When Gale Crosby accepted an invitation in July to become the principal of Portland Adventist Academy (PAA), it was with a strong certainty that the academy was where God wanted him to be.
With 23 years of experience working with Adventist schools, Crosby most recently served as associate superintendent of education for the Oregon Conference. Prior to that, he was principal of Hood View Jr. Academy in Boring, Ore., for 12 years.
Crosby says he loves working with a system that believes so strongly in the value of a child. The transition from working at the Conference office to the academy was easy because "the action is at the school level where the kids are. Staff can make a difference each day for young people and point them to Jesus."
The Walla Walla College and Loma Linda University graduate builds team spirit by affirming students and staff. Larry Caudell, PAA staff and board member, states, "Gale never deals in negatives. He cares about people, and they know it."
PAA's new principal has three major goals for the school. "We want to share Jesus with the kids, have the kids share Jesus with their community, and foster academic excellence," he says.
Despite school debt and recent staff cuts, Crosby is eager to meet the challenges the school faces. "The key for success," he says, "will be to depend and trust fully on our God to help us. He has a thousand ways to work through tough times."
Gale Crosby is the new principal of Portland Adventist Academy.
