Campus News

Everybody has made the mistake at least once or twice of raising their hand in class meaning to say “Miss (teacher’s name)” but instead “Mom” comes out. While this could be chalked up to a Freudian slip, it’s not hard to imagine that when you are looked after, taught life skills, and cared for by someone for hours at a time,  the title of mom doesn’t seem far-fetched. Being a field ¾ dominated by women it is safe to assume that a lot of overlap consists between those who are teachers and also mothers. Mrs. Osburn, mother to a 27 and 25-year-old and grandmother to a 16-month-old, Mrs. Hoyle, with a 3-year-old, and Mrs. Pittinaro, mother to a 17 and 21-year old all fit that demographic here at the Park and gave insight to their lives with the Hoofprint Staff

All three teachers described their favorite aspect of teaching as some variation of seeing and helping their students grow and succeed. Pittinaro explains growing relationships is her favorite, saying “It’s all about learning about them… boosting them up when they struggle and celebrating with them when they succeed.” On a similar note, Osburn admits part of it is also growing with your students, “I am continually shaping and refining them and in the process, they change me”. Hoyle relates it to her classroom, saying “I’m a history teacher and we don’t learn, in my class, about the United States at all. We instead learn about rights and protests around the world and then we can draw comparisons or parallels to our society. Now, in my 18th year of teaching, learning with my students is never boring because they help make meaning of not only the past but their current lives and our current lives together… that journey of learning together is so powerful.”

Referring to her students, Osburn admits they’re less work than real kids, saying “They are like kind of extensions of children but without the financial responsibilities… I can send them home at night, and I’m not responsible for their decisions.” Speaking of her actual children, Osburn said “My children are my greatest achievements…the most satisfying aspect of being a mother is seeing how they’ve turned into interesting, wonderful, enjoyable people to be around.” Similarly, Pittinaro says “…what makes me happiest is seeing my children succeed. Even if that is just having the courage to stand up in front of a class and give a presentation, being an active part of a club or sport, or learning how to order their own Chick-fil-a for the first time, I love to see them make those milestones.” With a younger child, Hoyle says her favorite aspect of motherhood so far is seeing the world through an entirely new lens. She professes “I’m seeing it [the world] from the lens of being a mother but I also get to see it almost through her eyes. It’s almost like reliving the parts of a childhood that I have no memory of.”

While all three educators maintained that both teaching and motherhood are extremely rewarding, Hoyle is not shy in admitting it comes with its drawbacks. She confesses “There is so much that we do, that we’re expected to do, that is not compensated…I don’t know if it’s mostly because it’s women who are teachers that it is this way but regardless, there is something there in the toil of a mother and that of a teacher that a lot gets unseen, unrecognized, and uncompensated.” On that note, use Mother’s Day as a time to show your mom that you appreciate her hard work. For future reference, Osburn and Pittinaro said their favorite Mother’s Day gifts have been handmade and from the heart, whether family members made of clay or DIY spa days, just recognize what she does for you in a thoughtful way.

Cue Pomp and Circumstance because it’s time for the senior Mustangs to walk across the stage and get their diplomas! On June 12, 2023, at 7:30 pm the graduation ceremony will begin promptly at Spectrum Center. But before the ceremony begins, there are many things students and parents need to know. A lot goes into putting together this memorable ceremony and getting over 800 seniors their diplomas. This is why the cooperation of students and parents is crucial to preserving the elegance of the ceremony.

Tracy Zornow and Anne Toth have been the graduation co-coordinators for several years. While a graduation memo has been sent out and a senior graduation meeting has been held, students are bound to forget important information about graduation. 

