Park Forest, Schools

Stephanie Newman Healy Named Principal of Matteson District 162’s Arcadia Elementary


Patricia Ransfordt, Sephanie Newman HealY
Patricia Ransford, left, with newly-appointed principal Stephanie Newman Healy. (PHOTO SUPPLIED)

Succeeds Patricia Ransford Who Led Nationally Recognized School for 19 Years and Will Become Its Consulting Principal

Richton Park, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Stephanie Newman Healy has been appointed principal of Matteson District 162’s Blue Ribbon School, Arcadia Elementary in Olympia Fields, Illinois. In 2009, Arcadia was named as a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Office of Education in recognition of its ranking among the top 10 percent of schools in the state of Illinois.

Healy, assistant principal of Matteson District 162’s O.W. Huth Middle School since 2015, succeeds Patricia Ransford, who led the nationally recognized school, which enrolls 443 students Kindergarten through 3rd grade, for the past 19 years.

Ransford will continue as the Consulting Principal at Arcadia, according to Dr. Blondean Davis, superintendent of Matteson District 162.

“Stephanie Healy’s appointment as principal of the Arcadia Elementary School, together with Pat Ransford’s continued service, provides the faculty and students of this nationally recognized school with an excellent transition,” Davis said.

“Arcadia is an excellent example of a school that has bred success for its students because of dedicated and experienced leadership, consistent collaboration with parents and the community and a most creative learning environment,” Dr. Davis added.

Healy is an experienced educator who is well grounded in curriculum development, particularly in new technology, as well as leadership, staff development and mentoring, according to Dr. Davis. Healy joined Matteson District 162 in 2002 as a middle school teacher who taught students in the 5th through 8th grade. She served on the faculty of the District’s Illinois School in Park Forest as a teacher for gifted students in grades 3 through 6th from 2008 to 2015.

She earned a bachelor of science degree in elementary education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a master of science degree at Lewis University where she focused on curriculum, instruction and administration with a specialization in educational leadership.

“I know that the transition will be smooth for the Arcadia community as we continue to create a productive and successful work environment for all,” Healy said.

Cited by the U.S. Office of Education as a Blue Ribbon School in 2009 for “substantial improvement in student achievement and the high level of performance by its students,” Arcadia Elementary also earned a national “Dispelling the Myth” award from The Education Trust, Washington, D.C. in 2013. Arcadia was cited by the Trust for its “progress in moving all students toward high achievement in reading and math.”

The Illinois State Board of Education recognized Arcadia in 2007 with an Academic Improvement Award for Exemplary Gains in Performance on Illinois Learning Standards; a Spotlight School Award in 2012 for Exemplary Performance in Closing the Achievement Gap and Meeting High Standards and in the same year, an Excellence Award for Exemplary Academic Performance on the Illinois Learning Standards.

In 2011, when Arcadia earned accreditation, the North Central Association’s Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement team, a division of AdvanceEd, commended Arcadia School’s leadership team “for fostering a culture of participation and ownership.”

The North Central Association team cited parental volunteers who contribute an extraordinary number of service hours to Arcadia annually and 100 percent participation in parent/teacher conferences.

“With great enthusiasm and excitement, I look forward to releasing the continuation of Arcadia’s scholarship and leadership initiatives to Stephanie Healy,” said Ransford, who has led Arcadia for 19 years and will continue as the consulting principal. “I am thrilled to be able to continue working with the Arcadia Family.”


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