Gibbons, Ransom named to administrative roles at Badin

 

It’s a changing of the guard at Badin High School as two new administrators step into their roles at the Catholic high school in Hamilton.

Mrs. Patty Gibbons has been named Assistant Principal/Dean of Students and Ms. Sara Ransom will become the Assistant Principal/Dean of Academics, new Principal Patrick Keating has announced.

“Patty Gibbons and Sara Ransom are going to be outstanding additions to the Badin administration,” Keating said, pointing out that Gibbons will be the first female dean of students in the history of Badin High School, which opens its 57th school year on Wednesday, Aug. 17. “Patty brings an immense amount of experience to the table, and Sara has been preparing to become our academic dean since she began her graduate work two years ago.”

Gibbons, a 1994 Hamilton High School graduate, served as an assistant principal in the Hamilton City School District for 19 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Eastern Kentucky University and has a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Cincinnati.

Ransom, a Chicago native, also has a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from UC after doing her undergraduate work at the University of Dayton. She has been on Badin’s staff for three years in the Academic Support Program.

“I’m truly excited to be a part of the Badin community myself,” said Gibbons, whose daughter Ellie just graduated and will attend Ohio State University. Her son, Patrick, will be a junior. “It’s been a truly wonderful experience for my children and that has made me want to be a part of it.”

“I’m excited for the challenge,” Ransom said. “I have the same sense of community feeling at Badin that I had at the University of Dayton. We have fantastic teachers who are lifelong learners themselves. They are great to work with.”

Keating has been named principal after directing the academic program for the last three years. Brian Pendergest, who has been principal for the previous 12 years, moved into the post of president of the school in the new president/principal arrangement.

“The work that Patty Gibbons will do with our students and teachers will help Badin continue to grow and live out our mission. We’re excited to have someone of Patty’s caliber join our administration,” Keating said.

“Sara Ransom’s passion for helping students reach their fullest potential is effusive,” Keating added. “She will continue to work with all of our teachers in developing curriculum and ensuring that Badin students are prepared for their next steps in their academic and faith journeys.”

“I feel like this is where I’m meant to be,” Gibbons said. “I love the students; I love to try to make a difference. I want to help students see that mistakes aren’t going to define who they’re going to be.”

“My primary role is to support the teachers,” Ransom said. “That’s the best way to support our mission of helping our students to do their best.”

Badin is a co-ed Catholic school with an enrollment of some 640 students for the 2022-23 school year. Students are enrolled from nearly 50 junior high schools and 30 zip codes.