Our new Upper Learning Principal: Who is Ms. McCrary?
As students have returned to the Galloway School this fall for the 2022-2023 school year, there have been numerous noticeable changes while walking through the vibrant, bustling halls, a majority of which are in the faculty and administration. One such change in administration is one of everybody’s favorite teachers, Felicia McCrary, becoming the new Upper Learning Principal! The student body’s excitement for this change has been demonstrated at every Town Hall thus far with cheers erupting as soon as she takes the stage. This profile on Ms. McCrary includes an interview in order to learn more about her and her new position at Galloway.
Ms. McCrary may be new to her position as Upper Learning Principal, but she has been a beloved member of the Galloway community for twenty-five years, this year being her twenty-sixth. In previous years, she has worked as a social psychology teacher and as the director of strategic engagement, where she ensured Galloway was on track to meet the goals set for its 5 year vision. Regardless of her position, Ms. McCrary says she always wants to be able to interact with students, and she says a reason why she wanted to be principal was because she was already familiar to the students and wanted to see more of the overall picture of the school and its operations.
In the 2022-2023 school year, Ms. McCrary is especially excited for sitting in on classes, observing excursion, and organizing graduation, and in general, her favorite events that Galloway holds, specifically, the senior parade and the graduation ceremony. She recalled school years and talked about how it was sweet to “see kids walk through the halls for the last time.” Out of the three age levels at Galloway, Early Learning, Middle Learning, and Upper Learning, Ms. McCrary chose UL because she loves having conversations and seeing this age group go through their journey of growing up, including getting licenses and applying to college. Another favorite thing about working with these age groups is the “millions of opinions” that they have, and she loves getting to have natural conversations with the student body and get to know them.
So far, she cherishes being able to lead discussions about changes or suggestions she has and “ensuring that traditions go on” as principal. She loves talking to students and being able to connect and truly get to know their perspective, which is exactly why she enjoys working as an administrator. She says that she always has and still prioritizes looking through a “student lens,” and one of her goals as UL principal is to focus on building up the community aspect of the school. An event she enjoyed was calling students to the courtyard on the first day of school to welcome everyone back and organizing the Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.
When asked what she foresees being her biggest challenge as UL principal, she said that it would be learning all the operational aspects and behind-the-scenes of administration at Galloway, but she says already being familiar with the students and faculty is helpful. Her general advice to everybody is to “Behave yourself and try,” per the Galloway motto. She recommends the Class of 2023 slow down and appreciate all the memories because it can be difficult to leave in the spring.
Ms. McCrary has been an enthusiastic and hardworking member of the Galloway community, and her care for the student body has been exemplified throughout her many years here. Good luck to everybody in the upcoming school year, and to Ms. McCrary as well as the new principal of Upper Learning!
By Hasita Yalamanchili