Vikki-Rose Tunick
Vikki-Rose Tunick has spent over 20 years in education and the majority of her career dedicated to working in Title I schools. Born and raised in New York, she went to college in Saratoga Springs and graduated from Skidmore College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Spanish. Knowing that she wanted to teach in urban areas, she moved to Brooklyn, NY and taught for New York City Public Schools. It was there that she grew a true appreciation for a hands-on and interdisciplinary approach by working in an Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound School. Also while in New York City, she received her first Masters degree in Literacy at The City College of New York and fully embraced the balanced literacy approach while attending several institutes through Columbia University’s Teachers College Reading and Writing Project.
With this knowledge under her belt, Vikki moved to Charlotte, NC and gained experience at two different International Baccalaureate schools, both as a classroom teacher and as a Bilingual Site Coordinator for Communities in Schools, an educational non-profit dedicated to drop-out prevention. She then became an Interventionist and Curriculum Coordinator for Union County Public Schools. These experiences developed her passion for designing curriculum, as well as leading and coaching other educators; she then decided to go back to school and earned her second Masters degree in Educational Leadership at Winthrop University while serving as a Principal Intern.
During this time, she met Dr. Mary Moss who was coaching principals within Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and brought them to see balanced literacy and the Workshop Model in action. The two of them shared the same passion and belief that all students should be truly known, have the ability to learn in an environment that mirrors real life, and where they can use their community as a classroom to have an impact on the changing world around them. These beliefs helped them to develop their mission and vision for Charlotte Lab School, a NC public charter school that they co-founded. Lab opened its doors in August 2015 in Uptown Charlotte and now serves 950 students in grades K-10. At Lab, Vikki has worked in a variety of roles - as a founding board member, Assistant Head and Head of Lower School, and she currently works as the Head of Curriculum & Instruction. It is her true belief that Lab’s model will impact how Charlotte students learn and interact with their surrounding city and community.
Vikki resides in South Charlotte with her husband Marc and their 2 children Avery and Ryder, both Lab students.
The Charlotte Lab School
