Welcome to Mountain Ridge Middle School. My name is Alison Shanor and I am privileged to be the principal of this wonderful school. I started my career as a school counselor, then dean of academics, assistant principal, and a principal, which brings me to the 2024-2025 school year. I believe in the worthy work we do and I wholeheartedly believe in the effort we put into our students every day, in order to help them succeed.

We believe in every student who walks through our doors, no matter what. This is not negotiable. Every student has inherent dignity. When a student walks through our doors we have the privilege of helping them grow. Greeting our students, letting them know we are glad they are here today and engaging them in learning that connects to the bigger world so they can see all the possibilities of what could be, is our worthy task. We strive to be a student centered leader and our decision making is guided by what is best for our kids.

We believe in relationships. The last few years have proven the value of relationships. Relationships are the foundation of our work and every student should feel connected to someone in the building. Not just their peers, but also a caring adult who believes in them, who views them as a unique individual who has the right to learn and feel safe, and who will empower them to reach their highest potential.

We believe in a culture of belonging. Every student is “our” student and we must all work together to ensure their success. Every student should feel like they are a part of our community and believe at their core that they have a vital and special role in our building. Each student has value and should feel like they belong when they are in our care.

I look forward to partnering with you to help your student learn, explore and grow. My door is always open and I welcome your feedback.