Searching for Male Mentors

Charlotte Latin School Spotlight

Meet Isa Stokes

Director of Academic Transition and Student Success

In the fall of 2022, Isa Stokes joined the Charlotte Latin School Academic Affairs Department as Director of Academic Transition and Student Success bringing with him 20 years of experience in the education and child welfare sectors. Isa comes to Charlotte and Charlotte Latin most recently from The SEED School of Maryland, where he served as Dean for three years. There he helped students navigate the rigors of school and transition to college, resulting in a 100% college acceptance rate. At Charlotte Latin, Isa puts his own story of transition and opportunity to work for all students and families — especially those new to the Latin community or to the independent school world. Isa understands the need for students to develop critical thinking and executive functioning skills. Himself an athlete, he understands the rigors of the student-athlete schedule and works as an accountability partner with students of all ages offering time-management and self-awareness techniques. Isa aligns with the school’s Mission and Core Values in his quest to engage students and collaboratively ensure success for students of all ages and their families. Isa has a lifelong love of working with students. He also enjoys tennis, basketball, and football and was a former junior tennis amateur.

We are Hawk proud to introduce Isa Stokes.

Call today to learn more about the benefits of a Latin education: 704.846.7207

Superman Ain’t Comin’ but the Men Are

CMS launches a program to encourage more males to mentor students

By Rosanny Crumpton

Fred Shropshire, spokesperson for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Male Empowerment Network and WCNC-TV news anchor Harold Dixon, CMS family engagement specialist

Photo courtesy of Fred Shropshire Photo courtesy of Harold Dixon

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has launched a new mentoring program, the CMS Male Empowerment Network, an initiative to promote the importance of fathers and positive male role models in schools.

“CMS has always had male engagement programs, but it’s been in pockets,” said Harold C. Dixon, CMS family engagement specialist for 36 years, and leader of the initiative. Each organization worked independently until now, he said.

About two years ago, Dixon had the idea to bring all the male engagement programs together under one umbrella to streamline their efforts and measure the impact on student achievement. Dixon paid close attention to what the community’s concerns were for CMS students. Hearing community discussions about school attendance, preparing for life beyond high school, presence in schools, and restorative practices, he took the information and, over the past school year, worked and planned how to pull it all together.

Dr. Karen L. Mapp, senior lecturer on education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, is a national leader in family engagement among schools nationwide. Dixon sought out an opportunity to work

From left to right: Allison Whitaker, CMS executive director of Title I; Latisha Hensley, CMS director of Title I family engagement & community outreach; CMS interim superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh and wife; Phillip Johnson, principal at Marie G. Davis School)

with Mapp’s graduate students on this project -- CMS was awarded with the incredible opportunity. The graduate students were excited to put together the handbook for such a unique project that encouraged men to become more involved in schools.

The CMS male mentoring program launched with 14 Title I Schools that volunteered to pilot the program: Albemarle Road Elementary, Charlotte East Language Academy, Hidden Valley Elementary, Oakdale Elementary, Devonshire Elementary, Joseph W. Grier Academy, J.H. Gunn Elementary, University Park Creative Arts School, University Meadows Elementary, Merry Oaks International Academy, Wilson STEM Academy, Harding University High, Garinger High School and Marie G. Davis School.

The program focuses on four pillars: attendance and academic success; restorative practices; the power of presence; and life after high school — college and career. Each pillar will be spearheaded by a network of community volunteer organizations that are leading the work in male engagement and have a history of providing these programs in our schools.

Community partners include, among others: Fred Shropshire of WCNC-TV, community face and spokesperson for the group; My Brother’s Keeper; Be There Dad; Project BOLT; All Pro Dad; and the Renaissance West Community Initiative. Additional thought partners and supporters include: Latisha Hensley, CMS director of family and community engagement, Title I; and Chiquitha Lloyd, director of CMS diversity and inclusion.

“We have such a strong and empowered pool of successful and influential men in our city it just makes sense to connect them to our children in our communities,” said Shropshire. “The CMS Male Empowerment Network will make the kind of impact… that will make a meaningful and long-lasting impression on the kids.”

The mentoring program has a board of directors, a team of parents and staff at each school and mentors for each of the minimum of 50 student mentees. Teachers will recommend students to participate in the program.

Who are the mentors? They’re calling all men throughout the county! Families, CMS staff and men of the community. Extensive recruitment efforts have been months in the making. Mentors are men who are interested in making a positive and consistent impact in a child’s life, and can successfully pass a CMS background check and participate in a series of trainings. The motto of the program is: “Superman ain’t comin,’ but the men are!” Hundreds of men are showing up to the group’s interest meetings.

There are plans to open the program to all 94 Title I CMS schools and a CMS Women Empowerment Network is being considered to start soon.

Dixon said during his long career with CMS, he’s witnessed the positive impact male involvement in schools has had locally, statewide and nationwide. He said men can be present, involved and engaged in students’ lives in ways that will greatly benefit their experiences. P