Supporting the Whole Family at Catalyst Circle Rock

My name is Charlotte Myers. I am a Catalyst Circle Rock parent and have been a staff member here since 2010. Every day, I feel like it’s my mission to give back to the school that has given so much to my family and others.  My responsibility is to make sure that each eighth grader is enrolled in a high school that is the best fit for them. I also emphasize the importance of going to college.

Growing up, I attended traditional public schools. When I got into college, I did not feel prepared for my classes and it was challenging to catch up. I vowed then to never send any of my children to a school that wouldn’t prepare them for success.

Fast forward a few years, I had my oldest son, Charlie. When he was 4-years-old, I enrolled him in the private school that was formerly in the Catalyst Circle Rock building. The building then became the charter school that it is today – Catalyst Circle Rock. I thought so hard about keeping him in this public school versus sending him to a private school. After meeting the staff, I decided to keep him at Catalyst. That was the best decision I’ve ever made.

At Catalyst, Charlie was challenged. On top of his regular academic schedule, he was enrolled in the “High Jump” program, which allowed him to take high school classes in the primary grades. This prepared him for the high school admissions process. He was accepted Fendwick High School, one of the top high schools in Chicago, where he thrived because of the strong academic foundation that he gained at Catalyst.

Catalyst also supported me. I used to work in management at a private company but was downsized. With nowhere else to go, I started to volunteer at Catalyst. They then hired me to work with alumni, parents, and now the students themselves.  The work that I now do at Catalyst is the work that I feel like I’m supposed to be doing. We live in a world where you need an education to succeed and I can help families through the educational process that ultimately leads to success.