Ever since taking on her role as principal seven years ago, Sharon Leamy has been a transformative leader at St. Catherine-St. Lucy School at the intersection of Austin and Oak Park.
During her time as principal of the Catholic elementary school, Leamy has driven growth in enrollment, strengthened academics, and secured essential funding to enhance the school’s programs and facilities. On May 6, the Big Shoulders Fund honored Leamy’s dedicated service and achievements by presenting her with the Gretchen A. Ludwig Outstanding Principal Award. Each year, the Big Shoulders Fund presents the $2,500 award to an exceptional school leader who embodies excellence, integrity and commitment to providing children with a path to success.
“It was very unexpected and a really nice surprise,” said Leamy. “Big Shoulders supports schools like ours — schools that serve an under-resourced population —and we would never be able to make it without their help and support.”
Located at the intersection of Washington and Austin boulevards, St. Catherine-St. Lucy School serves students from 10 zip codes, with 85% of its 227 students coming from the Austin neighborhood.
By this fall, the school will also be the rare Catholic school operating without a partnering church parish. The Catholic Archdiocese announced this spring that the church will close before the end of June.
In 2020, the Big Shoulders Fund, a nonprofit that works to ensure under-resourced areas have access to quality, values-based education, took over about 30 Catholic schools, including St. Catherine-St. Lucy.
According to Rebecca Lindsay-Ryan, chief schools officer for the Big Shoulders Fund, enrollment at St. Catherine-St. Lucy rose from 159 students in 2019 to 231 in 2024, making it the fastest-growing school in the Big Shoulders Fund Plus network.
Lindsay-Ryan said Leamy is a fierce advocate for her school, working tirelessly to secure meaningful community partnerships that benefit her students and their families.
“Sharon’s dedication to data-driven decision-making, teacher development, and fostering a collaborative school culture is paying off, and it is evident in the ongoing success of her students,” Lindsay-Ryan said.
After working for many years in the business sector, Leamy went back to school to get her teaching certificate. She began her teaching career at St. Catherine-St. Lucy in 2006 as a junior high teacher before eventually transitioning into her current position as principal during the 2017-2018 school year.
“This is a beautiful place and I love it very much,” Leamy said. “It’s certainly not perfect. We have our share of challenges, but it’s a really wonderful place.”
According to Leamy, students at St. Catherine-St. Lucy take the i-Ready test, an assessment that is used in the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic schools to monitor student progress.
“Our scores have gone up every year, which is a testament to our teachers,” Leamy said. “I’ve been proud of our academic growth. Both the kids and the teachers have worked really hard.”
Even though her days are packed with tasks, Leamy treasures the time she spends greeting students each morning as they arrive at school.
“One of my favorite things is going out with some of the teachers every morning to welcome the kids,” she said. “It’s a great way to start the day.”
Leamy said that in addition to teachers and staff, volunteers also play a crucial role at St. Catherine-St. Lucy.
“We have so many people from the community who volunteer here,” Leamy said. “We are so blessed to have all these people helping us help our kids.”
In October, St. Catherine-St. Lucy School announced the appointment of its first president, Staunton Peck. As president, Peck oversees the school’s business operations and community partnerships, with a special focus on fundraising initiatives. In his role, Peck works closely with the school administration, the Big Shoulders Fund, the archdiocese and the local community.
“I was brought on as president to handle all outward facing relationships, primarily donor relationships and volunteer relationships,” Peck said.
According to Peck, the school — which offers a range of scholarship opportunities and financial aid options — operates at a deficit.
“For students, our cost to educate is about $6,000 more than the average family can pay,” he said. “Our most acute need is filling that gap.”
Peck said one of the reasons he joined the team at St. Catherine-St. Lucy is because he was drawn to Leamy’s vision and the sense of belonging that she cultivates for everyone at the school.
“She’s incredibly humble, which is part of what makes her a great teammate and a great leader,” Peck said. “She’s the heart of the school.”