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Johnson Elementary

Our School Family

The Johnson Elementary School motto is “We are family.” Small class sizes and a steady focus on achievement create a climate for academic excellence. Johnson earned the 2009 Governor‘s Award for Educational Excellence, the highest honor in the Virginia Index of Performance program.

Johnson Elementary is located in the southwest section of the city on approximately 13 acres of wooded land.  Built in 1954, the school was named for Dr. James G. Johnson, who was Superintendent of Schools for 35 years. In 1993, the school was renovated extensively and an enlarged library, new floors, and office space was added.

A major focus at Johnson is experiential learning. Over the past five years,our school community has established many partnerships with the University of Virginia that provide on grounds experiences and college exposure. These partnerships have included departments of chemistry, environmental sciences, architecture, neurology, physics, education, and meteorology. Our newest partnership is with the UVA Environmental Sciences department. First grade teachers, along with support from UVA professors and graduate students, rewrote the science curriculum to correlate to the Virginia Standards of Learning while incorporating demonstrations, labs, and field experiences delivered by UVA professors and graduate students. This experience has allowed our students to gain an in-depth understanding of the scientific method and to see the many multi-disciplined connections within science.

In addition,a new partnership between the UVA Department of Architecture and the Quest Program has allowed some of our third and fourth grade students to work with graduate students to study the Johnson School catchment area with the goal of providing suggestions to improve our community infrastructure and resources. The students and Quest staff will present theirsuggested improvements to the Charlottesville City Planning Commission.

An entrepreneur and parent within our school community has worked with our second and third grade teachers, as well as our math and literacy specialists, to deliver experiential learning opportunities that teach students all subjects through the art of cooking.Students focus on the molecular and chemical changes that foods undergo during the preparation and cooking process. Students use the scientific method to make hypotheses and measurements to examine food from the vine to the table! Parent volunteers are an integral part of these lessons through team teaching with the classroom teachers.

If you visit our school, you will see that all staff proudly display their college pennants on their classroom doors. This has created a buzz and an awareness around school. We have college T-shirt days and the head of UVA admissionsmet with parents at a recent PTO meeting to discuss financial options for college.This year our fourth grade students willvisit the campuses of CATEC, PVCC, UVA, andanother college campus. We will even use Smart Board technology to take virtual tours on other college campuses beyond our geographic region.

Technology is a common thread through ourcurriculum at Johnson. We do not teach technology; it is an organic part of what we do in classrooms every day. Recently, students were able to interact with a scientist in Columbus, Ohio through Polycom technology regarding the forces and design work behind roller coasters and a museum curator in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to observe a mock mummification of an Egyptian Pharaoh.

The sky is the limit at Johnson Elementary!

The Johnson Promise

As a Johnson School student, I promise:

• to respect all people even if they are different from me;
• to have a positive attitude about learning;
• to solve problems using cooperation, not violence;
• to take responsibility for the choices I make;
• to be honest and to earn the trust of others.
• When I do this, I help make Johnson a place where all people feel safe, respected, and ready to learn.

Opportunities for Parent Involvement

• Parents as Educational Partners (PEP) assists ESL parents in building relationships and supporting the work of the schools.
• Hispanic Heritage Night and African-American Heritage Night are schoolwide celebrations of food, music, dance, and cultural education.
• International Day recognizes many of the cultures that are represented by Johnson students through an introduction to cultural foods and traditions by students and family members.
• An active PTO supports students and teachers through many activities such as its annual Bingo Night and Silent Auction fundraiser.

Awards and Recognitions

• 2009 Governor‘s Award for Educational Excellence, the highest honor in the Virginia Index of Performance program for school improvement.
• 2010 and 2011 Virginia Board of Education‘s VIP Excellence Award.
• 2011 Virginia Title 1 Distinguished School (learn more about Johnson as a Title 1 School)

What Parents Say about Johnson

“This is a great elementary school. The technological resources are good; as is the instructional and special classes (library, guidance are favorites of one child; Quest is a favorite of another). Teachers, administrators, and staff are responsive and engaged.”

"We switched from a private school to the City schools and I have been amazed at the quality of teaching, the positive atmosphere and the ability to engage my kids intellectually while meeting the needs of kids from such different backgrounds. I can't say enough.

Meet the Administrators

Principal Vernon Bock joined Johnson Elementary in 2007 as the Principal. He has a B.S. from Shenandoah
University in Mathematics, an M.S. from Shenandoah University in computer science and educational technology, and
an M.S. from Shenandoah University in Educational Administration and Supervision. He taught math for five years
and was an assistant principal prior to becoming principal. He has been married for 11 years and has two daughters and a son. He enjoys spending time rock climbing, backpacking, and hiking with his family.

Assistant Principal Shawn Muir earned her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Masters
Degree in Liberal Arts at Mary Washington, and a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Duquesne
University in Pittsburgh. Shawn taught grades K-5 in North Carolina and Virginia, then Gifted Education in Prince
William County, and was Assistant Principal there for 3 years prior to moving to Charlottesville. She has a daughter and two stepsons. She enjoys camping, hiking, and traveling.