Mars Hill Elementary School new principal Jimmy McGregor: 'It's good to be back home'

MARS HILL - Mars Hill Elementary School's new principal Jimmy McGregor said "it's good to be back home" after working in Brunswick County Schools as an assistant principal and fifth grade science teacher.

Madison County Schools announced McGregor's hiring in a news release July 18, and the school board voted to approve McGregor as the new principal in its June 27 meeting.

"I'm pretty excited. It's good to be back," said McGregor, 42. "My wife and I consider this home. So, the fact that we got to come home is pretty exciting."

McGregor said he and his wife  Lauren met at a Halloween party at McGregor's sister's house in Mars Hill.

"This is where we met, and were dating, and we ended up getting married here," McGregor said.

The couple have two children: James, 2, and Carter, 3 months.

McGregor brings 15 years of experience in education, and began his teaching career after serving on a mission trip in the Dominican Republic.

"I had the opportunity to teach second grade (in the Dominican Republic) and thought, 'Man, this is a great opportunity to make a difference in kids' lives," McGregor said.

From there, he went on to South Florida, and received his degree in elementary education from Florida Atlantic University. He taught kindergarten and third grade in South Florida for eight years.

After leaving Florida, McGregor came to Western North Carolina, where he served as an earth and physical science teacher at Mitchell High School.

The McGregors packed up for the coast after Lauren took a job assignment for the State Bureau of Investigation. While there, McGregor worked in Brunswick County Schools as the assistant principal and science teacher.

"It's been a little bit of a journey, traveling around and seeing different things and trying different grades," McGregor said.

The Mars Hill principal said he feels his wide-ranging experience will help him reach all the K-5 students, as the town's growth has ushered in an ever-changing student demographic.

"I studied abroad in Ecuador for a semester, and took many trips to Mexico throughout my life," McGregor said. "My sister married a Costa Rican, and they lived in Costa Rica, and we surfed the whole west coast of Costa Rica one summer. They live here, also in Mars Hill. So there is a lot of Costa Rican culture I'm familiar with, South American, Central American, etc."

Superintendent Will Hoffman said McGregor's enthusiasm and experience will help serve him in the role of MHES principal.

“Jimmy McGregor brings boundless energy and a strong understanding of elementary education to Mars Hill Elementary and Madison County Schools," Hoffman said. "We are very happy that he is now a part of the MCS team.”

McGregor said he has always had a deep respect for Mars Hill Elementary, and he hopes to help his fellow staff to realize their greatness.

"My overall vision is to bring it up to a sense of pride that they can reach," McGregor said. "I know that I've watched the school from a little bit of a distance. My nieces went to school here. My nephew went to school here. Lauren went to school here. Her little sisters went to school here. I've watched all this, as I lived over on Main Street in the past.

"My goal for this next year is to inspire our teachers to reach for greatness. I think it's here. I think the teachers have it within them. I think they're great teachers, and I want to help support them to reach that greatness. That's ultimately what my goal is."

McGregor said even though he and Lauren loved their home just south of Wilmington, they still "always called Madison home."

"There's always a special place in our heart," McGregor said. "I remember talking to a Mars Hill resident, Bill Ricker, and he used to always say, 'There's something special about Madison County.' It always resonated in my heart. So, the fact that we can come back and be a part of the community, and hopefully make an impact, both of us are just hoping that we can do our fair share in making this a great place for our kids to grow up."

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Mars Hill Elem. new principal McGregor: 'It's good to be back home'