Introduction Burnley-Moran Elementary opened in the fall 1954 as a white-only elementary school. It was named dually-named for the first two female principals in Charlottesville public schools, Carrie Burnely at McGuffey School and Sarepta Moran at Venable School, and both also being the heads of those schools when they opened. The decision Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, which overturned the “separate but equal” doctrine of school segregation, was overturned in May of 1954, and the next year saw the Brown II addendum ordering desegregation “with all deliberate speed.

Introduction Sarepta Anna Moran​ (1875-1961) was an educator in Charlottesville schools from 1897 until her retirement in 1945. She was the first principal of Venable Elementary when it opened in 1925, and served in that role for 21 years. Note that Moran’s given name is frequently misspelled “Serepta.” In 1924, the Midway High School yearbook was dedicated to her “high ideals, true sense of justice, refined culture and sincere devotion to her work,” along with the photo of her below.

Buford Middle School is named for ​Florence De Launey Buford (1893-1974)​. Charlottesville opened both Buford Junior High and Walker Junior High (named for H. H. Walker) in 1966 as part of a complete reorganization to racially integrate city schools. Buford in the 1928 “The Chain” Lane High yearbook Buford taught history at Charlottesville’s white high school, Lane High, starting in the 1927-28 school year. In 1931, she became the first principal at the new white primary school, George Rogers Clark School, and was principal there until her retirement in 1964.

Walker Upper Elementary is named for ​Haswell Hunter Walker (1896-1992)​. Charlottesville opened both Buford Junior High (named for Florence Buford) and Walker Junior High in 1966 as part of a complete reorganization to racially integrate city schools. Walker was an educator in City schools for 42 years, primarily teaching high school math. Walker Junior High was named for Walker the same year he retired, 1966, then later renamed Walker Upper Elementary.

Photo of James G. Johnson from 1943 Lane High Yearbook Johnson Elementary was opened in 1954 as a primary school for white students living on the west side of the city. The school is named for Dr. James Gibson Johnson (1871-1957)​, who served was Superintendent of Schools for the city from 1909 to 1946. Betty Davis Via, for whom Jackson-Via Elementary is partially named, was the school’s first principal. In 1955, African American parents and students began formal challenges to the policy of racial segregation in Charlottesville city schools, leading to Federal court rulings ordering desegregation of Venable Primary and Lane High in 1959.

Introduction from History of Venable School 1922-1936 by Johnson and Moran, 1936. captioned: This picture of Venable School was taken on the morning of July 1, 1925. The individuals on the front steps reading left to right are: James G. Johnson, Superintendent of Schools, Miss Carrie C. Burnley, Principal of McGuffey School, Miss Sarepta A. Moran (who has just been installed as Principal of Venable School), and Miss Frances Jones, Secretary to the Superintendent.

George Rogers Clark Elementary School opened in 1931 in the Belmont neighborhood of Charlottesville, Virginia, as the primary school for white students living on the east side of the city. (taken Nov 13 1936 by James G. Johnson) (taken 2019) Ten years prior, Paul G. McIntire had funded what is likely the most visually racist statue in the United States, George Rogers Clark by Robert Ingersoll Aitken, on the Grounds of the University of Virginia.

In 1936, Dr. James G. Johnson published an “Historical Supplement” as part of the The McGuffey Reader magazine published by McGuffey School that detailed historical information about Charlottesville City Schools. Several other prominent teachers and principals contributed to the volume, including Carrie Burnley, Sarepta Moran, and Florence Buford. This post links to some scans of the most relevant information in that book.