Winston Salem Times

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools issued the following announcement on October 22.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools

OCTOBER 22, 2021 – Over the years, many people have given Javita Noel-Stockton valuable gifts of the heart.

One of those gifts came from the fifth-grade teacher who inspired her to become a teacher. Another came from the principal who encouraged her to start down the path to becoming an administrator.

Today, Noel-Stockton is the principal at Union Cross Elementary.

When Noel-Stockton came to Union Cross as principal earlier this month, she felt at home right away.

“There was a warm feeling of welcome,” she said.

Her experiences since then have made Noel-Stockton appreciate Union Cross even more.

“My staff is student-centered, and they want what is best for students even if it is an inconvenience for them,” she said.

“The students come in with a readiness to learn. They are excited to be here at school.”

“This is a great, great school.”

Walk 45A bonus is having an assistant principal – Sean Reaves – who is a member of the national fraternity – Phi Beta Sigma – that works in partnership with her national sorority – Zeta Phi Beta.

Reaves does a great job, Noel-Stockton said. “He is going to be a fabulous principal one day, too.”

Another fun bonus is having a teacher – Allison Peters – who is a national champion in the sport of cornhole.

Noel-Stockton was born in Martinsville, Va. She is the younger of Andrew and Helen Noel’s two daughters. Her parents worked in the textiles industry as supervisors for Bassett-Walker until they retired. When she was growing up, she sometimes visited textile plants.  

In her early grades at elementary school, Noel-Stockton said, she could have been described as “rebellious.”

“I was a talker,” she said. “I wasn’t as focused as I needed to be.”

In the fifth grade, her teacher Lorraine Dillard took her aside one day and said, “No matter what, you will be successful.”

In the days that followed. Dillard gave her the time and attention that enabled her to become a successful student.

Teach 22She just didn’t give up on me,” Noel Stockton said. “She was so inspiring.”

The pastor’s wife at her home church – Moral Hill Missionary Baptist Church – was another positive role model when she was growing up.

“We were always told, ‘We are headlights and that’s how we should carry ourselves.’”

She works to keep that perspective in mind.

“I am learning as I grow,” she said. “We are in service of others.”

When it was time to head off to college, Noel-Stockton went to Radford University in Radford, Va.

After graduating, Noel-Stockton taught middle school in Martinsville. She liked working with students making choices about who they are going to become.

Noel-Stockton joined Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools in 2007 as an English Language Arts teacher at East Forsyth Middle. She also served as a cheerleading coach.

While she was teaching there, Dossie Poteat, who was the principal at the time, saw something in her and encouraged her to consider becoming an administrator.

Union 98“Mr. Poteat saw something else in me,” she said. “He put me in various leadership positions.”

She liked serving and leading teachers right away.

“The key thing I have learned about leadership is developing relationships.”

Poteat has since retired.

Asked what he saw in Noel-Stockton that prompted him to encourage her to become an administrator, he said: “Javita has the desire to see everyone succeed and then give of herself to assist them in accomplishing their goal.”

“She can compartmentalize tasks to determine the appropriate order in which is needed to complete each so that individuals assisting with the tasks are not overwhelmed, but deadlines are met. Most importantly she a heart for students and families from all walks of life.”

“Javita has a passion for students to succeed. She is also willing to do whatever is needed to ensure the success of her students. She builds relationships with students, parents, and community members/organizations to build the supports necessary for student success.”

“Javita displays quiet, unassuming leadership with her colleagues. She has the capacity to build a team and monitor the progress of the overall progress of the team in accomplishing the proposed goals.”

Paws 34“Javita is willing to listen to suggestions of others and change course if it is for the overall success of the team/organization. She also has the ability to shift through suggestions to determine which will not provide a viable path to the stated objective and inform the group why she disagrees.”

“Javita is an excellent and willing communicator. She has the capacity to prepare a presentation to varied audiences. Her presentations allow the diverse groups to connect with the overall message.”

“Javita is filled with compassion for all individuals. She is able to motivate those succeeding to look toward higher heights for future success. She can also connect with individuals that are encountering difficulty to see the present obstacles as opportunities to overcome, but not as permanent hindrances to future success.”

While at East Forsyth Middle, Noel-Stockton began earning the credentials that would enable her to become an administrator. After earning a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, she went on to earn a master’s in Educational Leadership and an Ed.S (Educational Specialist) degree.

In 2015, she became the assistant principal at Smith Farm Elementary. Wanting to continue to serve as a leader during the summer, she applied to become a site supervisor for a R.I.S.E. (Reaching Incredible Success Everyday) summer program.

