New Jersey, Charleston, SC

Cathy Marino has devoted her career to education with a special focus on Early Childhood Development ( founder and director of the first Infant Toddler Child Care Program in the state of N.J. ) and Special Education. She has spent over 34 years as an educator, teaching Pre-School, Kindergarten through 5th grade, and as Principal of an Elementary School with children from 34 countries speaking 54 languages. Mrs. Marino holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Russell Sage College, a Master’s degree Summa Cum Laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University and completed her graduate coursework in Special Education and Early Childhood Education at Harvard, Yale and Columbia Universities. Mrs. Marino is a published author, has served on the President’s National Advisory Council in Washington, DC, and received the Governor’s Award for Outstanding teachers in New Jersey. Supporting numerous causes in the Low Country, she serves on the College of Charleston’s School of Education Teacher-Leader Program, the School of The Arts Advisory Board and the Charleston Promise Neighborhood Board. She is Vice Chairman of Engaging Creative Minds, a Board member of The Gaillard Management Corporation, MUSC’s Heart & Vascular Center, Co-Founder of Arts, etc. and Co-Founder of The Children’s Center at Carolina Park. Many of her former Board positions include : The SC Aquarium Education Committee, Charleston Education network, Trident United Way, Life Management Center for ADD, ADHD Children & Families, Darkness To Light, Book Buddies, WINGS for Kids, and Florence Crittenton.