Mrs. Carmella Johnson came to Clark as principal in 2022. Prior to that, since 2017, she had been at Johnson School as assistant principal or instructional coach, and she previously served as a teacher and leader at Greenbrier since 2007. She earned degrees from Virginia State University and Western Governors University with additional professional studies at UVa and JMU. Throughout her career in Charlottesville and in Hopewell, Mrs. Johnson has received teaching awards and has held school and division leadership roles in areas from equity to science education.

Clark Elementary was built in 1931, making it one of the most established schools in Charlottesville.  The school is named for George Rogers Clark.

Located in the vibrant Belmont neighborhood, Clark Elementary is one of the oldest schools in Charlottesville. It serves students from preschool through fourth grade. With a mascot of a bee, Clark School embraces the “take cares”:

• We Take Care Of Ourselves
• We Take Care Of Each Other
• We Take Care Of This Place

These “take cares” will follow our bees as they leave the hive and continue their education at Walker.

At Clark, we work to actively engage students in their learning. We do many things to build a positive community through activities such as monthly school-wide meetings. During these morning meetings students and staff recognize student achievements, share projects, and celebrate accomplishments. In addition to this, we are a PBIS school. This includes the “take cares,” as well as “UnBEElievables.” UnBEElievable Bees are a way that we recognize the positive contributions of our students on a daily basis throughout the school. We also have Strive Time where class communities develop a goal for the week and work, together, towards improvement through reflection. We also use the Zones of Regulation, in addition to other SEL practices, to support our students’ social and emotional needs. This year, we are beginning to consider how we use Restorative Practices to support our students. Like all Charlottesville elementary schools, Clark has a beautiful City Schoolyard Garden that serves as an outdoor classroom. The school meets the needs of all its students. All Charlottesville City Schools have a strong commitment to the arts, embrace new technologies, and partner with area nonprofits and businesses to provide opportunities for our students.