Over the 2021–22 school year, Charlotte Latin embarked on a year-long strategic planning process that engaged voices from our community of students, faculty and staff, parents and guardians, and alumni. The process was led by a strategic planning team made up of a diverse group of stakeholders.

Our exploration began with a comprehensive community-wide survey and expanded to include several activities to capture stakeholder ideas and perspectives. We conducted 124 personal interviews, held a three-day administrative team retreat and a dedicated visioning session with the Board of Trustees, hosted on-campus think tanks with parents, faculty, and staff, completed a competitive analysis of Latin in our market, organized a school-wide community design day, and tasked committee members with research projects to study specific areas of school life.

Our process was a thorough and deep dive into the Latin community and the many external trends and forces - locally, regionally, nationally, and globally — facing our school, our students, our families, and the world in which we live.

Strategic Planning Team Members

  • Denny O’Leary '90, Chair, Board of Trustees, P '19, '22

    Chuck Baldecchi, Head of School, P '21, '23, '25

    Mike Freno, Vice Chair, Board of Trustees, P '23, '25, '28

    Phil Colaco, Board of Trustees, P '19, '22

    Sonja Taylor, EdD, Assistant Head for Academic Affairs

  • Todd Ballaban, Head of Middle School, P '32
    Ann Brock ‘81, Dir of Leadership Development, P '13
    Abigail Cudabac, Upper School Academic Dean
    Topher Gee, Upper School Teacher, P '22, ‘29
    Lauran Godwin, P '21, '24, '26
    Fletcher Gregory, Associate Head and Chief Financial Officer, P '04, '06
    Elyse Lesley, P '26, '28
    Gene Lowe, P '25, '27
    Andria Quintero, Assistant Head of Lower School
    Patrick Rivenbark '02
    Christian Robinson, P '32, '34
    Maggie Shamblin, Lower School Teacher, P '25, '27
    Jason Strife, P '28, '30
    Charles Thies '90, P '32
    Malai Walker-Moorman '08
    Julia Walthall-Eisman, Middle School Teacher, P ‘35

Strategic Planning Task Force Members

As a result of the self-study process, two special task forces were formed to address identified needs. Each task force is chaired by one member of the school’s Senior Administrative Team and one Trustee.

P denotes Parent, GP denotes Grandparent

  • Erica Moore, Co-Chair, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    Christian Robinson, Co-Chair, CLS Trustee, P '32, '34
    Katrina Burton-Nichols, P '22, '24
    Hugo Caraballo, US Faculty
    Don Gately, CLS Trustee, P ’98, ’04, GP ’30, ’32, ’33, ’35
    Kate Hughey, MS Faculty, P '34
    Justin Lay, P '29, '32
    Karim Lokas, CLS Trustee, P '24, '26
    Tamara McFarland, P '33
    Vernette Rucker, Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, P '23
    Lisa Seaton, Admissions, P ’11, ’14
    David Stedman '82
    Avery Teichman, LS Faculty, P '31, '28

  • Sonja L. Taylor, EdD, Co-Chair, Assistant Head for Academic Affairs
    Israel (Rael) Gorelick, Co-Chair, CLS Trustee, P '24, '26, '27, '29
    Mary Katherine DuBose, CLS Trustee, P '24
    Jean Asinger, Head Nurse, P ’14, ’17
    Irm Bellavia, MD, CLS Trustee, P '19, '20, '22, '25
    Karla Claytor, US Counselor, P ’20, ’22
    Charryse Johnson, EdD, P ’20
    Beth Lucas, Director of Human Resources, P '34
    Uma O’Brien, MD, CLS Trustee, P '28, '30, '33
    David Paige, Director of the Strength Center, P '28
    Powell Paguibitan, US Faculty
    Margaret Sigmon, Director of Learning Resources, P ’96, 01, ’06, GP ’30
    Laura Thomsen, Director of Physical Education, P ’15, ’19
    Jane Tune, P '16, '26

Charlotte Latin School Board of Trustees 2022-23

  • Michael D. Freno, Chair
    Israel (Rael) K. Gorelick, Vice Chair
    Debbie S. Frail '88, Secretary
    Phil C. Colaco, Treasurer

  • Irm R. Bellavia
    John D. Comly
    Mary Katherine DuBose
    Adaora A. Eruchalu
    Paige K. Ford ‘06
    Donald S. Gately
    Karim Lokas
    John T. McCoy
    Kristin M. Middendorf
    Uma N. O’Brien
    Denny S. O’Leary ’90
    Christian M. Robinson
    David A. Shuford
    Charles R. Thies ‘90
    Michelle A. Thornhill

    Ex-Officio

    Chuck D. Baldecchi, Head of School
    Robert McArthur, CFOO
    Effe Ghartey-Tagoe Gibson ’10, 2022–23 Alumni Governing Board President
    Lauran Godwin, 2022–23 Parents’ Council President

Charlotte Latin School Senior Administration 2022-23

  • Chuck D. Baldecchi, Head of School
    Sonja L. Taylor, EdD, Assistant Head for Academic Affairs
    Todd Ballaban, Head of Middle School
    Joanne Beam, Director of Philanthropy
    Susan Carpenter, Director of Marketing and Communications
    David Gatoux, Director of Athletics
    Jim Huffaker, Chief Technology Officer
    Beth Lucas, Director of Human Resources
    Rob McArthur, Chief Financial and Operations Officer
    Erica Moore, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    Mary Yorke Oates '83, Director of Admissions
    Mark Tayloe, Head of Lower School
    Lawrence Wall, Head of Upper School