School Type
District
Grade Levels
K-8
Student Enrollment
300
Neighborhood
Center City
Education
Ed.D. Reading/Writing/Literacy, University of Pennsylvania
M.Ed. Reading/Writing/Literacy, University of Pennsylvania
Grad Cert., AdvancedEducational Leadership, West Chester University
Grad Cert., School Management & Leadership, Harvard University
Administrative Certification, Philadelphia Pathways to Leadership in Urban Schools (PhillyPLUS Turnaround)
Mary Libby
Principal, Chester A. Arthur School
School District of Philadelphia
2022 Neubauer Fellow
“I became a Neubauer Fellow to learn and collaborate with a network of committed educational leaders as we collectively strive to ensure more equitable learning opportunities for each student within and across Philadelphia Schools.”
Mary has served as the principal of Chester A. Arthur School since May of 2019. Under her leadership, Chester A. Arthur School student achievement has increased in all three District Board Goal Leading indicators. As measured by PSSA Proficiency, Chester A. Arthur has had an 8% increase in 3rd-8th grade students performing at/above benchmark in Reading, a 13% increase in K-3rd grade students performing at/above benchmark in Reading, and an 8% increase in 3rd-8th grade students performing at/above benchmark in Math.
In 2019, the Office of Educational Technology, Rob Wasserman, and The Fund granted the Chester A. Arthur School with the Technology Award which was accompanied by four fully stocked Chromebook Carts. In 2020, Chester A. Arthur School received the Office of Family and Community Engagement’s (FACE) Family-School Partnership Award to acknowledge the school’s family engagement efforts. In2021 WHYY awarded the Chester A. Arthur School with a WHYY Media Lab.
Mary has been an educator since 2005. Prior to becoming a principal, Mary served as a teacher department chair, school based instructional specialist, principal fellow, and professional learning specialist. Mary is on the Advisory Board for the University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education, Urban Teaching Residency Program. Mary grew up in the Portland, ME, area.