This summer, the family at Scottsville Elementary School has grown a little more.
Following the bittersweet departure of former assistant principal Christa Livermon at the end of last year, the school was on the hunt for a fitting educator to fill the role. When John “Jae” Ellegood saw the open position, he was ready to take on the task.
“We’ve always kind of loved it here,” Ellegood said of Scottsville. “It was a great feel as soon as I walked in. The moment that we spoke, we hit it off. I really knew I would, but it’s exceeded my expectations.”
The Arizona State graduate moved to Virginia with his wife after the birth of his son in 2022. She grew up in the area and the couple wanted to be closer to family. Though he had been teaching at a local high school following the move, Ellegood has prior experience as assistant principal and athletic director at his former high school in Arizona.
“I felt the itch to get back into administration,” he said. “I come to work every day excited. The community has been phenomenal. Everyone’s been very welcoming.”
For Principal Cyndi Wells, the transition since hiring Ellegood in July has been a delight.
“We’re really good compliments for each other,” she said of the new assistant principal. “We’re like yin and yang. It was really seamless and that’s not something I take for granted. He’s very positive. The kids love having him here.”
With his high school background, Wells said the pair make a great tag team to make SES an even better place for their students. Whether he’s jumping in a game of football during recess or helping take over a class for a teacher, Ellegood has worked to make the shift from high school to elementary administration a smooth one for all involved.
“Scottsville is a tight-knit community,” he said. “They’ve embraced my energy. I love coming to work every day. I’m ready to tackle anything head on.”
