SUSAN J. LA DUE '70

Assistant Superintendent

Yonkers Public Schools

Sister Kathleen Flynn had a reputation for her gifts in working with and teaching children with disabilities. Susan La Due was determined to attend Mercy so she could work with Sister Flynn, and Sue's commitment to serving children with special needs has never wavered. Today, as Assistant Superintendent for Yonkers Public Schools, she oversees pupil support services and the Department of Special Education for the entire district. She reflects on her years at Mercy College as "memorable years, with good teachers... I loved learning there."

Sue completed her B.A. at Mercy College with a degree in Education and Special Education in 1970. She then went on to earn an M.S. in Learning Disabilities at the College of New Roch elle in 1975, and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration at Fordham University in 1982. A classroom teacher for nine years, she then worked on assignment for the Special Education Department for several years before moving into administration as Coordinator, and later Director, of Special Education for Yonkers Public Schools. Today, as Assistant Superinten dent, she supervises Student Support Programs, the Department of Special Education, and a broad range of staff including counselors, psychologists, social workers, nurses, health teach ers, and many others.

In addition to a host of professional memberships and completion of special training programs in her field, from Harvard symposiums to California workshops, Sue has served community based groups including an HIV/AIDS Community Task Force, Adolescent Pregnancy Preven tion Services, and the Healthy Yonkers Initiative.

Mercy classmate Mary Pistecchia Ghiozzi describes Sue as “a credit to Mercy College who has helped countless special education children in Yonkers... and she developed this expertise from the work she did at Mercy's Special Education Child Center.” Parents in the region clearly agree. The Exceptional Child P.T.A. of Yonkers surprised Sue with the Jenkins Award, a New York State P.T.A. Award, in March of 1985 in recognition of her significant efforts on behalf of children with disabilities. March 30, 1985, was proclaimed “Susan La Due Day" by the Mayor of Yonkers in support of this honor.