Mural artist Christina Davis (third from left) and Heritage Elementary Principal Sharon Anderson (fourth from left) with J.Crew associates.
Heritage Elementary School has two brand-new murals, thanks to funding from J.Crew in partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org. Painted by local artist and E. C. Glass High School alumna Christina Davis, the two pieces add color and character to the school’s cafetorium and main hallway.
"We’re grateful to J.Crew and AdoptAClassroom.org for funding our two new murals at Heritage Elementary. These paintings enhance the beauty of our campus, creating a welcoming school environment that promotes learning and creativity in our students,” said Heritage Elementary principal Sharon Anderson.
Funds for the murals came from a $20,000 donation from J.Crew through AdoptAClassroom.org to be shared between Heritage elementary and high schools, which was announced in May 2024. Each school received $7,500 to fund campus beautification projects. The two schools’ arts teachers also received $500 each to purchase the tools and materials they needed for their classrooms, from art supplies to costumes for theatre productions to sheet music.
This isn’t the first time J.Crew has teamed up with AdoptAClassroom.org to donate to LCS arts programs. In the fall of 2023, they donated $20,000, which was split between the division’s arts teachers and spent on classroom supplies.
“We were so excited to partner with Heritage Elementary through AdoptAClassroom.org to fund these beautiful and imaginative murals by local artist Christina Davis. While J.Crew has associates all over the globe, Lynchburg is home for over 800 of our employees, and it's a joy for us to give back at this local level,” said J.Crew representative Rachel Webb.
Heritage Elementary students watched with excitement as the mural progressed toward completion.
Beautification projects started at Heritage Elementary first. Now complete, the two murals serve as the visual centerpieces of the campus. Both feature Heritage Elementary’s mascot, the Little Pioneer, who represents innovation, curiosity, and exploration—concepts that are foundational to the school’s culture.
“My vision was for the design to represent what the original pioneer might have dreamed the school could look like in the future. I wanted to honor the significance and history of the original pioneer boy, but modernize the imagery with themes of innovation, diversity, mentorship, and collaboration,” Davis said.
In the cafetorium, the main wall is covered with depictions of people of various ages and backgrounds engaged in a vast array of career pursuits, from architecture to astronomy. The Little Pioneer crouches at the far end of the painting, peering through a telescope at his modern counterparts as though admiring how far the school has come. It’s a celebration of progress that pays homage to the region’s history.
“I want the students to be able to see themselves in this mural and understand that pioneers aren’t just relics of the past. Today, they can be pioneers in whatever field they choose, whether agriculture, art, medicine, or technology,” Davis said.
Embedded throughout the piece are the words “prepared,” “respectful,” “in control,” “determined,” and “engaged,” which make up Heritage Elementary’s motto: “Pioneer PRIDE is going wide.” The modern “pioneers” on the wall exemplify all of these qualities, inspiring students to do the same. Located at the heart of the school, where students gather to share meals and enjoy assemblies and performances, the piece is a daily reminder for students to keep striving for excellence.
Down the hall, a smaller mural stretches above a heavily trafficked hallway. Gleaming with the school’s signature orange and blue, it features the Little Pioneer drawing a map with a pioneer girl amidst a mountainous woodland. The piece replaces an older mural, which featured the Little Pioneer traversing snowy mountains.
Davis’s updated version maintains the spirit of the original artwork while adding touches that will resonate with modern students at Heritage Elementary. The landscape is informed by local geography, featuring a river that resembles the James and peaks reminiscent of the Appalachian Mountains. The Little Pioneer’s new teammate reflects the diverse community the school has come to embody.
“This new design pays respect to the original vision of the pioneer boy, not erasing him, but enriching his world in a way Heritage Elementary students can resonate with. I added touches that are distinct to the local area and school community,” said Davis, who researched school history and gathered insights and feedback from school staff before starting the project. “While the pioneer is often depicted as a lone figure, here he works with a friend, emphasizing the power of collaboration.”
Over the past few months, students and staff members have watched the murals blossom from sketches to finished works of art. Davis hopes the pieces will inspire students to embrace creativity and explore their artistic sides.
“The way a space looks when students walk into the door matters. Having personalized artwork on the walls can make them feel at home. It can also inspire them to pursue art themselves, especially if they know the art was created by a local artist or even their friend’s mom,” said Davis, whose work as an art teacher through the Academy Center of the Arts has deeply embedded her in the world of K-12 arts education in Lynchburg.
Upon the murals’ completion, Davis and Heritage Elementary principal Sharon Anderson led a group of local J.Crew associates, some of whom attended the school or have children there, around the halls to view them. J.Crew associates listened as Davis described the inspiration and significance behind the art.
“By supporting campus beautification projects like these murals, both AdoptAClassroom.org and J.Crew empower schools to enrich their students' educational experiences and create spaces where every child feels valued and inspired to learn,” said Carolyn Aberman, chief corporate partnerships officer at AdoptAClassroom.org.
Plans are underway for new murals at Heritage High School using the $7,500 in remaining funding. With the addition of these two new murals and more to come, students at both Heritage elementary and high schools will learn in environments surrounded by beauty and meaning.
