New George Washington Principal Eileen McGuire draws on vast experience, plans to be out and about

For longtime White Plains educator Eileen McGuire, stepping into her new role as interim principal of George Washington Elementary School is both a new beginning and a homecoming.

Ms. McGuire, a former principal of Mamaroneck Avenue School, brings decades of experience as a teacher and administrator to George Washington. After retiring from the district in 2021, she has continued to answer the call when White Plains schools have needed her.

“I’m very, very happy to be back in White Plains,” she said. “The people are great, the kids are great, the families are great. The community is like no other.”

Ms. McGuire began her career in New York City’s District 10 in the Bronx, teaching first, fourth and fifth grades and working as a Reading Recovery teacher before becoming an assistant principal. After five years as an AP, she moved to the Irvington Union Free School District, also as an assistant principal, before serving as a principal in the East Ramapo and Brewster Central School Districts.

Her path eventually brought her to White Plains, where she spent 8½ years as principal of Mamaroneck Avenue School. She remembers many highlights from that time, including the school being named a News 12 School Spirit winner, but said her greatest source of pride was something less tangible.

“I think we’re most proud of the relationships and the culture that was built through the school,” she said, along with bringing staff members aboard who embraced a shared “mission of culture and community and doing for others.”

Retirement did not mean the end of Ms. McGuire’s connection to education — or to White Plains.

She earned a state license as a pharmacy technician while considering pharmacy school, an experience she described as fascinating because it allowed her to use her mind “in a different way.”

But education soon called her back. She has undertaken interim assignments in Pawling and Bronxville and worked as a leadership coach through Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES. She also returned to White Plains to help at Ridgeway, George Washington and Church Street schools when additional administrative support was needed.

That previous stint at George Washington, which lasted several weeks, gave Ms. McGuire an early look at the school she will now lead. “I loved it,” she said. “I got a great vibe. I loved being there. The staff was amazing.” She said the school felt comfortable from the beginning: “It felt like home.”

Building relationships and earning trust will be among her first priorities. Ms. McGuire describes her leadership philosophy as one centered on kindness, service and supporting people both personally and professionally.

“I just think we’re there to serve,” she said. “When you are fortunate to have a seat at a table, it’s an obligation to bring people along and make sure that staff has the best working environment they could have and the kids have an excellent environment to get a fantastic education.”

Families can also expect a highly visible principal. Ms. McGuire said she has never considered herself “an office person” and prefers being in hallways, the cafeteria and other places where she can interact with students, staff and families. During her years at Mamaroneck Avenue, she said she was outside at arrival every day she was at school.

“People have to see you,” she said. “Visibility is very important.”

Above all, Ms. McGuire wants George Washington students to associate coming to school with one word: “Joy.”

Ms. McGuire holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Canisius College, now Canisius University. She also played Division I basketball at Canisius, an experience that helped shape a leadership philosophy in which teamwork remains central.

She also holds a Master of Science in Elementary Education from Lehman College and a Professional Diploma in School Administration from Manhattan College, now Manhattan University.