News Detail
Nov. 1: Penny Townsend Day in Miami
Head of School Penny Townsend knew she would be recognized as a trailblazer in her field by Babson College and the Women Honors Committee during the second-annual “Women Honoring Women” awards event on Nov. 1.
But she had no idea when Miami Commissioner Ken Russell stepped to the dais near the end of the evening that he was about to declare the day “Stephanie ‘Penny’ Townsend Day” in the City of Miami.
Yet that is what he did, presenting a proclamation from the office of Mayor Francis Suarez that named Nov. 1, 2018, in honor of Townsend for helping to “pave the way for other women to scale in the educational field.”
“I am very humbled to have such excellent female leadership around me,” said Russell, who also presented proclamations in honor of Sandra Bridgeman and Iris Escarra, who were honored along with Townsend. “I am very encouraged by what I see before me today.”
Earlier in the evening, Townsend received a diamond-encrusted crystal award from Babson College and the Women Honors Committee, which recognizes prominent women in Miami who have opened doors for others with their professional achievements, contributions to women’s progress and community service.
Head of the Middle School Rachel Rodriguez introduced Townsend, calling her “a visionary leader who is deeply empathetic and sensitive to the world beyond our campus borders.” Joy Vickers, a member of the committee, presented the award. A number of Ransom Everglades faculty, staff and administration attended.
“I’m very grateful for the mentors I’ve had in my life,” Townsend said to the assembled crowd at Babson College’s Miami campus. “I’ve had male mentors and female mentors … [but] we need to stand together as women and bring up that next great generation of women leaders. It’s our sacred duty.”
Townsend arrived to Ransom Everglades in July 2014 from the Pennington School in New Jersey, where she was the first female head of school in the school's 167-year history. In her time at RE, she has presided over the largest capital campaign – REinventing Excellence – in the school's history while keeping her focus on RE's mission of sending out graduates who will leave the world better than they find it.
Townsend was joined as an honoree by Bridgeman, who has served as Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer for the City of Miami since April, and Escarra, the Co-Chair of the Miami Land Development and Zoning Practice at Greenberg Traurig.
“Look at all of us,” Bridgeman said. “The thing we have in common, it’s our enthusiasm, our passion … We are really passionate about what we do.”
Middle School
2045 South Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove, FL 33133Phone: 305 250 6850
Upper School
3575 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, FL 33133Phone: 305 460 8800
Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove, Florida. Ransom Everglades School produces graduates who "believe that they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it." The school provides rigorous college preparation that promotes the student's sense of identity, community, personal integrity and values for a productive and satisfying life, and prepares the student to lead and to contribute to society.