News Summary
Parents at Randolph Middle School are increasingly worried about the lack of transparency following the suspension of Principal Jennifer Schroeder and Assistant Principal Chad Kelley. Both were suspended with pay amid ongoing uncertainties, leading to frustrations over vague communication from the school district. With the critical end-of-year academic period approaching, parents are calling for clearer information regarding the leadership changes that affect the school’s environment and their children’s education.
Charlotte – Parents at Randolph Middle School are expressing growing concerns over the lack of transparency surrounding the recent suspensions of two key school leaders, Principal Jennifer Schroeder and Assistant Principal Chad Kelley. Both administrators were suspended with pay amid ongoing uncertainty, prompting parents to seek clarity regarding the circumstances behind these decisions.
Principal Schroeder was suspended on May 20, while Assistant Principal Kelley was placed on paid leave just six days earlier, on May 14. Despite these significant actions, an email sent to parents on May 28 described Schroeder only as “away from campus at this time,” failing to specify that she had been suspended. This vague communication has fueled anxiety among parents, many of whom voiced frustrations concerning the apparent lack of information and clarity from the school district.
The timing of the suspensions has raised additional concern among parents, especially given the critical end-of-year academic period that includes testing and graduation events. Parents like Laura Newton highlighted the challenges of navigating such uncertainty during a busy time in the academic calendar, calling the situation “a lot of the unknown.” Meanwhile, Joshua Deal pointed out that the insufficient communication has led to rampant speculation regarding the reasons behind the suspensions, fostering a sense of unease within the school community.
The Friday email indicated that an “experienced CMS principal” would provide administrative support alongside Assistant Principal Micah Griffith, yet it stopped short of clearly acknowledging the suspensions of both leaders. Parents seeking transparency are now left without vital information regarding the leadership changes affecting the school.
Amid these concerns, the district’s communication maintains that these leadership changes “will not affect the daily operations of the school.” However, the commitment to maintaining normalcy has done little to quell parental anxiety about what the leadership void means for students and staff alike.
Jennifer Schroeder has a long-standing history with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), having been with the district since 2004. Before her role at Randolph Middle School, she served as the principal of Crestdale Middle School and worked as an assistant principal at Ardrey Kell High School. The recent events regarding her suspension come on the heels of another high-profile suspension within the district – Jamie Brooks, the principal of Ardrey Kell High School, was similarly placed on paid leave earlier in May.
As the school community continues to process these unexpected developments, parents are calling for improved communication from the administration. The situation underscores a broader concern among parents regarding transparency, especially during times of change that impact the educational environment.
In light of these events, parents eagerly await further clarification from the school district regarding the status of the suspended leaders and the potential ramifications for Randolph Middle School. With administrative support being provided, stakeholders are hopeful for a swift resolution that upholds the standards of education and leadership that the community expects.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Community Responds to School Principals’ Suspensions
Charlotte Catholic High School Principal Resigns
Additional Resources
- WSOC-TV
- Wikipedia: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
- WBTV
- Encyclopedia Britannica: School Principal
- Charlotte Observer
- Google News: Randolph Middle School
