Una MacCarthy Takes Over for Chuck Baldecchi at the Lexington School
Una MacCarthy
For a smooth transition at the top, The Lexington School could find no better replacement for Chuck Baldecchi than Una MacCarthy, longtime Assistant Head of School.
Working side by side for 15 years, the two have piloted TLS to impressive success, a trajectory Baldecchi is certain MacCarthy will continue.
“I have always appreciated Una’s thoughts and views on school and community,” he said. “I have depended upon her advice and counsel.”
Like her predecessor, MacCarthy started her career as an English teacher and joined TLS in 1996 where she has served as the Head of the Middle School as well as Assistant Head of School.
Originally from Glasgow, Ky., MacCarthy attended high school at The Masters School in New York, earned her bachelor’s degree at UK and her master’s at the University of South Carolina.
She is married to a TLS alum, Reid Freeman, and the last of their four children will graduate from TLS this year.
One of the first tasks for MacCarthy, who officially begins July 1, is overseeing the school’s new strategic plan.
“This is a wonderful way for a new Head to begin,” she said. “The strategic planning process allows the entire TLS community to have a voice in shaping the goals and priorities for the next five years.”
In terms of educational philosophy, MacCarthy shares the same priorities as Baldecchi. “Mistakes can be painful but kids learn from those,” she said. “If the community is supportive, like it is at TLS, that’s when we can really help a child grow.
“In these moments, students learn to brush themselves off and get back at it. Resilience is an important part of success.”
MacCarthy ended the school year with a favorite assignment – the annual eighth-grade class trip to the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park where all technology is left behind.
Students and faculty sleep in tents and sit around the campfire enjoying old-school activities such as playing cards.
“Spending the last week before graduation with the friends and faculty who helped shape your childhood is a wonderful way to end TLS,” MacCarthy said.
“Getting away from technology and social media in a place that is so different geographically shifts everybody’s perspective.
“All of these kids are leaving TLS so not only are they dangling their feet over the Grand Canyon, they’re dangling them over their childhood.”
MacCarthy is impressed every year she takes the trip with the maturity of the TLS students.
“They really are impressive,” she said. “It is one of the many things about TLS that makes me love this place.”
Chuck Baldecchi
As The Lexington School says goodbye to Chuck Baldecchi, the popular, longtime Head of School will be missed for much more than his trademark bow ties and 1,000-watt smile.
After 15 years at TLS, Baldecchi is leaving to become the Head of School at Charlotte Latin School in North Carolina.
It’s a testament to Baldecchi’s popularity that “Pinpoints,” the school’s in-house publication, dedicated its entire current issue to him.
Effusive praise came from everyone from the President of the Board to faculty, staff, former students and the folks in the lunch room.
Under his guidance, the school moved into a new Lower School Building, celebrated its 50th anniversary, opened The Learning Center for students with dyslexia and broke ground on the new Academic Building.
TLS stabilized its enrollment, expanded athletics and the arts offerings, started an intramural program and was ranked the No. 2 private school in the nation.
Baldecchi also oversaw the renovation of Scarlet Gate, the boyhood home of James Lane Allen that sits next to campus. Baldecchi, his wife Erin and their children Bella, 16, Alex, 14, and Cade, 12, moved in and hosted countless social events there.
Along with core academics, TLS teaches 21st century life skills – Mission Skills – such as teamwork, creativity, ethics, resilience, curiosity and time management.
In fact, Baldecchi leads the Independent School Data Exchange, which produced the Mission Skills Assessment that measures those traits.
“Kids learn from making mistakes,” Baldecchi explained. “These are teachable moments, and good teachers take advantage of that.”
No wonder the school motto is “We Teach Courage.”
Children have to feel safe first in order to take risks.
“That’s why a warm, loving community is so important,” Baldecchi said. “Kids have to feel that if they take a risk, they won’t be judged or called stupid.”
Because that’s the kind of community Baldecchi has built at TLS, there is time in the classroom for “messiness.”
“Order is important but it can’t be all about order,” he said. “Teachers guide learning, they don’t just provide answers.”
In that way, the school builds future leaders.
From first grade on, students routinely are asked to lead their classmates in various activities and to speak in front of the class.
Public speaking is a foundational skill for leaders.
“Because we take time to stretch those muscles,” Baldecchi said, “I’m not surprised we produce leaders.”
Memorable words from a great leader himself.