By Mary O’KEEFE

The Glendale Unified School District has announced that current Fremont Elementary School principal Cynthia Livingston will be assuming the role of principal at Rosemont Middle School.
In a principal musical chairs, Livingston will be taking over the helm at Rosemont after that school’s principal of two years Michele Doll moves on to assume the position at Crescenta Valley High School filling the chief position vacated by soon retiring Linda Evans.
“I thought this was a great opportunity,” Livingston said.
Richard Sheehan, who himself will be changing jobs from assistant superintendent to superintendent this year, said the district had received many applications for the principal positions.
Livingston said Sheehan this spring had asked if anyone was interested in moving from his or her position. Since Doll was moving to CVHS, Livingston said she knew there would be an opening at Rosemont.
Like Doll who will be following her eighth graders to the high school, Livingston is excited that she could move on to middle school with her sixth graders.
“They will have the same principal for nine years,” she said.
She added when she told the sixth graders they couldn’t believe it but were also excited.
“They were so adorable. They kept saying ‘You’re joking,’” she said.
She added the parents have been very supportive and kind.
Livingston has been an educator for 31 years, 13 of those as principal at Fremont. She is a long time resident of Crescenta Valley and understands the community’s specific concerns about its schools.
“I like going into the community and meeting people. I get stopped while I’m shopping or at the [Harvest Market]. In fact while I was at the donut shop buying donuts for my staff a Rosemont parent stopped me to talk to me about the school,” she said.
She did admit that leaving will be bittersweet.
“In the middle of the solo concert at [Fremont] I burst into tears. I love Fremont, I love my job and I feel so lucky. I am just moving up the street,” she said. “I feel so honored that Dr. Sheehan thought I could do this job.”
On Monday night about 100 Fremont parents shared their opinions of what characteristics they are looking for in a new principal.
On Wednesday the district announced who that new principal will be: 10-year Glendale district veteran Christin Walley.
She has taught physical education at district schools including Fremont and was acting principal at the school this year when Livingston was out of the office due to a back injury after a car accident.

  Crescenta, Fremont, Livingston