2021 Locals Love Us favorite school administrator: Shady Grove Assistant Principal Mendy Barrow

When Mendy Barrow started teaching 25 years ago, she believed the classroom was the place she’d spend her career. Campus administration wasn’t on her to-do list.
Now the Shady Grove Elementary School assistant principal, however, Barrow can’t imagine doing anything else.
“Being a principal or going into administration was something I thought I wouldn’t do or want to,” she said. “I’d have to say I didn’t call it, it called me.”
For answering that call and exemplifying what makes a wonderful assistant principal and educator, The Picayune Magazine readers and KBEY 103.9 FM Radio Picayune listeners voted her a 2021 Locals Love Us favorite school administrator. 
As an assistant principal, Barrow has a full plate.
“It’s my job to make the teachers’ jobs easier,” she said. “You do everything you can to help the school run smoothly.”
That entails a long list, including running supplies to teachers, handling a cleanup here and there, managing the cafeteria,  making sure teachers and students have access to the best educational tools, assisting in a class when needed, championing students and staff, and helping foster a family-like atmosphere.
Sometimes, being an administrator includes creating a fun, positive setting.
“One of my favorite things we do to keep everyone’s spirits up is we do the ‘12 Days of Christmas’ (during the holiday season),” she said. “I dressed up every day for it. We do things like that throughout the year, just to make sure the kids know that school is a fun place.”
Barrow’s impact is felt across the campus in her leadership and willingness to help. It all comes down to serving the students.
“I love the kids and I love the people here,” Barrow said. “I want the kids to know they are loved, and I and the rest of the staff work hard every day for them.”
daniel@thepicayune.com