and an outstanding service award by the Fredericksburg Regional Boys & Girls Club.
Catlett has an Ed.D. in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Tech, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Virginia State University.
The colloquium, now in its 24th year, is an annual daylong event that fosters connections between professional women. Held at UMW’s Stafford campus, it hosted nearly 200 professional women and featured a series of workshops, as well as Emmy-winning actress Sally Struthers, who gave the keynote address.
Named for the late UMW professor who helped found the colloquium, the Metzger award is given each year to someone who upholds high personal and professional standards while achieving a significant career goal. The honor has been awarded annually since 1999.
