Charlotte (Meeker) Dornbusch

Class of 2004

Role: Biology | Anatomy | Physiology | Physics

Charlotte Dornbusch describes herself as a life-long learner. “I am constantly learning through teaching. Every year I find I gain more understanding of concepts or discover new information that I hadn’t known before.”

She credits her students with being a huge influence. “The students play an integral role in my learning,” says Charlotte “as they teach me things along the way or offer new perspectives I hadn’t considered before.”

Charlotte came to TC Christian in 7th grade. Like her siblings (and TCCS schoolmates) Mary, Laura, and Walter, Charlotte was active in the TC Christian community and threw herself into both academics and athletics. “As a student I really enjoyed English, Biology and Anatomy/Physiology,” recalls Charlotte.

A teacher who stood out to Charlotte was Tom Broderick. “Dr. B was - and still is - one of the most entertaining, intelligent and fun people to be around,” she says. Outside the classroom was filled with many great opportunities, too. “Some of my favorite memories are playing basketball, soccer and tennis at the school. I especially enjoyed my basketball team as most of us played together for all six years at school.” Charlotte’s route to a teaching career was circuitous. “I never imagined I would be a teacher,’ she says. “I had my sights set on the medical profession.”

Charlotte’s route to a teaching career was circuitous. “I never imagined I would be a teacher,’ she says. “I had my sights set on the medical profession.”

Following graduation from Hope College, Charlotte took a gap year to travel and experience a different culture. She became certified to teach English as a second language and got a job in Surakarta, a small city in Indonesia. “Once I began teaching the kids there, I fell in love with it,” says Charlotte. “I loved getting to know the students and being able to help and encourage them during such a critical time in their life.” She also became comfortably fluent in Bahasa, the language of the area in which she taught. On her return to the U.S. a year and a half later, Charlotte returned to the University of Michigan to earn her Masters in Education.

In 2014, Charlotte married her best friend, Brandon Dornbusch, a Traverse City attorney, and they soon started a family. Their twin four year-olds, Mary and Maggie, are now preschoolers at TC Christian, a situation Charlotte says is especially comforting since she and Brandon know the life lessons they teach at home are being reinforced at school. “We really enjoy knowing our children are learning in a Christian environment with teachers who not only teach them about Christ’s love, but also demonstrate that love.”

A young Tom Broderick appears unimpressed with the attempt to render correct military courtesies from Charlotte and her classmate, Koren Buttleman.

The Dornbusch family attends New Hope Community Church and when they are relaxing together as a family, they like to go for trail runs and hikes, play tennis, and spend time with family and friends. And Charlotte enjoys one special activity that might surprise some. “I make birthday cakes for people,” she says with a smile.

The love for teaching that developed in Charlotte during her time in Indonesia has only grown stronger. Reflecting on her career so far, it’s the relationships that come through again and again. “I have had the privilege of teaching students from 6th grade all the way through 12th grade, and it is such a blessing to see them grow into incredible young men and women. I have the opportunity - the blessing - to form relationships with kids during an important time in their life,” she says. “It allows me to encourage and support them when they may need it most.”

Charlotte is clearly energized by those relationships. “Teaching is such a wonderful job! My students brighten my day with their personalities, questions and conversation,” she says. “I believe kids and young adults are some of the best company you can keep.”

We think Charlotte’s students would respond to that compliment with a hearty “Likewise!”