Crawford named Four River Career Academy Principal

Barbara Atwill

Dana Crawford has been named the new principal at the Four River Career Academy (FRCA) in Hickman.

She has been an educator for the past 15 years, having taught Resource English at Hickman County High School, and most recently serving in Administration at Fulton Independent School District as Assistant Principal and Supervisor of Instruction for the past three years.

“I believe these positions allow me to interact with the Four Rivers Career Academy in different capacities and allow me to see how beneficial this program is for students in our region,” Crawford said.

Crawford is a Graves County High School graduate and earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Education from Mid-Continent University.

Her first Master’s degree is in Learning and Behavior Disorders from Western Kentucky University, and her second Master’s degree is in Instructional Leadership from the University of Cumberland.

She has an endorsement from Murray State University (MSU) for Supervisor of Instruction, and is currently working to complete her Educational Specialist at MSU with endorsements for Director of Pupil Personnel and Superintendent.

“My goal is for the Four Rivers Career Academy to serve students from Fulton County, Fulton Independent, and Hickman County. We will work closely to build communication with each feeder school to allow every student to have the opportunity to pursue a Career and Technology Education (CTE) program to provide students the building blocks to construct their futures. We will accomplish this by developing and maintaining industry partnerships; promoting instruction and learning that leads to mastery; and offering multiple pathways for student learning, including extended and experience-based opportunities,” Crawford said.

Crawford is married to Josh Crawford and they have a son, Keaton Heath, and a daughter and son-in-law, Liv Crawford Gallimore and Sam Gallimore.

She is a member of the Kentucky Women in Educational Leadership, Kentucky Association of School Administrators, and a local Rotarian.

She and her husband recently purchased a poultry farm in Fulton County.

Both of her children graduated from Hickman County High School, during which time her son, Keaton, was an Automotive student at FRCA, where he earned multiple ASE certifications.

“This program opened multiple doors for him in his industry. He is currently employed at United Rentals in Paducah,” Crawford said.

Her daughter, Liv, also saw the benefits of dual credit programs offered through the Four Rivers Foundation.

“My daughter finished high school with 32 college credits and recently graduated from Murray State University with a Bachelor’s in Commerce and Leadership. She is currently employed at Fulton Independent School as the Community Education Director. My family sees first-hand the benefits that the Four Rivers Career Academy and College and Career Readiness has on students, communities, and industry in our local area,” Crawford said.