On the Bolivar Peninsula, education has always been about more than textbooks and tests. For Principal Tracie Camp of Crenshaw School, it’s about shaping young lives, adapting to change, and staying rooted in a community she calls home.
From Austin to Bolivar
Camp grew up in Austin before moving to Bolivar at age 14 when her parents retired. She finished her schooling at Ball High in Galveston, where an inspiring English teacher ignited her love for literature and writing. That spark eventually became her career.
She earned her undergraduate degree from Texas A&M–Corpus Christi and later completed a master’s degree at the University of Texas at San Antonio. What began as a passion for reading and writing grew into a life of service in education.
The Early Years in the Classroom
Camp’s first teaching job was at the small Bolivar School on Madison Avenue, where she taught for seven years. Two years in fourth grade turned into five years of teaching middle school after new grades were added. She recalls those years as both challenging and formative.
“I knew the content,” she said. “That part was easy. But managing children—that was my biggest challenge.”
With the help of a mentor, she learned classroom management and quickly grew more confident. She also discovered a truth that would follow her throughout her career: in every classroom, a small handful of students require most of a teacher’s time and energy.
Parents, she added, were a strong presence in those days. “At Bolivar School, parents were always around—helping with activities, volunteering, supporting the teachers. I got spoiled,” she said with a laugh.
Growing Through Experience
Camp relocated to San Antonio where she spent 12 years in the classroom before moving into administration. Along the way, she embraced professional development as a personal commitment. “The more experience you have, the better you become,” she explained. “But you also have to stay open to growth. Education changes, kids change, and teachers need to adapt.”
She watched as teaching methods swung back and forth with changing policies and curriculum mandates. Writing instruction, for example, shifted from structured, traditional methods to free-form creativity and then back again. These cycles, while sometimes frustrating, reinforced her belief in flexibility and lifelong learning.
Technology brought its own challenges. While digital tools simplified grading and lesson planning, they also competed for students’ attention spans in an age of TikTok and constant stimulation. At Crenshaw, every student has access to a Chromebook, a tool Camp believes can enhance learning when balanced with traditional methods.
A New Calling: Leadership
Camp’s inspiration to be a principal came from watching her own administrators at work. “I would look at my principal and think, ‘If he can do that, I can do that,’” she recalled. In San Antonio, outstanding mentors encouraged her to join a leadership development program.
She rose step by step—team leader, assistant principal, vice principal—gaining experience in one of the largest school districts in Texas. When her husband retired and their children moved on to college, she and her family returned to Bolivar. Crenshaw became her first principal post.
Leading Crenshaw School
Crenshaw is unique in Galveston ISD, serving both elementary and middle school students under one roof. It’s also an environmental science magnet school, blending standard academics with a specialized focus on the natural world around Bolivar.
The model works. Students who spend their formative years in Crenshaw’s small, tight-knit setting often go on to larger high schools with confidence and success. Many pursue college, the military, or skilled trades, and Camp takes pride in seeing their journeys unfold.
“They’re always my kids,” she said, emotion welling in her voice. “Whether they become doctors, attorneys, business owners, or custodians, I’m proud of them. My goal has always been to make a difference in their lives.”
A Lasting Legacy
Camp’s story is a reminder that education is both a personal and community endeavor. From her first nervous days as a young teacher to her current role shaping an entire school, she has remained committed to growth, resilience, and the belief that every student deserves a chance to succeed.
For Bolivar Peninsula, her journey is not just about one educator—it’s about the impact of schools that nurture, communities that support, and leaders who dedicate their lives to building a brighter future.
