By Claire Sachse

 

July 1 was Jason McCraw’s first official day on the job as principal of Landrum High School. But he had already hit the ground running as he made sure some key staff positions, including athletic director and head football coach, were filled in the early summer.

Coming from an athletic background, McCraw, 37, looks and sounds like a coach – one with high expectations and the physical stature to match. At Lexington High School he taught physical science and was the assistant coach for the basketball and football teams. At Chesnee High School he taught biology and served as the head boys basketball coach and assistant football coach. For the last three years, McCraw served as the assistant principal at Dorman Freshman Campus.

McCraw, a Blacksburg, S.C. native, said Thursday that he “grew up in a small town” and that he is “very excited to come to this small town high school with its sense of family and community.”

He graduated from Presbyterian College with a degree in biology in 1999, and from Converse College with a master’s degree in educational leadership in 2008. McCraw is married with two young children.

“My belief and vision for Landrum High is for students to come to a building where they feel safe, and where they are owners in their own learning. This comes by building relationships with other students and teachers. The sky’s the limit on achievement if they are safe and secure,” said McCraw.

McCraw cited several statistics of Landrum High’s academic performance, including a 92 percent pass rate on the tenth grade exit exam, a 94 percent pass rate on the Algebra I End of Course (EOC), 99 percent pass rate on the Biology I EOC, and 95 percent pass rate on the English I EOC. He said the school has a 76 percent pass rate on the US History EOC, when “most schools are happy to have a 40 percent pass rate.”

In addition to hiring a new football coach, athletic director and conditioning coach, McCraw also hired a full time drama teacher, a first for the school.  He anticipates several theatre productions “that will tie together the orchestra and choral components already in place with staged productions,” said McCraw. He is excited to see the ROTC program continue to flourish, and to observe the school’s newspaper and yearbook staff as they document the year.

On the first day of school, Aug. 18, McCraw said that students will attend grade level meetings where they will learn what to expect in the coming year.

“Some people talk about transformational leadership, but I’m more of a relational leader and person. I believe in building relationships with students, parents, the community, and staff members. Any time there is change there can be uncertainty, but there is also a lot of excitement here as well. I am so excited and couldn’t think of a better place to be principal,” said McCraw.