Mrs. McRaney believes that Music Education is essential for positive childhood development and is an all-inclusive curriculum utilizing all academic subjects. She instills in her students a love for music, helps them to develop the areas of the brain related to language and reasoning, provides physical activity, builds their confidence, and shows them how to work together and to Lead By Example. 

Mrs. McRaney is a graduate of the Univeristy of Southern Mississippi where she earned her BM and MM which resulted in a Master's in Woodwind Pedagogy and Performance.  She not only performs and teaches all woodwinds but also has specialized studies in double reed instruments.  Prior to coming to Hunters Creek Middle School, she taught middle school band for 15 years and ran a woodwind studio for 6 years.  

In addition to her campus duties in her previous school, Mrs. McRaney has served as a clinician in woodwind instruction and served as an Honor Band conductor. Her peers call upon her to assist with woodwind-specific instruction, which often leads to both large- and small-group work within surrounding school programs.  More recent endeavors outside her school duties include working with the Gulf Coast Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Sounds of the South Summer Music Camp for middle school band students. Mrs. McRaney has also assisted with activities of the Mississippi American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA) All-State Middle School Honor Band since its inception in 2015.

Mrs. McRaney’s peers recognized her professionally when they selected her as a member of the ASBDA and as the Gulf Coast Band Directors Association’s Middle School Band Director of the Year in 2018. Since becoming a member of the ASBDA, she has assisted in many different areas including the Mississippi ASBDA All-State Middle School Honor Band.

Students who participated in the band program under Mrs. McRaney’s direction have achieved success in their instrumental studies by winning positions in honor bands throughout the state and obtaining scholarships for college, even at prestigious music schools. Past students have gone on to have successful careers in such fields as music, education, military, law enforcement, medical, science, and engineering. Many keep in touch with her after graduation from high school and college.

Mrs. McRaney has three children with her husband, two of which are currently in college and the youngest is now in middle school.  Each of their children were fortunate enough to participate in both strings and band programs at their previous schools.  Mrs. McRaney and her husband have taken up scuba diving and enjoy adventuring in dive sites throughout North Carolina.  The family enjoys spending time with each other by exploring new areas, beaches and trails.  The family dog, Thea, is a German Short Haired Pointer who travels with the family on their adventrues.