This week, as we celebrate National Assistant Principals Week, we are honored to highlight someone who brings depth, consistency, and a strong sense of purpose to McCaskey High School each and every day: Elizabeth Moodie, Assistant Principal.
Ms. Moodie has served the School District of Lancaster for seven and a half years, building a reputation for being a thoughtful leader, a supportive colleague, and a champion for students. She earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from the University of Delaware, where she also competed as a Division I softball catcher for the Delaware Blue Hens. That role helped shape her into someone who knows how to stay calm under pressure, how to lead with focus and determination, and how to be part of something larger than herself. She brings those same qualities into her leadership at McCaskey.
Ask Ms. Moodie what fuels her, and she’ll tell you without hesitation: our students. Every day, she walks the halls, engaging with them personally, offering encouragement, and reinforcing expectations, not in a performative way, but in a way that shows she sees them. She remembers names, asks questions about their day, and makes them feel they matter.
She often says things like, “Let me see those smiles on your ID,” and while it might sound lighthearted, it’s also a way to check in, to build rapport, and to create a positive, respectful culture.
She is equally committed to the adults in the building. Ms. Moodie makes it a priority to support and uplift teachers and staff. Whether she’s stepping in to cover a classroom, offering a listening ear, or providing direct feedback, she does so in a way that’s collaborative and grounded in respect. She doesn’t wait to be asked, she anticipates needs and shows up ready to help. One staff member put it simply: “If something needs to get done, Moodie is already on it.”
This school year, her leadership helped guide McCaskey to a top 3% ranking in Keystone growth across the state of Pennsylvania, an achievement that reflects her strategic thinking and her dedication to student progress. She helped create systems of academic support, coordinated with instructional teams, and maintained a clear focus on how to raise achievement while keeping students engaged and connected.
Her colleagues describe her as present, thoughtful, and reliable. They consistently share that she makes people feel seen and appreciated. One teacher noted,
“Moodie makes it a point to recognize the good in people. She lifts up her colleagues, highlights what they’re doing well, and helps them grow. She’s not only a leader—she’s someone you can trust.”
That trust is built through consistency. It’s not about grand gestures, it’s the daily check-ins, the calm under pressure, the presence at evening events, the quiet support behind the scenes. From setting up for testing days before sunrise to dancing with students at the talent show, she’s always there, not because she has to be, but because she wants to be.
Even during challenging moments, Ms. Moodie keeps going. As one colleague shared,
“She’s taken some hard hits from students, literally, and she still shows up the next day with the same focus and belief in what we’re doing here. That’s the kind of leadership that makes a difference.”
Outside of school, she brings the same enthusiasm and dedication to her personal life. She’s a devoted Philadelphia Eagles fan, and if there’s one thing she loves just as much as football, it’s chicken wings, crispy and wet, always. These details, small but meaningful, remind us that Ms. Moodie is not only a strong leader but a down-to-earth person who brings her full self to her work.
What makes Ms. Moodie stand out isn’t just her ability to manage the day-to-day operations of a large high school, it’s the way she does it. She brings care, structure, humor, and high expectations into everything she touches. She listens closely, responds thoughtfully, and keeps the focus on what really matters: building a school where students feel safe, teachers feel supported, and learning can flourish.
This National Assistant Principals Week, we want to say thank you to Ms. Moodie. Thank you for your steady leadership, your commitment, your humility, and your heart for McCaskey. You set the tone, raise the bar, and remind us what it looks like to truly serve a school community.
We see you. We appreciate you. And we are proud to call you part of the SDoL family.