When she learned that no position was available, she chose to serve as a teacher in a R.I.S.E. program at Flat Rock Middle. In the years that followed, she did become a site supervisor.

Family 2Cheryl Wright is the Director of Extended Learning Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Her responsibilities include overseeing summer programs.

“When I first met Ms. Javita, she had not arrived!” Wright said.

“What I mean is to perfect her craft as an instructional leader and support summer learning she served as a teacher at Flat Rock Middle School that summer. That impressed me because in that moment I realized that she was the kind of person to roll up her sleeves to help regardless of title.”

“It was during my site visits that I saw how she interacted with and engaged students.  She had established expectations and held students accountable.”

“The next summer I had an opening for a site supervisor for the summer program at Smith Farm and while I had thought of her, I was glad she was interested.”

“To this day, I have appreciated Ms. Javita's professionalism and work ethic. There are immediate decisions that must take place as site supervisors are leading a site and while sometimes, she has had to make an immediate decision, she never wavered in looping me in to review the nature of events in procedure and protocol.”

“I also appreciated that, when in doubt, she would seek support and came with a ‘teachable’ attitude. She's a teacher and a learner.”

“It was always an honor to have her lead a summer site and because of her leadership returning staff were ready to serve alongside her each summer. She genuinely cared about the students and thus that care is passed on to staff, those who serve.”

“She remembers her why – our children, our future – and wants all others to do the same. She exhibits resilience, empathy for others, walks in vision, has a can-do attitude, is accountable, and a woman of integrity.”  

“I am beyond excited for this opportunity for Ms. Javita.  Not only is it deserving because of who she is, it's deserving because of her skill set.”Noel-Stockton’s husband, Courtney Stockton, is the Pastor of Chain Breakers Church in Eden. He also works full-time for Procter & Gamble in Greensboro, which makes such products as Tide detergent and Gillette razors.

Marry 56They have three daughters. For each of them, they chose a first name that starts with “J.” Jayvia and Janyla are in elementary school, and Jamilia is 2.  

Noel-Stockton loves to sing and has sung in the church choir for years. Before having children, she also sang in a gospel group.

When she’s not working, her greatest joy is spending time with family. She enjoys movie nights and dinners with her extended family.

Cooking is not one of her favorite things to do, she said. “I am the paper plate/napkin supplier.”

Even when she’s not working, her reading may still focus on books that will help her become an even better leader. Her reading list includes The Art of Coaching: Effective Strategies for School Transformation and Is My School Better Because I Lead It?

When it comes to books for young people, she enjoys Beverly Cleary books. Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe is another favorite.

Noel-Stockton readily acknowledges that she is fond of pocketbooks.

“I am a pocketbook fanatic,” she said.

Each morning, she picks the one that goes best with what she is wearing for the day.

Anna Thorne is a kindergarten teacher at Smith Farm Elementary

“I am thrilled to talk about Mrs. Stockton!” Thorne said.

“I am a kindergarten teacher at Smith Farm and have worked with Mrs. Stockton since she came to Smith Farm during the 2014-2015 school year as our Assistant Principal. She was a wonderful Assistant Principal, and we miss her dearly at Smith Farm!”

“The strengths she brings to her new job as Principal of Union Cross Elementary are her compassion and passion for students. Her personal creed is ‘Kindness Always’ and that is the way she handles every situation in her interactions with students, parents, and staff.”

“One of the things I appreciated about working with Mrs. Stockton is that she is an active listener.  She is always willing to help in any situation, and I always left our conversations feeling like I had been heard and understood.  She is a parent of young children and understands the importance of early childhood education and developmentally appropriate practices in the primary years.”

“What makes Mrs. Stockton an effective administrator is that she is an excellent teacher, coach, and communicator. She leads by example and did not live in a ‘glass bubble’ in the front office when she was an AP. She routinely visits classrooms and forms relationships with students and staff.”

“She can find common ground with each person she encounters and earns their trust by listening, putting kindness first, and empathizing with all unique situations.

“She sets her expectations high and the students and staff work to meet her standard. She always offers praise, an encouraging word, and constructive feedback when necessary. She is fair and consistent, and I never hesitated to go to her for help, advice, questions, concerns, or complaints. She helps teachers feel valued, safe, supported, and empowered. “

“Union Cross Elementary is extremely lucky to have Mrs. Stockton as their principal! We miss her at Smith Farm, but I am so excited for her to have this opportunity to lead a school. She will create a family-like atmosphere to create a positive learning environment for students and staff.”

Original source can be found here.