The first is everyone’s favorite: dress code! Students must have a 2023 Myers Park Cap and Gown, a medallion, and a tassel. If any of these items are lost, students are in charge of replacing them in order to participate in the ceremony. Along with the cap and gown, students must adhere to the formal dress code. According to the graduation memo, students must wear “dresses, dress pants (no jeans or shorts), a collared shirt with necktie and appropriate shoes”. Appropriate shoes mean no plastic footwear such as flip-flops or Crocs, and sneakers are not allowed. Sandals are allowed as long as they are leather or not worn down and do not flip when walking. Students are highly encouraged to be thoughtful of their footwear and not wear shoes that are difficult to walk in. Every year, a student in hard-to-manage shoes falls into the arms of Mr. Colson. Don’t let that be you! Finally, students are allowed to wear up to three cords and unlimited school-related pins on their robes. Stoles are prohibited and will be taken away from students and returned after the ceremony. If you have any clothing needs, please see Mr. Jeffus or Ms. Armstrong. If you have any cap and gown issues, reach out to Mrs. Raybon. 

Appropriate behavior is also expected from all students and attendees of the ceremony. Students are expected to behave as adults in order to uphold the long history of this classy ceremony. Ms. Zornow adds, “We have been asked to stress that this is an important, serious program, not a sporting event. Appropriate audience behavior is essential to maintaining the dignity of the program. We have talked with all graduates about their behavior and the consequences of misbehavior. We ask that guests show the same respect to the graduates’ families and guests as they will show to their classmates”.  

However, before students are allowed to walk across the stage, they are expected to have completed the following senior tasks. By May 15th, seniors are expected to reread the graduation memo, update Naviance with their post-grad plans and log their earned scholarship money (even if you don’t intend to use it). Students are also expected to pass all courses to ensure their graduation status. By June 9th, students must return their Chromebook and charger to ParkIT and ensure that all their financial obligations are clear. Mark June 5th in your calendars Mustangs! It is important for students to note that their diploma will have the name as seen in PowerSchool. If there is an error, talk to Mr. Unger ASAP to correct the mistake. This is the day of the graduation rehearsal. Those who do not attend will not be allowed to walk on June 12th. Arrive at Spectrum Center by 5:30 pm and expect to be present until 7:30 pm. Finally, on June 12th, students must be standing in line and through security at 6:30 dressed appropriately. 

It has been a long time coming Mustangs! Seniors started high school in 2019 and finished their sophomore years on Zoom. Junior year started with masks and now seniors have finished their senior year. Congratulations Mustangs!

For the past 22 years, the cross country and track and field teams have been overseen by Lamont Hayes, “Coach Hayes” to his athletes. Not only does Hayes lead some of Myers Park’s largest athletic teams, but his commitment is year-round, with workouts for the cross country runners at the Greenway during the summer, coaching over 140 athletes in the fall, and both track seasons in the winter and spring. In addition, he is at every home football and basketball game to support the teams and manage the scoreboards. 

Hayes is married and a father to two daughters, his oldest graduated from Myers Park and was a sprinter on the track and field team and his youngest is a rising freshman who does shotput and discus for the Randolph Middle School team. 

Hayes began his career at Myers Park in 2001 but has been running since 1987. He ran in college at Austin Peay, a Division I school in Clarksville, Tennessee, Hayes’ home state. Anna Gelbach Longwell, now known as “Coach Anna” to the runners, was coached by Hayes when she was a student at Myers Park and has since returned to Myers Park after graduating from The University of North Carolina Asheville in 2016 to join the coaching staff alongside Hayes. Coach Anna was a conference champion sprinter, her main event being the 400m, setting school records, and placing high in regional and state meets. 

Unlike many other athletic coaches at Myers Park, Hayes is neither a teacher nor part of the school’s administration. Hayes runs his own landscape company, as you’ll spot his landscape trailer on the back of “Gus”, the white Chevy named by his daughters, parked by the track after school. 

Over the two decades that Hayes has been leading the running programs here, he has watched the teams’ success grow and the athletes thrive. Myers Park holds county, regional, and state records across the board for each season, with multiple runners making it to national championships each year.

 One thing that distinguishes Myers Park from other schools is its level of involvement from the local community. Hayes is a shining example of someone who supports the school in several roles. His contribution to the school goes beyond coaching, as you’ll spot him keeping score in the booth at football, courtside at basketball games, or occasionally whipping out the mower to keep the stadium in its best shape.

