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
Mr. Sergio Asaro
A New York City area native, Mr. Asaro joins the Charlotte Catholic English department with 15 years of teaching experience. A product of Catholic schools, Asaro has a B.A. in English and Textual Studies from Syracuse University and a M.S.ed in School Leadership from Fordham University. Mr. Asaro resides in South Carolina with his wife, Amy, and daughter, Eliana. He also currently serves as the head coach of the JV boys basketball team and as an assistant coach for the Varsity boys basketball team.
Email: sasaro@charlottecatholic.org
Mrs. Nell Baker
Coming from a long line of English teachers in my family, I was just destined also to become an English teacher. Beginning my teaching career in South Carolina for several years, I arrived in Charlotte in 1986 to begin my tenure at Charlotte Catholic High School. After taking a brief hiatus, I returned to Charlotte Catholic after five years, and this year begins my 28th year here. This year I am presently teaching 10 Advanced English and Honors 10th English.
Email: ncbaker@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
Mrs. Caryn Francis
Mrs. Francis is in her first year teaching at CCHS. Along with her experience teaching English, she has also worked at the elementary school level and in special education. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from DePaul University.
Email: cfrancis@charlottecatholic.org
Mr. Barry Johnson
In a faraway time and place before the Gelflings had settled in Thra during the Age of Harmony, Mr. Johnson earned his BA from Emory University with a double major in English and Religion, and his MBA from Harvard University. After a twenty-five year business career during which he suffered through too many missed flights, meals on the road, task committees, and corporate bankruptcies, he began his teaching career. Mr. Johnson taught statistics at Winthrop University School of Business for three years, and he spent sixteen years at Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, SC, where he taught English and journalism and midwifed the production of sixteen high school yearbooks. Mr. Johnson is in his sixth year at Charlotte Catholic High School. His class portfolio this year includes English 10 Advanced, Photography Levels I, II, and III, Introduction to Digital Graphic Design, and SAT Test Prep.In his spare time Mr. Johnson enjoys settling into a comfortable chair at home with a well edited dictionary.
Email: bajohnson@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
Mary-Margaret Warner
Mary-Margaret Warner is in her first year at Charlotte Catholic. Prior to this, she spent three years teaching in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. Originally from the Outer Banks, Mary-Margaret moved to Charlotte to pursue her career in teaching, while also attended UNCC earning her MAT in Secondary English. Education is forever growing and adapting, and she is excited to grow and adapt with it.