Dragon Magic Starts with Christa Livermon!

A new school year with a new principal at Stony Point Elementary School means new ideas, new connections and new energy to bring to the children of Stony Point! Christa Livermon is stepping into the principal’s position, formerly held by Maureen Jensen, at Stony Point. She brings a wealth of experience and a desire to do her best to a job that is challenging yet important us all!

Born into a military family, Ms. Livermon was raised in Northern Virginia. While pursuing an education degree here at University of Virginia, she met her future husband, Randy, and the couple lived in Charlottesville for a year while she got her first taste of the classroom at Woodbrook Elementary. After heading off to Atlanta for further education for her husband, they then returned to the area. Ms. Livermon began teaching in first through third grade in Albemarle County. Her husband Randy works at VMDO, a respected architecture firm in Charlottesville.  It was during this time that the couple welcomed three children into the world. The oldest is Billy, now 27 and married to Sarah; he works for the FBI, and she is in medical school. Then there are twins Garrett and Anna, 24; Garrett is loving the Utah outdoors while working for a marketing firm, helping start-ups; and Anna has just finished school and works at the Farm at Maymont Park in Richmond. For fun Ms. Livermon likes to walk and hike with friends, and travel to see her children and visit other fun places. She also likes to go to UVA football and basketball games. At home she likes to grow and arrange flowers,and READ, READ, READ!

After several years of classroom teaching, Ms. Livermon became the Gifted Resource/ Technology teacher at Murray Elementary, a common pairing of jobs at the time.  Then, in an exciting move by the county to invest in professional development, she was chosen as one of the first group of instructional coaches and worked with teachers one-on-one to improve teaching strategies.  After some time, she continued her education resulting in a Masters in Reading at James Madison University. She took that information back to the classroom at Brownsville, and later became a Reading Specialist, which she loved. Unfortunately, COVID hit, but this spurred her to getting her Administration and Supervision Endorsement again at James Madison University.  Working at Scottsville Elementary and at Crozet Elementary as an Assistant Principal has given her ample time to put her training to work. Interviewing for the position at Stony Point, she felt the school was a good fit for her. The staff’s commitment to professional development was a positive note. She was told that she had better get ready to keep up!

One of Ms. Livermon’s new initiatives builds on the Dragon Magic idea in the school, where the school’s atmosphere is recognized as special. Building on the connection between the staff, students, and families, Stony Point intends to work to make all of the above feel seen, valued and to feel like they belong. The teachers and staff plan to strengthen their instructional strategies with the goal of making all students successful. Courage fits into this goal as the school seeks to teach the children to step out of their comfort zones to face the difficulty that is necessary for learning. They have been having a school-wide read aloud of the book Courage by Bernard Waber.  Hence, Connection + Courage = Dragon Magic!

Another focus for Ms. Livermon is an outdoor learning component to the curriculum. Building on Maureen Jensen’s work, the school will be running a pilot program this year.  Plans to hire someone to head up the program in the greenhouse, on the nature trail, and in the outdoor gardens are underway.

As principal, Ms. Livermon has high expectations of every student. The students are expected to cooperate with others, but to show assertiveness in voicing their thoughts and needs. They are expected to be responsible with the tools they use, time, and the building and its contents. Empathy for others is another important expectation, as is self-control.  Of course, children are still learning all of these traits, so the emphasis is on doing your best and learning along the way! Dragons care!

Ms. Livermon plans to be visible and out in the classrooms as much as possible. She greets students at drop off in the morning, and sends them home on the buses each day, and she does “learning walks” through the classrooms often to see teaching and learning in action. Currently, she is trying to learn everyone’s names, a monumental task!  

“Time” is the resounding answer to the question of what is challenging for Ms. Livermon!  Time to be in all the places she wants to be, as well as time to meet with teachers, do the daily tasks involved in running the school, not to mention time to talk with students, parents and families. Stony Point is a very busy place!

When asked what her message to the community might be, Ms. Livermon replied that Stony Point is a special place with a long and special history. She hopes to partner with the community to tap into the gifts and talents of the people here. She invites anyone who has a desire to volunteer to go to the website and fill out an application. The county has recently instituted a screening process for volunteers to protect the students, but it is not a difficult process. You can contact Kristi Thomas as the Volunteer Coordinator at the front desk at the school, at either 434-973-6405, or kthomas3@k12albemarle.org.

The community wishes you luck and hopes your year goes well, Ms. Livermon!