McDowell County Schools superintendent shares appreciation for principals
Have you ever been to a restaurant that was well organized? You know the ones where you sit down, they take your drink order as they bring your menu, and the wait staff seems like superheroes, refilling your sweet tea almost before you set your glass down. The food arrives perfectly, there is plenty to eat, and it’s delicious. Then the bill comes, and you notice there’s a line outside the door.
Tracy Grit
You enjoyed your meal and your time with your company, and it almost seems like the wait staff can read your mind, staying one step ahead. Behind every restaurant that runs this smoothly is a tremendous amount of planning and logistics. Recipes must be consistent, staff must work together, and the best advertising is often the experience people have and the word of mouth that follows.
Running a restaurant and running a school share some surprising similarities. While our primary focus is education rather than food, both require a commitment to serving people well and making sure they have a positive experience.
Our principals set the tone for their schools. They balance day-to-day operations, check in with students, welcome parents, support teachers, review student data, handle difficult situations, and make sure the many moving parts of a school work together. And, like a restaurant manager who steps in when something goes wrong, principals often listen when there is a problem and work to make it right.
A principal’s day often begins before the sun comes up, making sure buses are rolling, food is cooking, and classrooms are ready. They are among the first in the building welcoming students and often among the last to leave. In between, they may observe teachers, meet with parents, address student concerns, lead staff meetings, attend athletic events, concerts, and other activities, and somehow find time for another cup of coffee.
To say that our principals’ spend a lot of time at school is an understatement. Many spend more time at school than they do at home each week.
October is Principal Appreciation Month, and it is fitting that we take this opportunity to recognize the men and women who work tirelessly to make sure our students have the very best each day. I am proud to introduce you to the principals who lead McDowell County Schools and to recognize them for their service during the 2026–2027 school year.
Mrs. Melissa Elliott, Eastfield Global Magnet School; Mrs. Deena Ray, Glenwood Elementary School; Mrs. Angela Wilkerson, Marion Elementary School; Mrs. Ashley Bagwell, Nebo Elementary School; Mrs. Antrice Autrey, North Cove Elementary School; Mr. Tom Cunningham, Old Fort Elementary School; Mrs. Caitlin Robinson, Pleasant Gardens Elementary School; Dr. Josh Weese, West Marion Elementary School; Mrs. Katie Kaylor, East McDowell Middle School; Mr. Nakia Carson, Foothills Community School; Mr. Edwin Spivey, West McDowell Middle School; Dr. Billy Cline, McDowell Academy for Innovation; Mrs. Erin Rayfield, McDowell Early College; Mrs. Tracey Widmann, McDowell High School; and Ms. Heather Jimenez, Summit Academy.
Behind every great school is a principal who cares deeply about students, families, and staff. Each of our principals brings a different personality, leadership style, and set of experiences to their school, but they share a common commitment to helping children succeed.
Our principals are instructional leaders, problem solvers, cheerleaders, counselors, disciplinarians, and sometimes simply the person who needs to listen. They celebrate the victories, work through the difficult days, and come back each morning ready to do it all again.
Like that busy restaurant where everything seems to run effortlessly, what happens in our schools may look simple from the outside. But behind the scenes, principals constantly plan, adjust, encourage, solve problems, and make sure students and staff have what they need.
To our principals, thank you for the countless hours you give, the way you lead, and, most importantly, the way you care about our children. McDowell County Schools is better because of you, and I am grateful for all you do each day.
Tracy Grit is superintendent of McDowell County Schools.
