About Mary
Mary’s 32 years of combined experience as a teacher leader, mentor, athletic coach and consultant provide a natural and sound foundation for her current work as a Leadership and Life Coach.
After teaching middle school students for 18 years, Mary consulted with school Districts across the United States and with American International Schools to develop developmentally responsive schools for young adolescents. Mary then worked with the Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools as the program director for Real Reading in the Middle, an integrated Language Arts/Social Studies literacy program for middle school students. She also served as a Leadership Coach for Michigan Schools in the Middle, guiding leadership teams and school leaders in their school improvement initiatives.
In 2004, Mary completed her coach training through Breakthrough Enterprises. In 2005, she earned her full certification as a life coach through the Institute for Life Coaching and since has earned her designation as a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coach Federation.
Sponsored by the Educational Service Center, Region 13, in Austin TX, Mary has provided Leadership Effectiveness coaching for school leaders ranging from teacher leaders to superintendents throughout the state of Texas. With Region 13’s support, she co-wrote and co-presented the highly effective and successful workshop entitled Powerful Strategies for Educational Leaders, a 3-day exploration of professional and personal development designed specifically for educators. She also co-designed and was a lead teacher for Coaching for Educational Leaders, an 11 month professional development opportunity for educators to learn the skills of coaching. In the field of education, Mary’s mission is to provide leaders with professional and personal coaching to assist them in creating organizations and schools where critical conversations and actions shape a culture of respect, learning, achievement, and personal success for all.
Mary has collaborated with her physician to work with individuals who live with diabetes, using the 12 Success Strategies from Falling Awake by Dave Ellis, to consider how we maintain and improve our health, live fully and joyfully, while we live with diabetes 24/7.
Mary is the founder of Superior Coaching Unlimited, providing leadership coaching to school leaders and life coaching to clients from all walks of life. She also provides coach mentoring to practicing coaches as they prepare for certification through the International Coach Federation. She lives in Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula near the shores of Lake Superior.
Words From Mary
What I love about the coaching relationship is the power it creates to unleash an individual’s insights, creativity and resolve. When a person realizes that the quality of their life, professionally or personally, is a direct result of the choices they make, AND they own that fact, their quality of life in all areas can be dramatically and permanently changed.
We all get in our own way of seeing “what is” and “what could be” from time to time. Or we can see from point A to point B, yet real or perceived obstacles keep us from beginning the journey. As your coach, I bring the skills, processes, and support to assist you in determining what it is you want. Then, together we figure out the best route for you to get there. As you take action, I support and celebrate with you along the way.
An executive or life coach provides the same service highly trained athletes have been receiving forever; a focused, skilled partner whose only agenda is their success and well-being. Someone who will hold them accountable to being the best they can be. That’s the gift I get to give to the world; partnering with people to live their best life for themselves and those they love and serve.
None of us rise to our highest levels of success and happiness in life by ourselves. I have had an amazing people-oriented career which has led me to this chapter, that of being a coach. My deep appreciation goes to many supporters and specifically to my husband, Pete, who believes I can do anything I can imagine. My parents, Eileen and Mark McKenna, who have been my biggest cheerleaders, Dave Ellis, my lead teacher in my coach training and a most generous human being, Bill Rentz, my first and masterful coach, Carolyn McKanders, my current coach and spiritual touchstone, David Manning and Lisa Lawrence, my dear friends, fellow-coaches, and collaborators who have enriched my life in countless way, as well as Dr. Eileen Reed who believed in and supported the three of us in bringing coaching to many educational leaders in the state of Texas. And last, but not least, all of my clients who have and continue to teach me through their courage, creativity and joy in their personal discoveries and successes.
