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Administration

Principal, Mr. Roach

It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I write this as the new principal of John A. Crookshank Elementary School. It is truly an honor to have this opportunity. I look forward to immersing myself completely in our school and in the community. Even though I have only had limited interactions with the faculty and parents thus far, it’s abundantly clear that CES has a rich tradition that I am incredibly excited to become a part of.

I come to you with 27 years of experience in education. I spent 14 years teaching social studies at the middle & high school levels, two years as a K – 8 Dean of Students, four years working with the Florida Department of Education – Office of Communications, and most recently, for the last seven years, I have served as an Assistant Principal at both Woodland Acres Elementary in Duval County and Timberlin Creek Elementary in St. Johns County. When I am away from school, I enjoy spending time with my wife and two children. I love cooking, camping, and watching football, specifically the Green Bay Packers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

I believe that every child has the ability to experience success and that success is accomplished through innovative teaching and strong family engagement. As we continue to provide academic experiences for our students that are rigorous, relevant, and build relationships, as your Principal, it is important to me that everyone who steps through our doors; staff, students, and parents is excited to be here! We will do our best to ensure that our students have a fulfilling, happy, and safe year. I look forward to meeting all of you and please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, concerns, or ideas you would like to share.   PAWS UP!

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – W.B. Yeats

Assistant Principal, Mrs. Christi Thomas

Mrs. Thomas has an array of experience in education from Pre-kindergarten through Fourth grade in five states!  She earned a Bachelors of Science in Education from the University of Georgia in 1997 and a Masters in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education.  She is also Gifted and ESOL endorsed.  She comes to us from Mill Creek Academy and is honored to now be a member of the Crookshank community!  Her educational philosophy centers on having the highest of expectations for each and every student.  Her goal is to create lifelong learners that positively impact the community with strong character and leadership skills.

Assistant Principal, Ms. Ashley Torrente

I am honored to be serving as the Assistant Principal of Crookshank Elementary. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Florida State University and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Florida State University. GO NOLES! I am Gifted, Reading, ESOL, and Civics endorsed. I started my career in St. Johns County schools teaching kindergarten, second, and third grade at Ocean Palms Elementary. After teaching at Ocean Palms, I became the Dean at Pacetti Bay Middle School. I love to travel to new places, go to the beach, cook, go to sports games, and visit family and friends. I pride myself on building relationships with families, students, and staff and making sure that students feel safe, encouraged, and loved. I am thrilled to be a part of the Cougar family! PAWS UP!

“One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world.” -Malala Yousafzai