Incoming Marion superintendent names longtime employee as her number two

Ocala-News | June 15, 2020

Mark Vianello, a 27-year-employee, was appointed Wednesday by Dr. Diane Gullett, the district’s first-ever appointed superintendent. She takes over on July 1, replacing the district’s last elected superintendent, Heidi Maier.

Vianello joined Marion County Public Schools in 1991 for two years, taught in Orange County for two years, then returned to Marion County in 1995. With his new position, Vianello is working with a transition task force to determine what school will look like next year.

Throughout his career, Vianello has served as a high school teacher and assistant principal, along with principal positions at East Marion Elementary and Marion Technical Institute. In 2010, he was named executive director of student services and continued there until 2017, when he became executive director on assignment over vocational programs, primarily leading Marion Technical Institute and Marion Technical College. In 2018, he was formally named executive director of vocational programs.

An Ocala native and Vanguard High School alumnus from 1987, Vianello holds a bachelor’s degree in special education from the University of Florida and a master’s in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

Vianello’s leadership of vocational programs garnered him a “2020 College Ready Florida Innovator” award last month. CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion also named him the Florida Workforce Partner of the Year. Last summer, Vianello shared the success of the district’s vocational programs at the prestigious Model Schools Conference of America.