The Chapel Hill-Carrboro-City Schools board recently appointed former guidance counselor Ally Scercy assistant principal after former administrator Heather Hill retired in December.
“I was excited to move into this new role in a school that I was already comfortable with and already knew a lot of the students,” Scercy said.
Scercy has been a guidance counselor at the school since 2015. She attended UNC-Chapel Hill and has an undergraduate degree in psychology, as well as a degree from North Carolina Central University in counseling. Scercy is currently pursuing her administrative credentials from Gardner-Webb University.
Principal Charles Blanchard commended the work Scercy has done at the school, which made her well qualified for the administrative position.
“She came to the table with a wealth of experience,” Blanchard said. “She is currently finishing her administrative internship with us, so she’s been working very closely with me all semester, [doing] everything from discipline to curriculum [work]. She was by far the strongest candidate.”
After being at the school for eight years, Scercy said she was ready to try her hand at something new.
“I think I am drawn to leadership positions, so I think that is kind of what pulled me into it. I was also ready for a new challenge,” she said. “Being in the same role for 10 years, I think I was wanting to try something new, something different,” she said.
As an assistant principal, Scercy will oversee graduation, student registration and scheduling, student identifications and attendance, as well as the school’s equity team and Tiger Strides academic support program.
Though new to the position, Scercy said her experience as a guidance counselor has prepared her to take on her new responsibilities and challenges.
“My days have looked significantly different—a lot of connecting with kids supporting kids, but just in a different capacity,” she said. “I feel like as a counselor, I did a lot of sitting and meeting with students, but, as an administrator, it’s more out and about and kind of checking in with students throughout the building, making sure they’re doing what they’re supposed to.”
Junior Spencer Wright said he was happy that Scercy has moved into a new position, though he wishes she could still serve as his guidance counselor.
“I was sad to see her moving on, but happy she was going to be around and still be able to help the school,” he said. “I will definitely miss her: she was a great counselor who was resourceful, helpful and kind.”
Ellen Hirsch—who last semester served as a counseling intern—was named Scercy’s replacement at the February 2 school board meeting.
