ALLENE McCREARY

As told to her daughter Jo Breedlove-Johnson

ALLENE McCREARY

Allene McCreary, one of the founding members of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE), helped shape the organization’s ethos and strategic direction. Starting as a high school English teacher in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1953, Allene transitioned to teaching elementary levels and moved to Georgia in the late 1960s. By the early 1970s, she was teaching in DeKalb County at Henderson Mill Elementary School, a place she and other key figures informally considered "the secret home of PAGE."

Her formal involvement with PAGE began through the encouragement of Lillian Cantrell, principal at Henderson Mill. Allene was instrumental in PAGE's early organizational and recruitment efforts, including putting together many mailings to educators throughout Georgia. This foundational work was crucial in establishing PAGE's initial membership and influence.

Allene’s leadership was characterized by her ability to connect with educators across all  levels of education, from fellow teachers to top state officials, without losing sight of the grassroots nature of the organization. She was particularly noted for her dedication to ensuring that teachers' perspectives were represented in PAGE, emphasizing that the organization should always operate with teachers' interests at heart.

Her contributions were not just in leadership but also in nurturing the inclusive and ethical standards that would come to define PAGE. Allene, alongside other founders, secured initial funding and set high standards of integrity and service, which have sustained PAGE's reputation and impact over the decades.

Her legacy in PAGE is seen in the organization’s continued commitment to supporting educators as dedicated professionals and advocating for educational excellence in Georgia.