People’s first impressions of Hayes might be that he is intimidating and tough, but his runners learn that he is very supportive and loves to joke around with everyone. He cares deeply for the teams and wants to watch every athlete succeed, no matter your pace or talent. When asked one thing that the student body and his runners would be surprised to learn about him, he shared that he has 5 tattoos!

Katie Zarzour, a graduating senior who has run year-round all four years and knows Hayes well, says, “Coach Hayes is the best because he makes you feel loved when you least expect it. Although he doesn’t show it very much, he loves all the girls so much and texted me almost every day during my concussion. His care, not only for us as runners but as people, is what makes him so special and what I will miss so much next year.”

“I enjoy watching young kids achieve their goals,” Hayes said, which he has been doing a lot recently, as the 2023 spring track season came to another successful close in early May after lots of triumphs at this year’s regular season and conference meets. He is an icon in the Myers Park community, and it is no secret that his runners adore him. He has led his teams to numerous accomplishments over his many years as a coach and will continue to do so as long as he is a part of the coaching staff.

Do you want to be a part of a club at Myers Park that empowers women to create positive change in their communities? Do you want an opportunity to meet incredible people and make new friends? Then Clothes for Change is the club for you! Clothes for Change is a non-profit organization that works to empower women and young girls through fashion-related fundraisers. Their annual clothing sale is their biggest fundraiser of the year, which takes place in December. In preparation, starting months prior, the club members begin collecting gently-used clothing and have various sorting events to get them organized and priced right for the sale. They also plan to revive their bi-annual gala this year, which, due to Covid-19 and funding issues in the past years, they haven’t been able to put on. Emily Catherine Brietz, the club’s previous social media manager and now upcoming president of Clothes for Change, believes “it will make a great comeback this year and include wonderful speakers, performers, and a silent auction.” 

A lot of work goes on behind the scenes of this big clothing sale in December. The club typically starts collecting gently used or new clothing that is no longer wanted around the middle of October. St. John’s Episcopal Church has graciously opened its doors to the club for them to store and sort all of the clothing items. They then have bi-weekly meetings to sort the clothes into various categories, such as shirts, jeans, jackets, etc. Later, on a Friday in early December, the members move all of the racks of clothing from the church into the Cornwell Center to set up for the sale the next day! Most of the club’s funds come from this event, and Brietz notes, “It’s wonderful to be able to fight against fast fashion by giving unwanted clothing to a new home.”

While there is no specific organization that the club partners with, they give out one to two scholarships to Myers Park students to attend local colleges such as CPCC and UNCC at the end of the year. They send out applications and conduct interviews before awarding a scholarship to a young woman who the members believe will use her education to make a positive impact on her community.

Brietz joined Clothes for Change during her sophomore year at Myers Park. She recalls, “I had always heard the CFC promoted the community within its members, so I wanted to check it out. Through jamming out at clothing sortings with other members and trying to set up the clothing sale late the night before, I’ve become really close with other CFC members and have made great friends in the process.” This past year as social media manager, Brietz created the Instagram posts, sent out the Remind messages, etc. In terms of her upcoming role as president, she says, “I’m super excited to have the opportunity to be president in the 2023-2024 school year. I love my leadership team and their dedication to the club; they are wonderful to work with and the reason CFC is able to accomplish so much!” 

With that being said, they would love to welcome new members for the upcoming school year! Look out for their booth at Club Rodeo in the fall, and until then, you can follow their Instagram @mpclothes4change. “We like to think our events are pretty fun, but even more, CFC gives you the opportunity to create a community and bond with other students you may have never interacted with before, ” says Brietz. “Being part of CFC gives you plenty of opportunities to give back to the environment through our clothing sale and to women in our community through scholarships.” And, as the club members like to say, “CFC4Life!”

As the Myers Park Spring Sports conclude their triumphant seasons, the seniors enjoy celebratory recognition nights complete with flowers, pictures, and monumental walks across the field, court, or track. 

