'An accidental principal'

Daniel Gray considers himself an “accidental principal.” 

He didn't aspire to be a principal, and fought against working in education while in college. But the desire to give back and help others led him to where he is today.

“Had it not been for the teachers who poured into me, I probably wouldn’t be here right now,” he said.

Gray is currently in his 24th year in education and his fourth year as the principal at Hidden Valley Elementary. He was recognized as the Northeast Learning Community Principal of the Year at a surprise announcement at his school in September.

“I told my staff that this isn’t an award for me, but an award for us,” said Gray. “They are the ones in the trenches doing this every single day and I’m along to help guide the ship.”

Gray started as a lateral entry special education teacher in Union County where he taught for four years. He taught and coached in Cabarrus County for another four years before having kids of his own and moving to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in 2007 as a teacher at Jay M. Alexander Middle. 

In 2012, Gray participated in the Winthrop Leaders for Tomorrow program and was hired as a dean of students at Francis Bradley Middle before moving on to be an assistant principal at Cochrane Collegiate Academy.

“So I guess I was a lateral entry administrator as well,” Gray said with a laugh.

Gray was asked to consider being an elementary principal, and spent time learning the ins and outs of elementary school at Winding Springs Elementary. After looking at the available principal postings, Hidden Valley seemed like the right fit.

“I came in 2019-2020, so I started the year with a normal school year and then we went out in March,” said Gray. “That first school year was a lot of relationship building and trying to establish a culture of caring and family environment.

“We worked really hard to establish that because I strongly believe that if teachers and staff view themselves as a cohesive family unit in the school, then the students follow because they feel loved and respected,” he added.

Gray said that he is truly humbled by the recognition from his colleagues and thankful for the support he has received from district leadership.

“That’s one of the things that makes our district special,” said Gray. “You’re going to always have someone that is walking with you in this leadership journey and that’s been a phenomenal feeling. You feel like you have to figure it out (alone), but you don’t. There’s always someone that’s willing to help.”

Northeast Learning Community Superintendent Stephen Esposito, who also worked with Gray at Francis Bradley Middle, was proud to celebrate the work Gray has done at Hidden Valley Elementary and the legacy he will leave there.

“I can attest that Mr. Gray is one of the finest administrators I’ve come across in my many years at CMS,” said Esposito. “His principal colleagues shared with us that they recognized Mr. Gray as a leader dedicated to his students who would do anything for the community his school served."