Hello

 Dr. Marie Bordeleau is a seasoned Catholic school leader, author, and coach with over two decades of experience guiding schools through both triumphs and trials. As principal of thriving Catholic schools in California, she has directed operations for communities of up to 500 students, increased fundraising by 25%, and built high-performing teams that reduced staff turnover by nearly a third.

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Marie earned her doctorate in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University, where her research focused on organizational sustainability. She also holds two master’s degrees in education and administration, grounding her leadership in both scholarship and lived experience.

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But Marie’s true credibility comes from the arena itself. As she shares in her book In the Arena: My Life as a Catholic School Principal, she knows firsthand the dust, sweat, and sacrifice of Catholic school leadership. Her coaching is not theoretical—it’s forged from years of navigating conflicting demands, building resilient school cultures, and leading with faith at the center.

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Outside of her professional life, Marie is a single mom raising her teenage son, with two lively dogs always at her side. She finds joy in reading, hiking the trails of Northern California, and embracing the simple moments of gratitude that sustain her.

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Through In the Arena Coaching, Marie now walks alongside Catholic school leaders, helping them stay rooted in mission, resilient in struggle, and joyful in their vocation.

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I have lived the reality of Catholic school leadership—the sleepless nights, the impossible decisions, the joy of watching students thrive, and the pain of feeling misunderstood. I know what it means to be in the arena.

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 I commit to standing in that arena with you. Not as someone who has all the answers, but as someone who knows the struggle, honors it, and believes deeply in the sacred work you do every single day.

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Together, we will ensure your schools not only survive but thrive—rooted in mission, strengthened by community, and sustained by faith.

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"It is not the critic who counts... The credit belongs to the [one] who is actually in the arena."

— Theodore Roosevelt