On the morning of Tuesday, June 3, the faculty and staff of Charlotte Latin School marked the end of the 2024–25 school year by gathering in the Beck Student Activity Center. The final event of the year was the Service Recognition and Retirement Brunch, which annually pays tribute to the everyday commitment of Latin’s employees — and to the exceptional work that they do to awaken the curiosity of Latin students and to illuminate the world.

With a slide show and with gifts from Tiffany, the event honored employees who have been working at Charlotte Latin for five years (18 of them), ten years (11 of them), 15 years (9 of them), 20 years (9 of them), 25 years (Alan Becker, Anne Cammer, Christopher Downing, Richard Harris, Janis Mishoe, Jay Scott, Jenny Urbain, and Lawrence Wall), 30 years (Hunter Murphy and Carol Webb-Gargagliano), and 35 years (Lin Hansbrough, Karen McQuaid, and Mike Weiss). Their combined 905 years of service have made the school shine brighter.

The brunch also honored teachers and staffers moving on from the school, including seven retirees: Joanne Beam (Advancement, five years), Teresa Edwards (Learning Resources (MS), 36 years), John Herrick (Performing Arts, 12 years), Rob McArthur (Business Office, three years), Bob Patten (Upper School, 34 years), Tim Scott (Facilities, 29 years), and Lawrence Wall (Upper School, 25 years).

In addition, the brunch spotlighted a number of teachers and staffers doing extraordinary work all over the Latin campus.

The Inlustrate Orbem awards, presented by Alumni Governing Board Chair James McLelland ’17, honors teachers who demonstrate a deep commitment to Charlotte Latin students, helping them become civic leaders and inculcating the values of the Portrait of the Latin Leader. Nominations are submitted by the previous ten graduating classes of Latin, along with current faculty and staff. The Lower School Inlustrate Orbem award went to Amy Ballaban: “When students say ‘I can’t,’ she finishes that sentence with ‘yet,’” McLelland reported. The Middle School Inlustrate Orbem award went to Lauren Putman: “She is especially passionate about instilling the democratic ideals of our nation,” McLelland said. The Upper School Inlustrate Orbem award went to an individual who “is always a team player,” Aaron Koch. And the Inlustrate Orbem Cross-Divisional award went to the school’s “first lady of Latin,” Karen McQuaid.

Todd Ballaban, Head of Middle School, announced that the John B. Stedman Teacher Recognition Award, which rotates among Latin’s three school divisions, went to Kari Wimbish. “Her classroom is one where every student feels seen,” he said.

Associate Head of School Dr. Sonja L. Taylor presented the Jane Bratton Spratt Awards, which go to teachers who demonstrate excellence in the classroom and compassion toward their students. The Lower School Spratt Award went to a teacher whose practice is defined by “empathy, attentiveness, and deep respect,” Laurie Fischer. The Middle School Spratt Award went to Laura Thomsen, whose manifold responsibilities shatter “any rational definition” of executive functioning. And the Upper School Spratt Award went to the “outstanding classroom teacher” Megan Butt, who in only four years, has “become a pillar of the English department.”

The Paulyn A. Flemm Award, administered through peer balloting, went to a Lower School teacher who is “no nonsense but all fun,” Laura Balabushka.

David Gatoux, Director of Athletics, paid tribute to the coaches who were honored at this year’s Hawkspys — Paul Alt, Nancy Atwell, Hutch Bibby, Patty Hunter, and Malai Moorman — and announced that the recipient of the Steve Howard Award, for excellence in coaching, was Jeff Wolfe, who “never takes himself too seriously, but always takes his responsibilities to others to heart.”

Rob McArthur, Chief Financial and Operations Officer, announced the Humanitarian Award, designated for a full-time employee who has improved both Charlotte Latin School and the larger community of Charlotte — and in this case, the world far beyond the boundaries of Mecklenburg County. He cited the “commitment to lifelong learning” of Kelly Willis. He also announced the first of three Class of ’95 Support Staff Awards, which went to Nadege Head, emphasizing how she made a high level of achievement “seem effortless.”

Stephen Starner of Facilities distributed the other two Support Staff Awards, saying that their recipients — Brandon Nichols and William Strickland — defined the digital-to-analog spectrum of solving complex problems, juggling schedules, and ensuring that the school ran like clockwork.

Head of School Charles Baldecchi thanked the Parents’ Council Committee for organizing the event and lauded Parents’ Council President Kimber Morgan. He praised the “hard work among peers who truly understand what it’s like to be educators, both in and out of the classroom,” urged all present to have a restful and relaxing summer, and with a “note of gratitude,” concluded the brunch — and the 2024–25 school year.