A new headmaster has been appointed at Charter Day School.

Laurie Benton has been appointed as headmaster of Charter Day School (CDS) by its board of trustees. Her new role took effect in early February, according to a news release.

“Laurie is a dedicated, gifted, and proven administrator,” said Baker Mitchell, the founder and president of The Roger Bacon Academy, which provides educational, administrative and operational support to CDS.

“Parents frequently comment on her devotion to their children, as it is impressive how she focuses all her attention on ensuring that every student succeeds,” she added in the release.
 
Charter Day School, located on 80 acres in Leland, is in its 18th year as a program of classical education for kindergarten through 8th grade. CDS is a public charter school that draws over 900 students from across Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover and Pender counties, officials said in the release.

Benton graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a bachelor of arts in elementary education. She taught fourth grade in Durham for three years before becoming a third-grade teacher at CDS sister school, Columbus Charter School in Whiteville – eventually becoming a lead teacher.

She was named assistant headmaster at Columbus Charter School at the beginning of the 2014-15 school year. Benton has her master’s degree in educational leadership, and she is certified in elementary education, special education, and as a principal.
 
Her goal as headmaster is “to continue the long tradition of excellence that is synonymous with Charter Day School,” she said, adding that she looks forward “to working closely with students and staff to continue the success of the school’s system of classical curriculum and instructional methods.” 
 
The Roger Bacon Academy is an educational management company serving four tuition-free charter schools in Southeastern North Carolina, which are operated by the non-profit Charter Day School Inc.

The four schools include Charter Day School in Leland, South Brunswick Charter School in Bolivia, Douglass Academy in Wilmington, and Columbus Charter School in Whiteville.