St. Catherine-St. Lucy Catholic School’s new principal is a familiar face.
Asst. Principal Kelly Archambault will officially take that position July 1, replacing the retiring Sharon Leamy.
“I’m beyond grateful and I have big shoes to fill, but she has been the most gracious and intelligent and effective leader I’ve ever worked for and worked under,” Archambault said of Leamy. “She’ll be doing some coaching for me, even though she’s retired.”
That’s not all. Archambault said the personnel that she knows very well from serving as assistant principal the past two school years at St. Catherine-St. Lucy will be a big help as well.
“There is a faculty and staff that has been here and is coming into this new transition with me,” she said. “Even though it’s a new journey and it’s exciting, with some nerves, you’re in a much more comfortable position when you know and trust your staff.”
According to a press release, Archambault joined St. Catherine-St. Lucy through the Big Shoulders Fund Schreiber Assistant Principal Residency program after five years at St. Gabriel School in Chicago and many years as an AP English teacher at Foreman High School.
Archambault “possesses the perfect blend of curriculum expertise and the ability to challenge and support our faculty academically, all while faithfully greeting every student with open arms each morning,” said St. Catherine-St. Lucy president Staunton Peck.
Archambault, who is a member of St. Giles Parish, said her time as assistant principal at St. Catherine-St. Lucy helped her understand how crucial a role Leamy has, and what her approach has to be – a focus on value and relationship building.
“I think one of the biggest challenges for a Catholic school is continually getting out there in the community and advocating for your school, having a healthy enrollment and being able to show families that there are different models for your children,” Archambault said.
“Why are we different? What makes us different? When it is a tuition-based school, you have to show people that, Here we are and these are the good things we’re doing and it is a viable option for any family.”