Advancing from teacher to literacy coach, to elementary principal, Erica McCray’s career at Riverwalk Academy has been transformative - for herself and the school. Using her classroom experience to inform instructional leadership, McCray is the definition of a “teacher’s principal.” During COVID, she was instrumental in redirecting the school from a traditional instructional model to prioritizing project-based learning (PBL). With Riverwalk’s partnership with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET), McCray utilizes NIET’s educator effectiveness model to support the faculty in this process, which has led to positive growth for educators and learning outcomes for students.
As part of the school’s emphasis on PBL, students take ownership of their learning and participate in exciting community-centered or passion projects. McCray empowers teachers to utilize real-time student data to drive instruction, monitor progress, and work with students in targeted small groups. She mentors colleagues, provides professional development, visits classrooms daily, and provides constructive feedback. Leading by example, McCray took a graduate class alongside several teachers for PBL training. Her efforts have contributed to increasing and maintaining a high teacher retention rate – and she has presented on school culture improvement strategies at the South Carolina Department of Education’s Collective Leadership Institute. Riverwalk also received the Palmetto Silver Award in 2023-24 after McCray and a team of teachers reimagined grade-level writing expectations and benchmarks.
McCray maintains excellent rapport with parents and community stakeholders. She hosts parent nights, communicates and collaborates frequently with families, and ensures Riverwalk’s achievements are visible and celebrated in the community.
McCray earned a Bachelor of Arts in general communication disorders from Winthrop University in 2008, a Master of Education from the University of Phoenix in 2012, and a Master of Educational Leadership in school administration from Gardner-Webb University in 2017.
Press Release: Surprise, Principal McCray! You Are the Next Milken Educator Award Honoree!
