The Daily Olivian was recently able to exclusively interview incoming OA Principal Kelly Cavanaugh. As she happily answered questions ranging from silly to serious, her commitment to OA was clear.
Though she did not know much about the OA culture and climate, having only glimpsed the inner workings of the school briefly, she seemed to be excited to see more of OA and its students. A self-described “positive,” “collaborative” and “kind” leader, she looks forward to attending all of OA’s events: from art shows to football games. She is “always willing to engage” with students, and seeks to “ensure that our school is one where we look for the best in each other.”
Cavanaugh is the first woman principal in Oliver Ames’ history. She was surprised to learn this, but also is proud that she can serve as a role model for young girls. It is truly shocking that a woman has never held this position before, but hiring Cavanaugh is certainly a great step in the right direction.
If you haven’t had the opportunity to meet Ms. Cavanaugh, you should know that she is passionate about both the arts and social justice. Throughout the interview, Cavanugh emphasized her desire to create more social equality at OA and ensure that all students feel welcomed in the school community. Her care for others will surely be useful during the principal transition, especially during such a difficult year. Ms. Cavanugh even stated how she believes that “we’ve become a more empathetic culture” throughout the pandemic, again displaying her positive attitude.
Cavanaugh was also asked about her policy on discipline. Overall, she emphasized the importance of growing throughout the discipline process, as “the response has to be something to help them learn and change their behavior.” Though punishments are sometimes needed, she also hopes that the student can grow from their actions and do better in the future.
But now for the truly hard-hitting question–what is Ms. Cavanaugh’s favorite cafeteria food? Though Oliver Ames does not have these foods, she expressed her love for both salad bars and chicken nuggets. Perhaps her first move as principal could involve her bringing those to OA, though I suggested that she bring back the Chipotle sauce for the wrap station as her number one priority.
For these questions and more, stay tuned for the complete interview within the next couple of days.