All sports are dictated by times, standings, and scores. Yet, it’s the moments spent alongside one’s team during practice, through sweat, grit, and struggle, that are often overlooked in the face of these numbers. The moments when relationships deepen and when teammates pick each other up after a hard practice prove to be far more memorable, as seen through the reflections provided by the following senior athletes. 

While the Women’s Varsity Lacrosse team heads into the conference finals, Avery Colwell reflects, “Being on the lacrosse team has given me the opportunity to form close relationships with my teammates and has taught me a lot about accountability and teamwork.” 

Teamwork seems to be a common theme among these athletes as they look back on values and lessons they will transfer to their new post-high school lives. 

Individual Conference Champion and member of the Conference Championship team for Men’s Varsity Tennis, Jason Ratledge, also speaks on teamwork, “Being on the team means being able to make a usually individual sport a group thing and winning and working on our goals together.” 

For all of these athletes, consistency is key. Showing up everyday together not only strengthens the individual, but the team as well. 

Ben Jarrett, a member of the Men’s Varsity Lacrosse team, speaks on consistency as he prepares for senior night, “Being on the lacrosse team has taught me how to persevere and stay consistent with a commitment, which has brought me closer to teammates and formed relationships that I’ll have for life.”

Community, family, and team: each of these concepts are mentioned by the following athletes, highlighting the connections developed within their sport.

Paige Maykowski, a member of the Women’s Varsity Softball team, discusses her experience before the conference tournament, “Being on the MPHS softball team has meant a lot to me because it has given me some of my best friends, the best coaches and some of the most amazing memories from high school.”

Another senior, Haley Cannady, from the Outdoor Track and Field team reflects on community after a memorable senior night, “To me, the MPHS track team has meant a place of community where everyone supports and pushes each other to be their best self whether on the track or off the track.”

Charlotte Simas, a senior on the Women’s Varsity Soccer team, recognizes her team after a win and a milestone achievement of 50 goals scored for Myers Park, “Being on the MPHS Soccer team has meant the world to me because it has brought me the best of friends that I am blessed to call my family. The moments shared and the love we have for each other makes the sacrifice more than worth it.” 

Additionally, the Men’s Varsity Baseball team heads into the 4A Conference Tournament strong. After celebrating their last game at the Sink and a memorable senior night, Ike Schmidly notes, “The baseball team has helped me create friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.”

Lastly, Eli Schmidly remembers his time spent playing for the Men’s Varsity Golf team. After the team took home the Championship trophy from the Conference Tournament, Eli won Player of the Year! 

He adds, “I would say MP Golf has meant a lot to me because we get to be on a team which is fun because golf is an individual sport. It’s fun to be able to travel together and play together.”

The consistent threads of community, teamwork, and family are woven into each senior’s reflection of their time spent playing in Myers Park green. So whether it’s sports, clubs, or other extracurriculars, build that team atmosphere, build others up, and build a community that will serve as a source of inspiration for years to come.

A new school bill is on the verge of being passed. The bill would ban schools from including  13 concepts regarding race theory and racism in school curriculums. The bill also includes the eradication of conversations about systematic racism. If passed, this bill will significantly affect the future of education in the state of North Carolina. 

NC House Bill 187  forbids schools from educating students about “privileges because of their race or sex, that the United States is a racist or sexist country, or teaching that one race or sex is superior.” This isn’t the first time that lawmakers have tried to influence the academic curriculum in classrooms. Two years ago, a similar bill, House Bill 324 was passed by the NC General Assembly and sent to Governor Roy Cooper, but was ultimately vetoed. Republicans strengthened their legislative majorities in the November elections, making it more difficult for General Assembly Democrats to uphold any future vetoes. This brings into focus a local issue that is controversial nationwide.

