Charlotte County Day abruptly splits with head of school

No reason given in letter to parents; head of school Marcel Gauthier was halfway through his second year

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Leader of prestigious south Charlotte private school is leaving, effective immediately, according to board chair

by Tony Mecia

Charlotte Country Day School has decided to “part ways” with its head of school, who was on the job less than 18 months.

In a letter to parents of the south Charlotte private school, dated Friday, board chair Bill Zimmern wrote:

The Board of Trustees and our Head of School, Marcel Gauthier, have made the decision to part ways. Marcel will transition his responsibilities effective today, December 15, 2023. We thank Marcel for his service to Country Day and wish him well as he moves forward to the next chapter of his career. 

No details: The letter did not detail the reason for the change in leadership. The school’s website quickly updated the change in leadership on Friday, with no mention of Gauthier.

Zimmern said that the board voted unanimously that the leadership change is “the right next step for our school at this time.”

The letter promised a national search for a successor. In the meantime, the board appointed an interim leader, David Mancos, the school’s chief financial officer.

Zimmern said in the letter that the school’s future is bright, with a strong re-enrollment rate and increases in admissions applications.

Gauthier came to Charlotte Country Day in July 2022 from Shanghai American School after an extensive search. [Editor’s note: This article was edited on 12/18/23 to reflect that Gauthier came from Shanghai American School, not Singapore American School.]

Charlotte Country Day’s main campus is located by the corner of Fairview and Carmel roads in south Charlotte, with a middle school campus father south off of Carmel, near Carmel Country Club. It is one of Charlotte’s oldest and most prestigious private schools.

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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Business manager: Brie Chrisman, BC Creative