CMS Faith Summit 2017 - Celebrating 10 Years
Annual faith summit brings together educators and houses of worship
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
held its 10th annual CMS Faith
Summit March 30, 2017, convening
with 85 houses of worship and asking
them to renew their commitments to
meeting the needs of students.
Two hundred members of the
interfaith community attended the
summit, held at Forest Hill Church
at 7224 Park Road in Charlotte.
Speakers at the event included
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Superintendent Ann Clark, Forest
Hill Senior Pastor David Chadwick,
Charlotte Mission Network Executive
Director Rob Kelly, Read Charlotte
Executive Director Dr. Munro
Richardson and CMS administrators
Dr. Fahnie Shaw and LaTarzja Henry.
“The first decade of this
innovative partnership has brought
us a lot to celebrate,” Clark said.
“The number of our faith partners
has grown over time, so that these
partnerships reach many more
children than they did a decade
ago. But the needs have grown too.” She noted that the district has added
almost 10,000 students since the 2006-2007 school year and that a
higher percentage of students are economically disadvantaged. Charlotte-
Mecklenburg Schools currently has more than 147,000 students, with more
than half of them economically disadvantaged.
“Faith partnerships matter; life partnerships matter,” Clark said. “You
are the wind beneath the wings of this district and most importantly, our
children.”
Dr. Chadwick discussed the findings of the Charlotte Opportunity Task
Force, which recently concluded two years of research on economic mobility
in the area. The task force was formed after a Harvard University study
in 2014 found that poor children in Charlotte are less likely to advance
economically than children in the 50 largest U.S. cities.
Dr. Chadwick said major challenges now plague Charlotte – segregated
neighborhoods, low family incomes, shortages of early childhood education
and youth mentors and, for many children, a lack of social capital – people
who open doors to the future. “It’s a terribly complex problem, but that
doesn’t absolve us,” Dr. Chadwick said. “We can’t do everything, but we
can do something. We need to recognize that every person is created in the
image of God. Your neighbor is everybody.”
The day’s speakers focused on how the community can work to improve
the outlook for poor children in a variety of ways.
Kelly said, “When we pour ourselves into the lives of students, there’s an
inherent joy, especially when we do it together. We are being asked by our
city leaders and our school system to serve – for the good of our city and for
the next generation.”
A key piece of the puzzle is making sure that all young students learn to
read. Dr. Richardson said that ensuring that literacy skills are mastered in the
early grades can set students on the path to success as they move through
middle and high school.
“Regardless of zip code,
every child has to master the
same set of skills to become a
proficient reader,” Dr. Richardson
said. Mastery of reading by third
grade has lifelong implications
and is associated closely with
high school graduation, success in
the workforce and being able to
understand how to lead a healthy
life.
Dr. Shaw, a program and
evaluation manager with the
district, emphasized the need to
engage families, not just individual
students.
“Families are the brokers of
student success,” Dr. Shaw said.
Forty years of research shows that
families engaged with education
result in better graduation
rates, increased academic
achievement and better attitudes
toward learning. “Regardless of
socioeconomic status, all families
need valid, timely and relevant
information to help their children be successful,” Dr. Shaw said.
Families do not have to know how to do the academic work themselves to
make a difference, Dr. Shaw explained. “I may not be a teacher, but tell me
what I need to do to help and support my child in learning.”
Henry, an assistant superintendent who leads the district’s Community
Partnerships and Family Engagement department, closed the program with
a reminder that houses of worship and public schools have very similar
missions.
“In public education, we welcome everyone regardless of circumstance
or economic status,” she said. “Just as churches are welcoming to all who
attend, our public schools strive to be places where everyone feels valued
and can lea rn. Your commitment to outreach in public education mirrors the
religious values in every faith – values that embrace all people and work to
improve all lives.”
The interfaith, multicultural audience ranged from newcomers to
established school partners. Dr. Shibu Cherian, pastor of Carolinas Christian
Assembly, a predominantly Indian congregation, attended the CMS Faith
Summit for the first time. “At the end of the day, I’m sure the communities of
faith can really help out, given their many talents,” he said.
At a nearby table, members of Christ Lutheran Church who created
McClintock Partners In Education, McPIE, a 10-year partnership with
McClintock Middle School, heard the superintendent celebrate the impact
of their work. Two students, now seniors at East Mecklenburg High School,
will receive scholarships to Appalachian State and N.C. State Universities.
A partnership that started small, with a summer camp for 20 students, has
now grown to provide science, sports and Freedom School offerings for 350
students in the summer.
During a question and answer session, Charlene Mack of Leadership for
Educational Equity challenged schools and the community to go deeper with
relationships. “Don’t just go to parents for ‘feedback,’ but to be engaged civic
leaders,” she said.
Parent Teacher Magazine • May/June 2017 • 3