The Vision
From Our Founder & Head of School
“Breaking the status quo, boldly positioned to break patterns of inequity and tackle one of Charlotte’s most overwhelming needs for quality education, individual attention, and empowerment through academic success with accountability.“
– Mary Catherine “MC” Hildreth
MC Hildreth is Founder, Executive Director and Head of School of The Nest Academy. She is a visionary, multicultural pioneer and trailblazer with over two decades in nonprofit and meaningful community engagement, including nonprofit education, literacy, enrichment and after school programs, church planting, multicultural collectives including sports outreach, strategic community partnerships, refugee family and educational support, K-12 administration, instruction and post secondary support and has served as an advocate for immigrants and refugees navigating our city and country at a disadvantage.
MC inspires and empowers diverse communities while welcoming and engaging them to facilitate belonging. The result of her dedication is changed life trajectories, academic success, connecting their contributions, stimulating transformation and igniting equity, economic mobility and growth opportunities.
The Nest Academy has relocated to The Simmons YMCA, where MC is continuing to build community in Charlotte’s East Side , leveraging partnerships to strengthen the ‘village’ it takes to support The Nest’s efforts, and educating Charlotte’s most vulnerable children to become first generation graduates.
MC has worked 24 years in full-time refugee, immigrant, and within marginalized communities in Chicago (K-5 Education coordinator-World Relief) and for 20 years in Charlotte in leadership, outreach, education, development and advancement.
MC’s most recent strategic partnership with The Simmons YMCA allows for an even greater impact on Charlotte’s Eastside through additional programming to embrace and promote Whole Healthy Youth. While optimizing volunteer engagement, strategic partnerships in the private and public sectors, stewarding and connecting social responsibility, working to aid in public policy efforts, and championing the success of a very deserving population, MC is most proud to be a mom and parent (her children are Nest students and a Nest Alumna) and serve as Head of School.
She’s breaking the status quo, boldly positioned to break patterns of inequity and tackle one of Charlotte’s most overwhelming needs for quality education, individual attention, and empowerment through academic success with accountability.
She has served in several roles as nonprofit founder and director, worked over a decade in nonprofit consulting, and was recognized as one of Charlotte’s 50 Most Influential Women.
WHAT A JOURNEY OF LIVING AND LOVING LOUDY! THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!
Our Staff & Volunteers
Laura Reed
Director of Academic Programming
Laura Reed joined the Nest Academy’s staff in 2019 as volunteer middle school teacher and is now teaching all grade levels and serves and co-leads the Nest’s Administrative staff.
Prior to joining the Nest Academy, Laura was the Director of Professional Development for the North Carolina Association of Independent Schools (NCAIS) for 6 years. Before working with the state association, Laura served as Head of School at Noble Academy in Greensboro for 8 years. She has a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Special Education from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Ramsey Howard
Intern Queens University
Elodie Deneassembaye
Intern Queens University
Jordan Cristobal
Middle School Teacher
Jan Aaron
Educational Therapist and Consultant Language, Reading and Speech Specialist
Jan has a B.S., Education; M.S., Educational Psychology . She is a Professionally Certified NILD Educational Therapist, an Orton-Gillingham Educator, and has a Private Practice in Matthews, NC, Educational Therapists of the Carolinas.
Reesh Oghra
Middle/High School Chemistry & Math Teacher
reesh.oghra@gmail.com
Reesh is from Brooklyn, New York. He teaches math, science, fitness, STEAM, and technology. Prior to teaching, Reesh worked as a ministry coordinator at The Brooklyn Tabernacle Church where he traveled with teams to conduct business training, medical clinics, and ministry to various regions of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. He has worked in school systems before, and has been a software engineer, in financial services, and marketing.
Eddie Bell
Physical Education, Art Teacher
A former pro football athlete driven by his faith, family and fitness has a BA from Elon University and over 10 yrs teaching experience. Prior to coming to The Nest, Eddie was teaching and in administration at Martin Luther King middle school and specializes in special needs and physical education.
Jackie Cristobal
Middle & Upper School Lead Teacher
Jacki obtained her Bachelor’s in Education from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She is a Certified teacher specializing in language. Her teaching career began in 2009 as the FIRST Nest Academy teacher to the first 5 academy girls. Jacki’s love for teaching and experience has grown and she is lead teacher of The Nest Academy, now 13 years later.
Ellen Leitch
Lower School ESL Tutor, Board of Directors
Ellen Leitch is a 1984 graduate of the University of Virginia with a B.S. in Commerce. After graduation she worked as a CPA at Coopers & Lybrand ( now PWC)in Washington, DC. She married David Leitch in 1985 and they have three children. While raising their kids, Ellen taught ESL to the immigrants and diplomats from 33 different countries through McLean Presbyterian Church and coached gymnastics at the YMCA. In 2005, the Leitches moved to Michigan for David’s job. Ellen tutored at-risk kids in an after-school enrichment/dinner program. She was also on the board of The Lighthouse,a community-based organization that housed and educated homeless mothers until they became self-suffircient. Ellen and David have been in Charlotte since 2016, when David took a job with Bank of America. Ellen has recently left the board of Council for Children’s Rights and is excited about becoming more involved with The Nest. Her hobbies include cooking, golf, travel, and her dog, Cash.
Princeton Worrell 'Kupe Decale'
Tumbling/Modern Dance Teacher
Kupe is an Atlanta bred freestyle dancer and has many styles of dance under his belt. Along with trending and popular dances, he specializes in raw hip hop such as Waving and Tutting. Kupe has been in music videos for a local Charlotte rapper and a recent Bojangles commercial. He brings a deep appreciation for the culture and art of dance. “I plan to manifest the art of freestyle in every student.”
Years of Academic Excellence
Students Enrolled
First Generation Graduates
Volunteers Serve weekly
GET IN TOUCH
Location
6824 Democracy Dr.
Charlotte NC, 28212
School Hours
Monday-Thursday: 7:45am - 3:00pm
Friday : 7:45am - 12:00 pm
Weekends: Closed
Phone & Email
980-477-0327
[email protected]