My name is Marcia Kinley and I have been an Assistant Principal for two years at Granite Falls Middle School. I was a Principal Fellow for the 2021-2022 School Year and completed an Administrative Internship at Baton Elementary School. My administrative degree is from Western Carolina University, where I obtained a Master's in School Leadership, with a focus on Equity and Social Justice. I have a Master's degree in Reading and a Bachelor's in Elementary Education, both from Appalachian State University, as well as a high school certificate in 9-12 Language Arts. Before moving into an administrative role, I submitted the necessary documentation to become a Nationally Board Certified Teacher.

My teaching career began as a Reading/Math Specialist at Lower Creek Elementary School. I had an opportunity to teach Kindergarten at Shuford Elementary, then came back to Caldwell County to teach fourth and fifth grade blocked classes at West Lenoir Elementary School. After a few years, I became a fifth grade educator at Davenport A+. My favorite subject to teach was Science. The vocabulary activities and hands-on applications created just the right environment to spark student interest and make learning fun!

As an administrator, I believe my first job is to keep everyone safe. If people don't feel safe, then they won't be in attendance. As a teacher, my theory came from President Theodore Roosevelt, “no one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” And as a parent, I pick my battles, because not everything is worth a fight. As a student, I know learning must be relevant. If it can't be related, or have a purposeful vision, then no one is going to care enough to listen. I say all that to explain that every stakeholder's point of view makes a difference in the life of a child. As the African Proverb simply states: it takes a village to raise a child.