Celebrating and preserving CMS legacy
Elizabeth Randolph, Dr. Chris Folk honored at a dedication ceremony
Two visionary and steadfast leaders from the
1970s were recognized by Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Schools at a building dedication April 18. Elizabeth
“Libby” Randolph and Dr. Chris Folk led CMS in the
1970s, when desegregation divided Charlotte and
Mecklenburg County. Randolph and Dr. Folk believed
that all children deserved an equal education and
worked to make that a reality.
To honor their legacy, three CMS administrative
buildings on Stuart Andrew Boulevard were named for
Dr. Folk and Randolph. The families of Randolph and
Dr. Folk attended, as well as former and current CMS
employees, administrators and Board of Education
members.
The dedication program included remarks
from Mary McCray, chairperson of the Charlotte-
Mecklenburg Board of Education; Ruby Jones,
District 3 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education
member; Dr. Joyce Woodard, retired CMS educator
and Randolph’s sorority sister; former Charlotte-
Mecklenburg Board of Education member Ward
McKeithen, and current Superintendent Ann Clark.
“Randolph and Dr. Folk’s steadfast leadership
and their grace under fire helped CMS move from
all-black and all-white schools to a more equitable,
integrated school district,” said McCray. “Today we
honor their work and their legacy with these building
dedications, so that all who visit here will have an
opportunity to read and reflect on what they gave
us.”
Randolph and Dr. Folk began as teachers before
moving into leadership.
Dr. Folk was a teacher, principal and administrator for 37 years. He began
his career in 1955 teaching English and journalism at Central High.
In 1958, Dr. Folk moved into school administration as a district advocate.
Decisions about desegregation led to school fights, angry meetings and
bomb threats, including one targeting Dr. Folk’s home. From 1977 until
his retirement in 1992, Dr. Folk served as an associate superintendent
responsible for school policies, community relations and communications. He
continued to work on special projects for CMS until his death in 2010.
Ed Center Bldg dedications_17_inside pic.jpg”He was devoted to the
school system and a product of it,” said Bob Folk, Alexander Graham Middle
principal and son of Dr. Folk. “He told me that at the time when he attended
Duke University people became doctors and lawyers. He struggled to decide
what he wanted to do. One day, during spring break, he was walking by
Myers Park Traditional and decided on education. The rest is history.”
Dr. Folk’s widow, Mitzi, said her husband’s priorities were God, their
family and the school district.
“We had a rule that no phone calls would be taken during dinner but
when desegregation was at its peak, we made an exception,” Mrs. Folk said.
“He would take the calls and many times the people on the other end were
not kind. But Chris would listen, answer questions when appropriate or tell
them he’d get back to them, and he would. He ended every conversation with
‘thank you for your concerns.’”
Charlotte Senior High. During an interview recorded
by Jennifer Greeson for the University of North
Carolina at Charlotte, Randolph said, “…those
were the days of complete segregation. And all of
the schools where I taught were schools for black
students only. We had two school systems, the
Charlotte City Schools and the Mecklenburg County
Schools…you had that throughout until the Supreme
Court decision outlawed school segregation…”
Randolph served as principal at University
Park Elementary for nine years. As CMS worked
towards integration, she welcomed white teachers
and students. She retired in 1982 as an associate
superintendent and died in 2004.
Both Randolph and Dr. Folk moved into
leadership for the district in 1976 when the Board
of Education fired the superintendent and created
a four-person interim management team (IMT).
Folk, Randolph, John Phillips and Jo Foster were
asked to run the district while the Board found
a new superintendent. The team stepped aside
a year later when Jay Robinson was named
superintendent.
“My aunt was always an inspiration to our
family,” said Kurt Schmoke, former mayor of
Baltimore and current president of the University
of Baltimore. “We were in challenging times but we
didn’t realize the role she played until later on. She
never expressed it. That is the type of person she
was. Her spirit and legacy will continue.”
Randolph’s best friend, Rosalia Durante, a
teacher and humanitarian in her own right, shared spirited anecdotes about
their upbringing, education and friendship.
Ed Center Bldg dedications_17_inside pic.jpg”The two of us were children
born in the Depression. Times were hard. Our parents saw to it that we
attended school from the first grade right up to college,” said Durante. “She
kept nudging me through the years. Libby was a joiner; she’d want to be a
member, then the chair. Her mission in life was to help someone every day.
My friend did lots of good things. She was my inspiration.”
A handwritten letter from Folk to Randolph from April 25, 1982, was read
at the event. It illustrates the close, collaborative relationship between them.
“I really don’t know how we are going to get along without you. Whom
will I whisper to at board meetings? Who will do our midnight musings? Who
will help me with the wording of policies? I sh all always treasure the IMT days
and being able to work closely with you, John and Jo. We have come a long
way together since pre-consolidation days, and we can both take pride in the
school system as it is today,” he wrote.
The main building at 4421 Stuart Andrew Boulevard, was named the
Elizabeth Schmoke Randolph Building. Two other buildings, 4335 and 4339,
were named for Dr. Folk. The ceremony featured the unveiling of plaques that
will be placed on the buildings.
“Randolph and Dr. Folk were pioneers. Both left CMS better than they
found it,” said Superintendent Ann Clark. “Today is not about chronicling their
careers but knowing who they were as people and honoring their leadership.”
Randolph began her CMS career in 1944 teaching English at West
Parent Teacher Magazine • May/June 2017 • 11