Meet the English Department
Dr. Lincoln E. Sigwald - Department Head
A native of Charleston, South Carolina, Dr. Sigwald holds degrees and certifications in English, history, social sciences, and leadership. Now in his fourth decade as a professional educator, Dr. Sigwald has served as classroom teacher, faculty mentor, and ministry administrator. He currently enjoys teaching African American Studies and British Literature in addition to serving as English department chair and faculty advisor to the Student Council and the Achievers Club. Dr. Sigwald credits his family and his high school teachers for inspiring in him a life-long love of learning and hopes to emulate Chaucer’s description of the Oxford Cleric in The Canterbury Tales: “Gladly would he learn and gladly teach.”
Email: LESigwald@charlottecatholic.org
Ms. Belinda Butler
Raised in North Carolina and Texas, Ms. Butler has a BA from Harvard University and a Graduate Certificate in Teaching from University of North Carolina in Charlotte. After twelve years in the investment banking world, she began a second career in teaching in 2013, when she joined the Charlotte Catholic faculty. She currently teaches English 9 and English 12 Honors.
Email: babutler@charlottecatholic.org
Mrs. Jo Cabana
Mrs. Cabana has over 38 years of teaching in Catholic schools. She joined the CCHS faculty in 2003 and holds a B.A. in English from Trinity College and an M.S. in Education from S.U.N.Y., Plattsburg. She currently teaches English 10 Honors and Sports Ethics classes. She started an Integrity Initiative in Athletics at CCHS in 2021 and is the faculty advisor of the Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC). Mrs. Cabana is the Varsity Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach.
Email: jlcabana@charlottecatholic.org
Ms. Katherine Carden
Katherine Carden is in her first year at Charlotte Catholic, and her fourth year in education. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Secondary English Education from the University of Mississippi, and was a member of the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program (METP). Ms. Carden spent the last three years teaching 8th grade English in Mississippi. She currently teaches 10th and 11th grade English.
Email: kccarden@charlottecatholic.org
Mr. David Cornwell
Mr. Cornwell grew up in the Pacific Northwest, living in both Eugene, OR and Spokane, WA, and moved to the Charlotte area to attend Belmont Abbey College. While there he nurtured a love of reading and writing as a student in the Honors College, as well as a love of storytelling on the page and stage as an actor with the Abbey Players. He graduated summa cum laude in 2025 with a BA in Great Books and a double minor in theology and English, and received department awards from both the Honors College and the Performing Arts Department for excellence in their respective disciplines. He has previously taught as a teaching assistant at the Abbey and as a substitute theology teacher at Drexel High School. Mr. Cornwell looks forward to bringing his love for literature, poetry, and storytelling to the English department at Charlotte Catholic and hopes that his students will learn, in the words of the Bard, to "suit the action to the word, the word to the action" (Hamlet, III.2).
Email: DACornwell@charlottecatholic.org
Mrs. Heidi D'Ettore
Mrs. D’Ettore is enjoying her first year at Charlotte Catholic after being home with her four children for several years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a Master of Teaching in English from the University of Virginia. In addition to her experience teaching high school English in Northern Virginia, Mrs. D’Ettore has a background in corporate training, curriculum development, proposal writing, and technical writing. Her former students include U.S. Marines, foreign military officers, adult English language learners, corporate professionals, trade workers, and call center agents. Mrs. D’Ettore is excited to share her unique experience, her love of literature, and her passion for effective communication with her students for years to come.
Email: hed'ettore@charlottecatholic.org
Dr. Mary Eberhardinger
Dr. E was born and raised in Baltimore, MD, where she attended Catholic school for many years. Her teaching and studies have brought her to various places, including Boston, Pittsburgh, Greensboro, and WA state. She also lived in Japan and Singapore. She went to middle school, high school, and college in Charlotte. Dr. E has taught at the post-secondary level for fifteen years (Communication, English, Rhetoric) and is happy to join the Catholic community. When she was in high school, she played varsity softball and sang in choirs. She enjoys talking to students and colleagues about interests and passions. Her hobbies include ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) and taking care of her two Japanese Chin dogs, Yuki and Suki.
Email: mjeberhardinger@charlottecatholic.org
Mrs. Jessica Hall
Mrs. Hall is in her 15th year of teaching. After graduating from Charlotte Catholic in 2004, She received her BS in secondary Education, English from Appalachian State University and a MA in English Education from UNCC. Upon receiving her degrees, she started her teaching career at Charlotte Catholic in 2010. After five years, she and her husband, Joe, moved to Nashville, TN and then Atlanta, GA. They moved back to the Carolinas in 2018 and started a family. Their son, Noah, is currently a student at St. Matthew Elementary School and daughter, Peyton, will be a future Wildcat, as well! Mrs. Hall is very excited to be back at CCHS and to teach English 10!
Email: jmhall@charlottecatholic.org
Mr. Jeremy Kuhn
With degrees in English from Wake Forest University (BA ’94) and Winthrop University (MA ’03), Jeremy Kuhn is currently enjoying his 27th year teaching in MACS, first as an HTCMS original (’95-’98) and then as a member of the CCHS English Department (’98-present). As a CCHS graduate (’90) and the parent of two graduates and two future graduates, Mr. Kuhn values the solid moral and intellectual formation offered by this thriving, supportive community. Mr. Kuhn holds 10+ years of AP English as well as 20+ years of Junior and Senior literature experience.
Email: jtkuhn@charlottecatholic.org
Mrs. Bridget Simpson
I have 15 years of teaching experience at the high school level; the majority of which is in Catholic Schools. I graduated in 1985 from Spring Hill College, a Jesuit institution with a degree in English Literature. After working in the computer software industry developing user manuals, I enrolled in a Master’s program at the University of Georgia and obtained my teaching certification. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to teach at Charlotte Catholic and am blessed that all three of my children have been a part of this amazing community
Email: basimpson@charlottecatholic.org
Mr. David Smith
Mr. Smith has taught English to middle school, high school, and university students. He is in his fifth decade as an English teacher and his 18th year at Charlotte Catholic. He currently teaches senior honors English and AP English literature.
Email: dmsmith@charlottecatholic.org