Greg Monroe, Superintendent of Schools, Diocese of Charlotte
In an interview with Invest:, Greg Monroe, the superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Charlotte, highlighted the launch of a special education program spanning pre-K to high school, record enrollments, and integrating faith with academic excellence. “Our Catholic identity is who we are and our Catholic identity calls us to excellence,” he said.
What have been some of the biggest accomplishments for the diocese from the last year?
We have fully launched our special ed program from pre-k to high school, which enriches our community. We do a great job of teaming with other organizations to be successful there. We also continue to be a diverse learning community, including reaching out to a number of neighborhoods that have not heard of our school before. We welcome a wide range of identities and backgrounds.
We had record enrollment this past year and we are on track to have another record this upcoming year. We are one of the fastest growing Catholic school systems in the country, which lets us know people are happy with the service they are receiving and they are telling their friends. We have also opened up a new gym north of town at Christ the King High School and have launched new, regionwide, interscholastic competitions that bring together schools for fun competitions. That was held at the Fine Arts Center, a $23 million state-of-the-art performance and education building that we opened in 2022 and has really become a community hub.
How are these developments enhancing the overall education experience for students?
We believe in holistic education that encompasses both body and soul. We provide our students with all the opportunities they need to develop all their skills. We provide resources, learning and leadership opportunities not only to become a good person but also to lean into the talents and pathways we know will help them succeed no matter where they go. We have kids who start clubs and have opportunities to partner with local businesses and colleges that allow them to do things they can’t do in a classroom setting and give them firsthand experience doing something they are interested in. No matter where they’re going, no matter where they’re coming from, we’re going to do whatever possible to help that individual child succeed.
How do you ensure consistency across schools?
Students are going to get a consistent educational experience no matter what school they go to, and they’ll see similar resources, classes and extracurricular activities – although we realize schools are not cookie-cutter, and each school is going to have its own identity, demographics and nuances. Still, we have the same consistent standard of high quality and the same high standards across all 20 of our schools, but how that is played out on a local level will depend on the students and families we are serving. Depending on where you go in our dioeces, which covers the western half of North Carolina, you are going to have a great experience, but it will be tailored to the needs of the community.
How do you best integrate faith with academic excellence?
Our Catholic identity permeates everything we do. If we didn’t have that faith component, we wouldn’t be a Catholic school, so we start with our adherence to making sure our kids have an opportuinty to learn the faith and grow in virtue. Our Catholic identity is who we are and calls us to excellence in academics and everything we do. We are modeling ourselves after the values Jesus demonstrated. We also focus on helping kids articulate why they believe what they believe, and to critically think about their preparation for the future. We expect every person who is part of our community to model the values of the Gospel to each other and to bring that love and light of Christ to everybody.
What are some programs you believe have benefited students the most on a holistic level?
Service is a big aspect of what we do. That goes beyond the classroom and serves the community as well. All of our schools do days of service, and we participate in organizations like soup kitchens, Catholic Charities, Roof Above and MiraVia, a home for pregnant women and single mothers. These activities show our kids that not everyone has the things and opportunities they might have had in life. It also shows them the ways they can give back to the community. With our kids, we realize that if we do our job, they will create positive impacts wherever they go.
What is your outlook for the next two to three years?
We want to continue to turn out good leaders who can think critically and respond with charity to the challenges of today. We want to create leaders who are empathetic, willing to engage in dialogue and to help communities move forward in a productive way. We have been talking about what is next on the educational horizon when it comes to artificial intelligence and finding the next technology that will hit us. We always like to say that if we are doing our job correctly, and helping students learn those necessary skills, they will do well no matter where they go. Technology can continue to advance, but it will never be able to replace imagination and critical thinking. That is our goal, and we continue to articulate that goal and mission. We are very happy to talk to anyone interested in joining our schools and encourage them to tour. They will find that everyone is welcome and there are many opportunities to succeed and grow in leadership and virtue.
