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The Distinguished Educator Award, established in 1986, recognizes outstanding service, dedication and leadership to education. After graduating with a BS in Elementary Education in 1975, Duane Vicini began his teaching and coaching career with the Warren County School District. Vicini earned a Master’s of Education degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master’s of Educational Administration and Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility from Saint Bonaventure University.
His administrative career began as an assistant principal, and then principal, of Youngsville Middle/Senior High School. Vicini served as an internal facilitator of Strategic Planning (Cambridge Model), an NFICEP/ACEP Leader Level Certified Instructor, a MAC University Leader Level Instructor for computer scheduling and software applications, and was certified by the NASSP to serve within their Principals’ Assessment System and later served as the co-director of a satellite Assessment Center of Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
He was also selected and served on the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools Pennsylvania State Advisory Committee. He was elected and served as the President of the northwest chapter of the Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and was later awarded the Robert Flynn Memorial Award from this organization. He co-authored A Strategic Planning Guide for Pennsylvania Schools and has worked to help school districts develop their own strategic plans.
Vicini served as Assistant Superintendent of the Forest Area Schools district and was then named Superintendent, a position he currently holds. He has served two terms as CEO of the Venango Technology Center, is currently the Chairperson of the Forest/Warren Higher Education Council, and is the financial officer for the Court Appointed Special Advocates Board of Directors for Forest and Warren Counties.
Vicini serves on the Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools State Board of Directors. He has been a featured speaker at colleges, universities and civic organizations on topics such as school law, school finance, personnel practices, leadership, and current state and federal legislation that has or may impact public schools.
Vicini and his wife Donna Meier Vicini ’75, his college sweetheart, reside in Russell, PA. They have two children, Lisa and Craig.