Kingswood Academy Hires Dr. Madonna Murphy as New Principal

The Board of Directors of Kingswood Academy in Darien is pleased to announce that Dr. Madonna Murphy will be the school’s new principal for the upcoming academic year. Kingswood Academy is an independent school serving PreK-3 through 8th grade whose mission is to aid parents in fulfilling their role as the primary educators of their children by providing an environment of academic excellence and good character formation.

Dr. Murphy holds a Ph.D. from Loyola University, Chicago; two master’s degrees, one in education and one in theology; and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. She is currently a professor at the University of St. Francis, teaching a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in Education, and will continue to work there while working at Kingswood part-time. She has also worked at Aurora University and Lexington College in various administrative positions. Before working at the college and university levels, Dr Murphy also taught at the high school and elementary levels at The Willows Academy in Des Plaines, IL, and at various Chicago public schools

Dr Murphy has written three books on character education and has served as an editor for almost 40 different children's books on character education. She has presented at numerous educational conferences throughout the world and is a well-known expert on developing character-educational programs at schools. Currently, she is the State of Illinois Coordinator for the Schools of Character Program as well as a Catechetical Certification Instructor for both the Archdiocese of Chicago and Diocese of Joliet.

Lilliam Civantos, one of the founders of Kingswood Academy, is thrilled with Dr. Murphy’s new position: “Early on, as we were getting Kingswood Academy off the ground, she was instrumental in assisting us with the development and implementation of a classical educational curriculum, a solid Character Development program, and a strong religious education program.  We are seeing the results exemplified in Kingswood alums, who are outstanding leaders in their professions, and who are not afraid of espousing the truth eloquently regarding issues deemed as controversial in today's society.  I am further convinced that the programs which she helped us to develop and implement 16 years ago, and which are still in effect, have yielded great fruit as manifested in the men and woman of character and deep convictions who have gone through the program.”