Mrs. Tina McCay is principal of Goochland Elementary School.
Education
| Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA | M.Ed. in Educational Leadership |
| Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA | Gifted Endorsement |
| Fairmont State University, Fairmont, WV | Bachelor of Arts in Education |
| Fairmont Senior High School, Fairmont, WV | High School Diploma |
My Role
In my role as principal, my number one priority is the safety of the students and staff at Goochland Elementary School. In addition, it is my pleasure to serve the Goochland Elementary students, staff, parents and community as a manager, leader and role model. Students are sent to school every day to be inspired to be the very best that they can be. I hope to inspire them by being the best that I can be each day.My Philosophy
School isn’t just about learning to read and write. There is so much more. It is our duty as educators to give each and every unique student the skills and tools necessary to become positive influences on society. We must love them and show them their value each and every day. We only get one chance with a child and must make the very most of it!
About Mrs. McCay
From the beginning of my school career in 1975, teaching had always been my dream. I remember being the teacher’s helper and classroom monitor when the teacher had to leave the room. This didn’t necessarily make me a popular girl. I would play school all evening when I got home and couldn’t wait to get back the next morning. School was where I fit in and was able to shine!
My teaching career began in Blackstone, VA in a Head Start class. Working with these three and four years old and going into their homes to partner with their parents was very inspiring. After that first year I moved on to teach Pre-K in Farmville, in Prince Edward County Elementary School. It was quite an experience. My assistant and I would drive around to designated locations, in a Winnebago to work with at-risk students. We had a classroom on wheels. What an adventure! After five years of working in Farmville, my husband decided to take a job with the Goochland County Sheriff’s Office. In turn, I decided that I would like to work for Goochland County Public Schools. I began teaching first grade at Goochland Elementary in 1999. I fell head over heels in love with this school and the people within its walls. After teaching first and second grade for a while I became very interested in learning about how Gifted students thought and learned. So, I went to class at night to earn my gifted endorsement. Consequently, I became the Gifted Coordinator for the school and participated in teaching a Multi-Age class for Young Explorers. At this time I was offered the opportunity to become the second grade lead teacher for Goochland County. This piqued my interest in leadership so I began graduate work on the area of Educational Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University. With this degree I was able to work at the Central Administration building as an Elementary and Parent Involvement Specialist for two years. This is the winding path that led me to become the principal of Goochland Elementary School, the most rewarding yet challenging position I have ever held.
I have been happily married to my husband Michael from May of 1992 and we have a wonderful daughter, Jessica who was born in April of 1996. We have two dogs and one cat. Frequently, we call our home a circus!
