Principal Coleman
Dear Heritage Families,
I am looking forward to serving you and all of the school families during this upcoming school year. This opportunity is an exciting one for me, as I will be moving to Peoria from the Chicago area in about a month. I can’t wait to meet all of you to learn more about you, and how we can work together for the benefit of our students. Here is a little more information about me and my service as an educator.
I served as Principal of St. Monica Academy on the northwest side of Chicago from 2003-2022. Prior to that, I worked as a middle school teacher in two schools, teaching Math and Social Studies. In July of 2022, I took on the role of Regional Director and High School Liaison where I am responsible for 23 elementary schools and working with 29 high schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago. I do come from a family of educators as my parents were both teachers.
I have two Master’s degrees. One of them is from Dominican University, River Forest, IL (2004) in Educational Administration and another from Roosevelt University, Chicago (2000) in Secondary Education. As an undergraduate, I received a Bachelor’s Degree from Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL.
I have learned to know that a positive school culture and strong teachers are most important in creating a successful school experience. In addition, the following ideas are important to me as an educator:
- Every child is capable of excellence.
- Students learn best when they feel connected and experience success.
- Parents are partners
- Teachers need to feel valued for classroom success.
- Active participation is essential for learning and developing positive self-esteem.
- Children can become problem solvers to promote social responsibility.
- The world is an ever-changing place, and learning is ongoing.
Family: My wife Anna and I have five children: Trey 24, Julia 22, Jason 20, Jack 18, & Jillian 17. I enjoy hiking, sports, and traveling. As a lifelong Cub fan, I am looking forward to going to some spring training games and hiking on the best Arizona trails.
Sincerely,
Ray Coleman
