New principal at Charlotte Central School

The new year is set to begin with an administrative restructuring at Charlotte Central School, with Assistant Principal Tim O’Leary transitioning into the lead principal role. Beth Slater, currently the school’s student services director and a special educator, will become a special services director and assistant principal, while Jen Roth, the school’s current lead principal, moves to Shelburne Community School to serve as pre-K-4 principal.

“The opportunity to serve as principal at Charlotte Central School is both exciting and deeply meaningful,” said O’Leary, who joined the administrative team at Charlotte Central School this year and has worked in the Champlain Valley School District for eight years. “Stepping into this role inspires me to lead and collaborate within an already high-functioning team that benefits from the strengths and leadership of many.”

During his time in the district, O’Leary has supported digital learning, curriculum development and instructional coaching, and he played a key role in establishing the Virtual Learning Academy, where he served as the middle-level principal during the 2020-21 school year, a pivotal part of the Champlain Valley School District’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before his work in the CVSD, O’Leary was a high school teacher and special educator. 

An educator of more than two decades, Beth Slater has been at Charlotte Central School for eight years, most recently in a split role as an eighth grade special educator and as the director of student services. Prior to working in the Champlain Valley School District, Slater worked in Grand Isle for 14 years, and she holds a master’s degree in special education from the College of Saint Joseph and has completed advanced graduate studies through Saint Michael’s College. 

“Since my start at CCS, I see a legacy of community partnerships, innovative educators and our collective love and appreciation in service to the Charlotte youth,” says outgoing Lead Principal Jen Roth. “Tim and Beth will be a dynamic team, each leading with their own plethora of skills centered on relationships and the belief that each member of the community has something to enhance our school.”

CVSD Interim Superintendent Adam Bunting announced this transition to staff, faculty, families and caregivers this week, sharing that this restructuring moves the district in a direction that maximizes each leader’s varied experiences and talents, demonstrating the flexibility and creativity that the school district seeks to achieve in the coming years. 

“These changes align the strengths of our administrative team in preparation for the second semester,” Bunting says. “We made these decisions with collaboration, thought and intention as we reflected on how we best support our teachers to inspire our learners.”

(Tyler Cohen is Champlain Valley School District communications manager.)