Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools held its annual Coaches Symposium on July 28 at Harding University High School. Now in its fifth year, the event was created to provide leadership training, professional development and networking opportunities for athletic coaches and administrators in the district’s middle and high schools.

“I think it’s making an impact. It gets bigger and bigger every year,” said Dr. Ericia Turner, executive director of CMS Athletics. “Last year, I think we had about 700 coaches. This year, we had 954 people registered. It gets better every year because it’s led by the coaches. The committee of coaches put this symposium together because they know what they need, they want to learn from each other, glean from each other, support one another, and I think it’s great.” 

This year’s theme was “Elevate – Set the Standard. Raise the Bar.” Hosted by radio personality Ms. Jessica, the symposium opened with a panel, “Women’s Leadership in Sports,” followed by breakout workshop sessions. The afternoon featured sport-specific coaching sessions and opportunities to learn CPR and first-aid training.

The following awards were also given:

• School Coaching Staff of the Year (High) | Mallard Creek High School
• School Coaching Staff of the Year (Middle) | Piedmont Middle School
• High School Rising Star Coach of the Year | Donald Littlejohn, football, David W. Butler High School
• High School Veteran Coach of the Year | Jennifer Baker, women’s basketball, North Mecklenburg High School
• Pillar of Support High School Athletic Director | Jason Fowler, East Mecklenburg High School

CMS provides athletic opportunities for more than 10,000 students in 21 high schools and 44 middle schools, roughly 7% of approximately 141,000 students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The symposium kicked off yearlong professional development that will help the CMS athletic team to best support the whole student-athlete athletically, academically, mentally and socially to prepare them for college and beyond. 

Tulani Vaughn, a social worker at West Charlotte High School, is head coach for the girls’ track and field and cross-country teams.

“I’ve been coaching for maybe 14 to 16 years, since I entered CMS,” she said. “I’m at this symposium today. I think it’s a good idea to bring all the coaches together here in West Charlotte so that we’re all hearing the same things, and we can all be on the same page.”