A science teacher at Cortez Middle School has been tapped as the new principal for Dolores elementary school.
Gary Livick, 45, will be handed the baton from principal Sherri Maxwell, who is retiring this spring.
"This is a wonderful opportunity to guide an amazing school, with amazing staff, students and parents," Livick said of his new job.
Livick lists 14 years experience in education, credentials for multi-subject teaching from Chapman University in Orange, Calif., and a principal's license from Brandman University in Irvine, Calif. His bachelor's degree was in liberal studies with an emphasis in science education from Cal State-Chico.
Providing service leadership to Dolores teachers will be one focus of the job, he said. That includes delivering the training and equipment they need.
"The teachers are experts in their field," he said. "I don't go and tell them how to do their jobs, I ask them what they need to do their jobs better."
Providing kids with computer and Internet technology is only part of the answer, he said. Teaching them how to use that information efficiently and effectively is the real challenge.
"The Holy Grail is to get kids to think critically when they have access to so much information," Livick said. "The new skill for elementary students is being able to sift through all that information and evaluate what is accurate and pertinent to them solving problems."
The format of how students receive information has drastically changed from previous generations.
Teachers, librarians, and textbook publishers used to be the gatekeepers for information, Livick said. But with the Internet, those filters are not there anymore.
"There are a lot of sources for students now - some of it good, some of it bad," Livick said. "Besides focusing on reading, writing, math, and science, we also instruct on the pitfalls of bias, false cause and bandwagon thinking."
Before moving to the Cortez area, Livick taught high school math and reading at Woodlake Union High School in Tulare County, Calif., and at Right of Passage, a charter school in Calaveras County, Calif.
Livick will shadow Maxwell in the next two months to get familiar with principal position.
"She is incredibly well-organized and has done a great job with the school," he said. "I'll have her on speed dial to help with the transition and get her expert advice."
When not teaching, Livick enjoys mountain biking, hiking, skiing and river rafting. He and his wife, Shannon, have two children who attend Dolores Elementary School.
jmimiaga@cortezjournal.com
A letter from Gary Livick
'Greetings, my name is Gary Livick and I am excited and honored to be the next Dolores Elementary School Principal. This is a wonderful opportunity to continue to guide an amazing school, with amazing staff, students and parents.
'I have 14 years of experience in the educational field. I am currently teaching science at Cortez Middle School's 21st Century technology pilot program, an amazing one-to-one laptop program I helped start at the school seven years ago. I've taught science, math, technology and critical thinking at Cortez Middle School and love the students and community. I am also the lead science teacher and the Middle School Science Fair coordinator.
'I enjoy mountain biking, hiking, skiing and river rafting. My wife Shannon and I have two amazing children. Gavin, who is 8, and Ava, who is 6. They both attend and love the Dolores School District. Before I came to Cortez I taught high school math and reading at Woodlake Union High School in California's San Joaquin Valley, where I grew up. I have also taught math to at-risk boys for Right Of Passage, a charter high school located near Angels Camp, Calif.
'While my new job doesn't start until next school year, you will see me often as Mrs. Maxwell shows me how to be a Little Bear. I will try to learn as much as I can from her to make this transition easy for us all.'
Sincerely, Gary Livick
