Holy Trinity Middle School in Charlotte has undertaken a multi-year, $9 million investment plan that will include campus-wide building improvements and additional teachers and staff as the school transitions to an academy model with a blended learning approach. (Troy C. Hull | Catholic News Herald) CHARLOTTE — Holy Trinity Middle School in Charlotte is in the midst of extensive ongoing improvements to the school that began in late spring and will continue next summer as the school transitions to a blended learning approach and a new leadership model.
A multi-year, $9 million investment plan includes campus-wide building improvements, additional teachers and staff, and a learning model using both single-sex and co-ed classes for a more tailored educational experience.
School leaders are working with students, parents and teachers to refresh its look-and-feel while honoring its traditions. When complete, the school will open in Fall 2026 with a new name: Holy Trinity Catholic Academy.
As part of its new chapter, the school has moved to a president-principal administration with former Principal Kevin Parks assuming the role of president. Incoming Principal Robert “Bobby” Conrad is an alum of Holy Trinity’s first graduating class in 1996. Read more.
“After years of serving at Charlotte Catholic, Mr. Conrad returns to his roots at Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School to help lead us into the next chapter of our school’s legacy,” Parks said.
The first phase of construction, which began in May, is a $3.4 million renovation of the administration building, which was originally built in the mid-1950s, Parks said.
“That building holds our office and the majority of our science labs,” he said. “We’ve added offices, done a complete renovation of all the classrooms and hallways, and added a classroom for theology.”
The science labs were refreshed with new flooring, cabinets, furniture and equipment.
When fully implemented, Holy Trinity’s blended learning approach will offer single-sex classes in core subjects such as English and math, while a variety of electives as well as extracurricular activities and events will remain co-ed beginning in 2026-27. The curriculum will be the same for girls and boys but will be customized to better accommodate different learning styles and developmental needs.
In preparation for the changes, faculty are participating in ongoing professional development, focusing both on nuances of single-sex education and overall development as teachers, Parks said.
Conrad and several faculty members attended a program this summer in Chicago focused on enhanced lesson planning and teaching techniques.
“Good teaching is just good teaching,” Parks said, “and that’s what we’re working on from a professional development standpoint.”
— Christina Lee Knauss
CHARLOTTE — Father Timothy Reid is stepping down as Vicar of Education for Catholic Schools after five years of leadership marked by significant expansion, strengthened Catholic identity, and record enrollment across the Diocese of Charlotte’s 20 schools.
With his five-year commitment to this role completed, Father Reid says he’ll miss his daily interactions with students and educators but is looking forward to devoting more time in service of his growing parish, St. Ann Parish and School, which he has shepherded for most of his two decades of priestly ministry.
“We are grateful for Father Reid’s service through the pandemic and at a time of unprecedented growth in our schools,” said Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv., “and I know the parishioners of St. Ann will appreciate having his full attention as the parish also manages the blessings and challenges of growth.”
The leadership transition aligns with Bishop Martin’s effort to place priests where they are uniquely qualified and can have the greatest impact – in parish ministry, providing sacraments and pastoral care – rather than in administrative roles that can be filled by laypeople.
Other priests serving as administrative ministry leaders have already transitioned back to parish ministry, including Monsignor Roger Arnsparger, formerly Vicar of Education for Catechetical and Faith Formation; Father Julio Dominguez, formerly Vicar of Hispanic Ministry; and Father Peter Ascik, director of the diocese’s Family Life Office until a replacement is hired.
Bishop Martin praised Father Reid’s leadership and focus on the Catholic Schools’ mission. Father Reid partnered closely with Catholic Schools Superintendent Dr. Gregory Monroe, who joined the diocese in 2020 and will now serve as the schools’ top administrator in collaboration with the bishop.
“Father Reid has been a tireless champion of our mission to form disciples of Jesus Christ who pursue excellence and go forth to transform the world,” Bishop Martin said in a Nov. 25 letter to the Catholic Schools community. “The work of our Catholic Schools is ultimately the work of salvation, and he has always approached his role as Vicar of Education as a natural extension of his priestly ministry.”
Father Reid was appointed by Bishop Peter Jugis to the new position of Vicar of Education for Catholic Schools in 2020, and played a key role in unifying the diocese’s Mecklenburg Area and parish-based schools into a more integrated system.
Under his leadership, total enrollment grew by more than 20%, and students earned increased numbers of academic scholarships. Major capital projects were launched or expanded at Asheville Catholic, Christ the King, Holy Trinity, Our Lady of Mercy, Our Lady of Grace, Immaculata and St. Ann, and the MACS Fine Arts Center was opened at Charlotte Catholic High School. In 2023, the diocese’s Catholic Schools system received national recognition as the Catholic Education Foundation’s “Catholic Organization of the Year.”
Father Reid said the transition will enable him to focus on the needs of his growing parish of 1,300 families, especially since his parochial vicar, Father Brandon Jones, is now spending more time each week serving the new Chapel of the Little Flower in Mooresville.
He will also continue to serve on the formation faculty at St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly.
“I can’t express how gratifying it has been to work with school leaders and staff, and to watch our children grow academically and spiritually,” Father Reid said. “We worked hard to expand the Catholic Schools Office to serve our schools, and our schools are in an excellent position to serve our students and families.”
Education has always been an important part of his ministry, Father Reid said, and he’s not giving up that focus. “Getting to be around the kids at our schools regularly was always a lot of fun for me,” he said, “and now I get to do even more of that at St. Ann School.”
— Catholic News Herald