School Board Trustee Profile - Karen Marcucci
Give us a brief bio of your career.
What schools did you attend?
I grew up in Clinton, MS and attended public schools
from kindergarten until 11th grade. I attended the
Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science in
Columbus, MS for my junior and senior year. After
graduation, I attended Agnes Scott College in Decatur,
GA where I majored in chemistry. During the summer
before my junior year, I had the chance to do research
at Texas A&M University. It led me to pursue chemical
engineering, so I transferred to Texas A&M. I ended
up graduating with my B.S. in Chemical Engineering
and my B.A. in Chemistry. While working, I decided to
improve my business acumen and graduated from the
University of Texas at Arlington with my MBA.
What would be a perfect afternoon for you?
My first job out of college was with Schlumberger
performing wireline logging in West Texas working
on oil rigs. It was an adventure! After that, I moved
back to Mississippi and worked as a process engineer
in a chemical plant. When I got married, I moved
back to Texas and became a process engineer making
semiconductors and had the opportunity to become a
Six Sigma Black Belt and start my MBA. That led to a
career at Bell Helicopter in the purchasing department
where I worked until I had my twin daughters. After
starting a family and staying home a few years, I decided
to look for work a little closer to Mansfield and was
given an opportunity to work in communications at First
Methodist Mansfield where I am currently the director of
facilities and technology.
What makes you so passionate about MISD?
I am passionate about MISD because our district truly
works to inspire and educate students to be productive
citizens. Every student in our community deserves
the opportunity to succeed, and MISD provides that
opportunity. My high school experience has shown
me how a quality education can change the future.
My classmates from high school are doing research to
cure diseases, practicing law, starting new businesses
and changing the world in real ways. Many of us are
achieving things we never thought we could because of
the quality education we received. I am passionate about
MISD because MISD is passionate about the future!
A perfect afternoon begins with a walk or hike to
somewhere new, a meal at a fantastic restaurant, and ends
with reading a good book that turns into a nap.
Who was your role model as a kid?
I was fortunate to grow up with many great role models
at home, in my church and in the community; but if I had
to pick one, I would pick my grandmother. She was an
amazing lady that worked hard to get a nursing degree so
she could support herself and move off the farm. After
becoming a nurse, she went on an adventure and moved
to the Panama Canal Zone where she met my grandfather
and started her family. She was smart, beautiful,
resourceful and fun. I’ve always wanted to be like her
when I grew up!
The Marcuccis had a “perfect weekend” by
attending Austin’s Circuit of the Americas.
18 Mansfield School & Family