October is National Principals Month, a time to honor the visionary leaders who shape our schools and communities. This month, the Surge Institute is proud to spotlight Stacy Gray (TLC25), the principal at McDade Classical Elementary School in Chicago and a 2025 alum of The Leadership Collaborative.

As a proud product of Chicago Public Schools, Stacy’s leadership is deeply personal.

“There is something incredibly meaningful about being able to say, ‘Chicago Public Schools educated me, and now I have the privilege of pouring back into the system that poured into me,’” she shares.

This full-circle journey hasn’t been without its trials. In 2014, Stacy unexpectedly took on the responsibility of raising three children while actively growing as an educator. While she mastered the art of carrying the heavy weight of leadership, she eventually realized she needed a space to find sustainable joy. She turned to TLC, a cohort experience from the Black Principals Network, powered by Surge.

“I was looking for a community that understood the weight of leadership, but also reminded me that leadership could still be life-giving,” she reflects. “I did not want leadership to become something I simply survived.”

Today, that life-giving energy fuels her unwavering commitment to systemic change. At McDade Classical, Stacy has seen firsthand what students can achieve when surrounded by high expectations, and she believes these conditions should be the standard, not the exception.

“Educational equity means that a child's opportunities should never be determined by their ZIP code, race, family income, or circumstances,” she explains. She emphasizes that equity is about providing what each student uniquely needs and refusing to lower the standard of excellence. She asserts that inequity often begins with an adult's limited belief in a child’s capability. 

When asked what advice she has for the next generation of Black and Brown principals, Stacy’s message is a powerful call to authenticity. She urges emerging leaders not to shrink themselves, but rather to bring their full culture, compassion, and strength to the role.

“There will be decisions that people will not understand, sacrifices no one will see, and victories that may never receive applause,” she advises. “You cannot lead for applause. So I would tell the next generation: Protect your purpose, use your voice, and never confuse recognition with impact. Your work can be significant, even when no one is clapping.”

Thank you, Stacy Gray, for your resilience, your vision, and your impact. Happy National Principals Month to you and all the dedicated leaders in our Surge community!

Click here to learn more about The Leadership Collaborative, and find out when the application process will open for the 2027 cohort.