Sponsors insist they’re not looking to shut down discussions about the history of racism and sexism, because the bill has a handful of exceptions. This includes one to allow “the impartial instruction on the historical oppression of a particular group of people based on race, ethnicity, class, nationality, religion or geographic region.”  Despite the bill’s multiple supporters, educators argue that the General Assembly is  trying to limit critical dialogue in schools. They believe this will have a significant impact on the future of education by not equipping students with important knowledge needed to succeed in life.

 Furthermore, opponents of the bill believe that NC lawmakers are not only limiting the academic curriculum, but also the ideas to which students are exposed and harming their ability to engage in real world issues.  NC State Senator, Natalie Murdock states “They’ll [teachers] be afraid of teaching the full history, they’ll be afraid to talk about structural racism and systemic racism—barriers that persist to this day.” She and other supporters believe that critical education encourages students to think independently, question assumptions, and challenge the status quo. They argue that students may become passive learners who accept what they are told without questioning it.

In addition, the implementation of critical education in academic curriculum has proved to help students develop important skills such as problem-solving, communication, and collaboration. Studies have shown that these skills are essential for success in the 21st-century workforce. Opponents argue that by limiting critical education, students risk being left ill-prepared for future challenges. 

Gaston County Rep. John Tobertt sponsors House Bill 187 states that he doesn’t believe in the eradication of the conversations of controversial topics in classrooms and he says he does not advocate for historical concepts to be avoided simply because they portray negative aspects of US History.  Instead, he says his intention is to shape the approach used to present such topics and keep certain points of view from being “promoted” over others. He states “This bill[HB 187] does not change what history standards can and cannot be taught.”  The argument that the bill is targeted more at how such topics are presented rather than historical facts themselves is supported by another Republican, Rep. David Willis of Union County, who said, “We know as a nation we have good, bad, and ugly. And I want my children to understand all of that…We’re asking not to politicize this, but to un-politicize this.”

Although it is not explicitly stated, House Bill 187 ties into the aspects of critical race theory that have come up in public discourse for several years now. Seven other states have chosen to ban the teaching of topics related to critical race theory (CRT), and sixteen other states are in discussions to potentially ban CRT.

Time flies when you’re having fun! The Myers Park Hoofprint Staff can hardly believe the third quarter is coming to a close this 2022-2023 school year. This year so far has not failed to demonstrate what community looks like, as it has been full of endless, special moments of fun, learning, and accomplishments. Going into the 4th quarter, there is only more for students and staff to look forward to. It is always a good day to be a Mustang!

Just recently, there has been huge accomplishments for both the men’s and women’s basketball teams. The boys ended their season by bringing home the trophy from UNC’s Dean Dome in the 2023 NHSA 4A State Championship! All in the same weekend, the New Balance Indoor Track Nationals was held in Boston and members of the Myers Park Track team competed against the best high school runners in the nation. Events included the Men’s 4 x 400m, women’s 60 m Dash, Women’s 5000 M run and 1 mile, Women’s 800M run. The winter sports’ season will be hard to beat, but the start of the season for spring sports gets students, staff, and MP supporters excited for warm weather, spring flowers, and more wins to come. 

Outside of the sports scene, MP Odyssey of the Mind groups placed high at the central region tournament and won The Fusca award. The chess team won the CMSCA high school team tournament, DECA attended the North Carolina State Conference, and orchestra students have been selected to participate in Western regionals. Along with such amazing awards, Dream Team has been active at the park in many ways that included their kindness week, full of activities related to positivity. They also held a January Hygiene drive, and the organization is now planning the Prayers for Elijah Kickball tournament on Friday, March 31. 

Enough about the accomplishments of so many clubs and organizations at The Park, let’s talk about the fun that has been filling the time of some MP Seniors off campus. As some students and community members might have heard, the ‘senior assassin’ game has been full of intensity and determination from participating seniors this year! With a money award of over $800, many seniors have been dedicated to the act of sneaky water gun assassinations. In the first round, over 180 students were participating and hopeful that they would make it through the week to move on to the next round, but after just round one, there were only 69 students remaining. After week two, the reaiming students continue to try their hardest to eliminate their target via water guns, and not be eliminated by another student in the process. May the best senior mustang win!

