Dr. Elizabeth Korab named leader of new preschool center

Charlottesville City Schools is excited to announce that Dr. Elizabeth Korab, principal of Burnley-Moran Elementary, will be the principal of our new preschool center, which will open for the 2026-27 school year on the current Walker campus. 

Dr. Korab will work with preschool coordinator Ms. Sheila Sparks to assure a smooth transition from our elementary-based preschool program to a city-wide preschool center. Her responsibilities will include planning classroom configurations, establishing operational procedures, and ensuring that every aspect of the center is designed to best support early learners and their families. She will spend the 2025-26 year as the planning principal and then will run the new centralized program beginning in Fall 2026. 

Superintendent Dr. Royal Gurley noted, “The strategic leadership of Dr. Korab will be instrumental in shaping our city-wide preschool model. Her expertise and dedication to early childhood education will ensure that our youngest learners receive the strong foundation they deserve.”

The Charlottesville City Schools Preschool helps children become kindergarten-ready through play and activities, and it is free and available to qualifying 3- and 4-year-olds. Having a single centralized preschool will strengthen the program's ability to specialize in meeting the needs of the division’s youngest students and their families. 

This transition is part of a reconfiguration of Charlottesville City Schools beginning in Fall 2026, with fifth graders remaining at their elementary schools and sixth graders moving to the newly expanded Charlottesville Middle School.

Dr. Korab brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for early childhood education. She has served Charlottesville City Schools since 2016, first as an instructional coach and currently as the principal of Burnley-Moran Elementary. Prior to these roles, she gained valuable experience as a classroom teacher and assistant principal. Her doctoral work focused on early childhood literacy family engagement.

“I am so excited for the chance to lead the preschool – a strong early childhood foundation is vital for school success,” said Dr. Korab. “I look forward to collaborating with our preschool team to build a center and establishing a strong partnership for our youngest students and their families. I am forever grateful to everyone at Burnley-Moran for what I’ve learned, the community we have all built, and their fierce love.”

Charlottesville City Schools will begin an immediate search for candidates to fill the role of principal at Burnley-Moran Elementary, which will be renamed Sunrise Elementary this fall.

Additionally, families interested in sending their children to preschool at Charlottesville City Schools are invited to apply now. Families who live in Charlottesville City and have a child who will be three or four by September 30 may be eligible to enroll. The priority deadline to apply for preschool for the 2025-26 school year is Friday, March 28, right before Spring Break. For information about how to apply, visit https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/47141396.