Principal Shanna Rae

Dear University Park Creative Art School families,

My name is Shanna Rae and I am the proud Principal of UPCS. I have lived in Charlotte since 2004. I am originally from Rochester, New York, where I was born and raised. I have been married for over 20 years to my wonderful husband and I have four handsome sons ages 15-28. I enjoy spending time with my family when I am not at work. I love fishing, resting, watching the latest Netflix series, dancing, listening to music and I enjoy cooking and eating. I am now going to talk about our wonderful school and the values that we hold as a community. 

I work closely with Assistant Principal Neely, Dean Rice, Coach Holman, Coach Burke, Coach McMurray, and Coach Witherspoon. Together we are called the Leadership team. This team will assist me as we make sound decisions which will impact the lives of all learners at University Park. I trust our team and together we will ensure that University Park is a premier place for teaching and learning. 

The University Park neighborhood formed in the late 1950s off Beatties Ford Road and LaSalle Street in the Historic West End of Charlotte. The development emerged around West Charlotte High School after the school moved north to Beatties Ford in the middle of the decade, and it became a suburban community full of ranch homes occupied by the growing black middle class that was settling further out beyond Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU). As Charlotte is exploding in growth and new development is coming to the west side, University Park remains largely intact as a testament to the strides the African American community began to take in the city during the Civil Rights era. It was the home of several important local civic leaders, educators, professionals, and entertainment personalities and the home of black businesses, churches, and schools that still exist on the corridor.  

University Park Elementary School was opened in September 1958 at the end of Hildebrand Street. The first principal at the new school was Elizabeth "Libby" Randolph, who first came to Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools in 1944 as an English teacher at West Charlotte High School. After 14 years at West Charlotte, she was recruited to open University Park Elementary, with parents specifically petitioning superintendent Dr. Elmer Garinger to give her the job. Randolph smoothly led University Park through integration, hiring several white teachers that had never worked for an African American supervisor before. Today, University Park Elementary still exists at its original location at 2400 Hildebrand Street, and is now known as University Park Creative Arts Elementary.

This is my eighth year as an Administrator and I am excited about the progress that we will make. University Park is home to a dedicated and caring staff that works hard to ensure that every child reaches full potential.  Students at University Park receive instruction from highly qualified and certified teachers, and instructional assistants with various levels of experience.  A number of the instructional staff have graduate degrees in education or are working towards them. 

We will always continue to set high standards and make learning engaging at a high level. This school year, each learner will receive either a Chromebook or an i-Pad in order for high quality instruction to happen. Please keep in mind we will utilize CMS visitation guidelines when visiting our campus. 

As an incentive and extension to learning, students have opportunities to participate in co-curricular and extracurricular activities including encore courses, theater, dance, music, B3, chess, Heart tutoring, and Girls on the Run. We have used funding to provide after-school support for struggling students.  We also have community partnerships to build the support system our students and families need.  A local church provides food for our local pantry.  We have had a partnership with the Friendship Baptist Church.  Our vision is to continue this relationship so that students and the community may benefit from the food produced as well as continue to use it as a learning opportunity for students.

Keeping our families informed about events and happenings at University Park is important to us.  In addition to our monthly family newsletter and Connect-Ed telephone messages, and Parent Square messages, you can find a calendar of upcoming events, school news and resource links on our school website: https://www.cmsk12.org/universityparkES 

Once again, welcome to the new school year and, as we will say every day at the end of our morning announcements. We believe in you, we won’t give up on you, because what we know is important, what we do is important and who we are is important. Every child will and can go to college. It starts today, it starts now. We expect great things from you each and every day. Remember, we have the recipe for success! We will see you in the halls!

Principal Rae