In other senior news, there has been a busy schedule for students in the 12th grade, and it will only get more busy from here as we head into the spring. Senior ‘skip day’ was Friday, March 17th, and St. Paddy’s day was celebrated by most seniors that day. Just the week before, there was a classwide senior meeting where details about graduation and other exciting announcements were discussed as well as the distribution of senior t-shirts and graduation cap and gowns. June 12th, 2023 is the date for the graduation ceremony, where graduates will walk the stage at 7:30 in the Spectrum Center, in the heart of Charlotte. But seniors, do not forget to show up for the graduation rehearsal at 5:30 on June 5th, also held at the Spectrum Center. Along with the big graduation day, there will also be a “T-shirt Day”, as well as a senior carnival, where students get to share their future plans on a shirt and wear that to take pictures and celebrate finishing out their high school careers! Stay tuned into the Myers Park High School Instagram to follow up for specific dates and times for such events!

In the past 10 years, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) has gone through five different superintendents; not counting the current interim, Crystal Hill, who has been covering the job since December 2022 and onward, as a new search began February 2023. The last time CMS counted on a full-time superintendent was April 2022, when superintendent Earnest Winston was fired after just three years. 

The CMS superintendent’s responsibilities include overseeing day-to-day operations of the school district and focus on improving overall student achievement. They involve community and family participation in student success, as well as advancing the success of staff members. They look closely at the opportunity gaps, such as race and income, within the diverse population of the students and work on closing them. The next superintendent will continue to handle the challenges and aftermath that CMS went through during the pandemic.

In the last year, Hugh Hattabaugh was expected to act as the interim superintendent until June of this year, but he left well before a full-time superintendent could be found. Hattabaugh was vocal after his departure from the district, wishing the next interim would “maintain stability, maintain the work that’s going on in the district and get us to the finish line when they’re ready to hand the reins over to the new superintendent”, according to his interview with Ann Doss Helms, a reporter from WFAE, Charlotte’s NPR news source.

Before Winston and Hattabugh, the superintendent office still struggled to have a long-term resident. Hattabaugh had been the superintendent many years ago, until Heath Morrison stepped into the office in 2012. Morrison then resigned in 2014 and Ann Clark was named the interim for two years. Clark was replaced by a full time superintendent in 2016 by Clayton Wilcox, who was suspended with a unanimous vote in 2019 with no explanation to the public, and then Winston entered the story. 

Last year in April, Winston was fired for “unsatisfactory performance”, before his contract with CMS came to a close, making him the fourth superintendent to leave CMS before reaching the three year mark. A CMS board member, Ruby Jones, leaked a “confidential letter” alluding to a claim that the board had been acting indecorously and interfering with Winston’s ability to perform well in his position prior to his firing. In the letter, Winston’s attorney said that if the board was truly ready to let Winston go, they would have to satisfy his remaining two years salary, which he was later given.

With all the searches, interims, and full-timers, why is CMS incapable of finding a stable superintendent? Between each resignation and its matching statement to the public, there are a few common denominators. 

When Morrison stepped down in 2014, his message read, “There are the anticipated challenges such as developing a budget, promoting the district’s interest in the upcoming legislative session, and exhausting every avenue to reward our employees for the work they do. There are also always unanticipated challenges, which is why this job demands full attention and focus”. Hattabuagh had a similar story to tell, stating that the weekend work demand and “the challenge of day-to-day operations” were all factors playing into his interim resignation last year, along with family matters in Florida. 

However, the question has no concrete answer, leaving students, staff, and parents to wonder if it’s the school system to blame. 

With the current search for the fifth superintendent since 2011, finding a new leader will be pricey. CMS hired a consulting firm, BWP & Associates to conduct the search under a $48,500 contract. BWP is searching for a group of qualified candidates from February to April, with the goal of carefully selecting the most qualified applicant for the position. 

Until then, the district remains overseen by Hill, while fingers are crossed for a trusted superintendent to stay with the school system long term.