D.C. Craig walked the halls of Carroll County Middle School as a student for three years. Starting today, he will walk the halls of CCMS as an Assistant Principal.
Craig has worked the bulk of his career at Cartmell Elementary School. Most recently he has served as a special education and exceptional child instructor. He also does double duty as a behavioral coach teaching social emotional skills and coaching staff members to implement behavioral strategies that can help their classrooms be successful.
“I would have never thought in high school that I would become an educator,” Craig said. But, he discovered after working as a substitute teacher and coaching basketball and baseball that he enjoyed working with children. “I have learned in the trenches as a teacher.”
Craig said he is excited to implement some strategies he has used as a behavioral coach when he joins the staff at CCMS. “Some of their components are exactly what I’ve been doing,” he said, noting he looks forward to “getting to be part of an opportunity to be a catalyst for change.”
Superintendent Casey Jaynes said, “The addition of Mr. Craig to CCMS will be a win-win for all of the stakeholders involved. His expertise in behavior management and in student and community relationships will help move CCMS into one of the top 10% of Middle Schools in the state.”
CCMS Principal Dr. Robin Stephenson echoed those sentiments. ”We are extremely fortunate to have DC Craig join the CCMS team. Having previously worked with DC, I have experienced firsthand his ability to offer great communication skills, behavior coaching skills, and leadership skills. He will be an asset to our school and its stakeholders as we continue to charter this transformational journey.”
Craig fondly recalled his years at CCMS and said he is still able to identify all of his classrooms and who he had as teachers. He can share those memories with his fellow assistant principal, Wil Yager. The two graduated from high school together and were teammates while at CCHS. “I would have never thought, in high school, I would be an educator and be an assistant principal with someone I went to school with,” Craig said. He noted he’s excited to become colleagues with his former classmates.
Not only can he share professionally with former classmates, but he can share professionally with his dad and brother. Both of them are also assistant principals – his dad at Carroll County High School and brother at Gallatin County Middle School.
“I think being someone who is local and went to the same middle school I’ll be working in, someone who knows the families and stakeholders in this community is important. This is home,” he said.