Meet the Principal

Meet the Principal SR. ELAINE BEBYN, M.P.F. Q & A

When. did you first begin working at Villa Walsh Academy and what was your position? What were your first impressions of the Academy?

In November 2019, you were appointed interim principal and officially became principal in September 2020. What was the transition like for you? Did you experience any challenges?

It’s funny - the first time I actually came to Villa Walsh Academy, I was in high school in Connecticut and came to see a play. It was a pivotal time in my life, as I was discerning my vocation. That visit, obviously, made an impression. Many years later, I came to Villa Walsh Academy in July, 2010 as the Director of Formation. I was also asked to help with VWA’s Guidance Department and to assist Sr. Patricia Pompa, M.P.F., principal from 1991-2019, in her daily duties. Those roles led me to the assistant principal position and then to position as principal. Fellow Sisters often remarked about the academic excellence and encouraging learning environment of Villa Walsh Academy, and when I came here I found it to be just as wonderful as the stories I heard. When you became principal, you had to leave your other role as the Director of Formation for the Religious Teachers Filippini. How hard was it to leave that position and do you miss it?

Throughout my first year as principal, I was still in the Director of Formation role as well, but balancing the demands of both ministries was difficult. After eleven years, I was happy to make the transition out of Formation. I truly enjoyed serving the community in the capacity, and I do miss the people I worked with from other religious communities, but I am happy I can focus my time and energy on being principal.

In honor of St. Lucy Filippini’s 350th birthday, the theme for the 2022-2023 academic year is a quote attributed to St. Lucy, “What great work the Lord has entrusted to us women” . What are your plans to incorporate St. Lucy’s mission into the school year?

A joint effort of the faculty, staff,

and administration is put forth to incorporate St. Lucy’s mission to spread God’s love to every corner of the earth through faith and charity. There is a rumor that you are the greatest of all New York Yankee fans. Is that true, and how did you come to love baseball?

I’m not sure if I am the greatest New York Yankee fan, but I am certainly a loyal Yankee fan! Since I was old enough to run around and chase my brother outside, I have loved sports. He was a Yankee fan, so I became one also. I liked other sports, but baseball soon became my favorite.

As a school community, we study St. Lucy’s life, works, and her influence on the lives of women over the centuries. She leaves a legacy that we continue to keep alive as we guide young women to recognize the ways in which God works through them to positively impact their families, friends, community, and the world.

For many years as assistant principal, I worked closely with Sr. Patricia, M.P.F. and that experience made the transition to principal easier. The day-to-day running of the school was a smooth adjustment, but it was a greater adjustment to take on the leadership role and learn to make final decisions. The greatest challenge came five months into the new role when COVID hit. It is a continuous challenge, but together with a great faculty, parents, and students, we face the challenge well.

Sr. Elaine is VWA' s 6th principal!

What is your vision for the future of Villa Walsh Academy?

My vision for this school is that it is not just a high school, but a community of teachers, administrators, parents, and students who live out their faith through the use of their God given talents as they serve one another and their communities.

To accomplish this, we strive to educate the whole student: mind, body and spirit. We keep our fingers on the pulse of innovation to offer young ladies a learning environment that is technologically up-to-date while keeping our daily interactions rooted in the values of respect, kindness, honesty, and hard work.