Butler’s man in the middle
Matthews teen gives Greenway Park a new beginning
page 19
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Volume 7, Number 44 • Oct. 29 to Nov. 4, 2014
Matthews resident uses sense of patriotism to better herself by Courtney Schultz courtney@matthewsminthillweekly.com
Hope for the Ebola crisis (Above) Matthews-based organization Silent Images sheds light on the work of doctors in Liberia. See Josh Whitener’s story on page 3. Photo courtesy of Silent Images
MATTHEWS – Matthews resident Darcia Treadwell has a strong passion for America – so much so that she voluntarily went on a 12-month deployment to Djibouti, Africa to serve her country in the Navy Reserves. Lt. Treadwell returned home to her three children and her husband, Arthur, on Saturday, Oct. 25 after serving her deployment. While in Africa, Treadwell was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for Meritorious Achievement and served as deputy site director and transportation offers, where she oversaw all Camp Lemmonier-supported logistical operations in the region. The lieutenant, who was born in Jamaica but immigrated to the United States in 1985 to receive a better education, stayed in a 40-foot container with another shipmate and spent most of her time completing coursework for her doctorate in education. “It’s all I could do because we didn’t have a TV or anything,” she said, adding when there was a suicide bomber (see Lt. comes home on page 11)
New leadership team guides Crestdale’s future by Courtney Schultz courtney@matthewsminthillweekly.com
MATTHEWS – A new leadership team arrived at Crestdale Middle School this year to help make the school a leading middle school. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education appointed Katy Richert as principal and Heather Stark as assistant principal this summer to fill leadership vacancies at Crestdale. Both Richert and Stark enjoy the Matthews community, which encouraged both to pursue positions at Crestdale. When the two started their first year at Crestdale together, they instantly clicked, Richert said. “She’s amazing,” Richert said about Stark, who
she considers a perfect fit. The two both have similar backgrounds and laugh together often, she added. As the only middle school in Matthews, the duo plan to make Crestdale a leading middle school and make families feel proud to send their children there. “I want the schools to be top-notch in this community,” Stark said, adding the school doesn’t need major changes to help continue the school’s “path to excellence.” The two are already implementing new plans to reach more students and support teachers. Heading the school
Education is in Richert’s blood. Her mother was involved in education and she found inspiration in watching her mother. “She was an English teacher – she was actually my senior English teacher – and then went into administration,” Richert said. “When I was in school, I was kind of good at English and I wanted to follow in the same path.” Richert remembers grading papers beside her mother and just loving being in school. Richert earned her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Maine, master’s degree in multicultural education from Florida Atlantic University and educational specialist degree from Nova
Southeastern University. Both Stark and Richert said they love to be around children and enjoy reaching out to students. “My favorite thing about this job is just walking the halls and being with kids,” Richert said. Richert taught at an inner-city school with 3,400 students for seven years while she lived in Florida. She worked with many ESL students and developed an improvement plan for the school. She learned valuable lessons that she takes with her throughout her educational career. “Every child matters. We have to serve each and every child no matter what their level – whether they are high achieving (or) low performing,” Richert said. (see Crestdale on page 14)
INDEX: News Briefs, 6; Crime Blotter, 7; Scores, 8; Education, 12; Rev. Tony, 16; Calendar, 18; Sports, 19; Classifieds, 23