Prestige Preparatory Schools Network

Board of Directors

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of Charlotte Learning Academy is responsible with the overall governance of the school, including (a) adopting, upholding, and serving to fulfill the mission, philosophy, and goals of the school; (b) recommending to the school Principal and the school administration priorities, short-term and long-term plans, and broad policies for the successful operation of the school; (c) adopting and approving the annual school budget and periodically reviewing the financial statements of the school for financial stability, budget viability and state compliance; and (d) building and maintaining parent, educator, and community partnerships.

The Board is responsible for establishing broad policy goals that align the operation of the school with its mission, providing fiduciary oversight of the school’s operations, and supporting long-range strategic planning to ensure the school’s future

BOARD MEMBERS

Pamela Farewell, Chairman ()

Ms. Farewell lives in Kannapolis, NC and is employed with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in Charlotte, NC, where she is the School Resource Officer at a local high school. Ms. Farewell currently serves in the US Army Reserves where she has completed a tour in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom. Ms. Farewell served as a youth leader at Bethel Baptist Church in Kannapolis, NC for over 10 years. She is currently a licensed minister and has served diligently at Rebuilding the Walls Worship Center in Concord, NC since July 2013. Ms. Farewell holds an associate degree in Business Administration and is currently attending Strayer University to complete her bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in management.

Bruce Edwards, Vice Chairman ()

Mr. Edwards currently resides in Charlotte, NC. He relocated from Maryland to North Carolina in 2005 after visiting the area and then falling in love with Charlotte. He is currently married to a wonderful woman for over twelve years and they are the proud parents of two wonderful children. Mr. Edwards was awarded his undergraduate degree in management from the University of Phoenix in 2010. He currently works for the City of Charlotte serving as an Officer with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department. Mr. Edwards proudly serves the citizens of Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte and has been doing so for close to ten years. While working for the police department he has had the pleasure of serving in many units to include the Patrol Division, Street Crimes Division, Special Operations Division serving as a Negotiator on the S.W.A.T team, and is currently working as a Background Investigator/ Recruiter. While working for the police department Mr. Edwards has had the pleasure of serving in many of the youthful programs such as Right Moves for Youth and the Juvenile Diversion Program, both designed to increase graduation rates and decrease recidivism. Mr. Edwards firmly believes that education is the key that will open many doors for the children in many areas around the Charlotte community. Mr. Edwards is dedicated to bringing creative solutions to increasing high school graduation rates for students in the Charlotte Community.

Andre Rose, Treasurer ()

Mr. Rose is Associate General Counsel at Duke Energy, the largest electric utility in the United States, in the Commercial Operations group of the Office of the General Counsel. Mr. Rose is responsible for overseeing the legal aspects of complex commercial transactions and major projects for the utility. Prior to his time at Duke, Mr. Rose was a Partner in the Charlotte office of K&L Gates, where his legal practice focused on construction transactions for energy clients, corporate counseling, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and debt financing. He has been an active volunteer in the Charlotte community, having served on the Board of Directors of the Stratford-Richardson YMCA and the Charlotte Dinner Committee of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund for several years, in addition to participating in numerous other pro bono activities. Mr. Rose holds a law degree from Duke University School of Law in Durham, NC and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Bradley University in Peoria, IL. He currently lives in Charlotte with his wife and three children.

Tara Williamson, Secretary ()

Ms. Williamson is an Access Clinician at a Local Management Entity where she triages and links individuals to mental health services, and assists them through crisis situations. She brings over 15 years of experience working with children and families in Charlotte-Mecklenburg in the capacity of therapist and social worker. Ms. Williamson has focused much of her career working with youth and young adults in and out of the foster care system, and helping them to access services and transition to adulthood and self-sufficiency. She has also had substantial experience working with domestic violence victims, the homeless, HIV/AIDS, group facilitation, and outpatient therapy. Ms. Williamson is a Licensed Professional Counselor and earned both her Bachelors and Masters of Arts Degrees from Bradley University.

Shannon Hames ()

Mrs. Hames is the Marketing Director for See the Matrix (an IT Company in Charlotte, NC). She has a background in education and non-profit marketing. She has a Master of Arts in Organizational & Strategic Communication from Queens University of Charlotte. She has worked with students and families through a variety of avenues including serving as the director of a free preschool for students living in public housing and also working for a local dropout prevention agency. Mrs. Hames recently completed her first half-marathon and is planning on running a second this fall.

Cynthia Hailey ()

Mrs. Hailey is a native of Orangeburg, SC, who now resides in Concord, NC. Upon completion of her bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of South Carolina, Mrs. Hailey received her MBA with a concentration in Non-Profit Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University. While advancing in the financial services industry over the last 14 years, Mrs. Hailey has acquired 7 years of expertise in operations management. She aspires to the "servant leader" mantra of providing her skills and abilities on behalf of those that she leads so that the team achieves its goals and aspirations. Aside from professional experience, Mrs. Hailey supports other organizations and services that focus on helping others learn and develop. When she is not working or giving back to her community, she is a devoted mother to her 4 year old daughter and spends time with her family. Mrs. Hailey exhibits integrity, perseverance, and dedication as she lives by the motto: "We do what we have to do in order to do what we want to do." Great Debaters, The movie

The Charlotte Learning Academy Board of Directors conducts open meetings on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise posted. Locations TBA at least a week before scheduled meeting.

Scheduled Board Meetings

January 5, 2014

February 2, 2014

March 2, 2014

April 6, 2014

May 1, 2014

June 5, 2014

July 10, 2014

August 7, 2014

September 4, 2014

October 2, 2014 (Changed to October 5, 2014)

November 6, 2014 (Changed to November 13, 2014)