Although She’s the Newest South Lake Board Member, Charlotte Rebelein Has Deep Roots in the District and Community

Compared to the other members of the South Lake Board of Education, Charlotte Rebelein is a newcomer, having been elected only a few months ago. But looks can be deceiving, because while she’s a relatively new board member, Rebelein has deep roots in the South Lake District and St. Clair Shores.

Rebelein and her family moved to their current home in the South Lake District more than 27 years ago. She quickly became an active parent, serving as a volunteer in her daughter Kristen’s classroom at Pare Elementary, as well as serving on the Pare PTO. She also worked as a substitute paraprofessional.

In 1993, Rebelein took the position of athletic department secretary and then worked as the public relations representative for the district. When the Koepsell Education Center opened in 1996, Rebelein became the library media specialist at the school, then moved four years later to a similar position at . During her career, she served as media specialist at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

In addition to traditional library-related duties, Rebelein led technology training sessions for staff members on new computer programs to help them stay up to date on technology in the classrooms. She also ran summer reading programs as well as book fairs for students and their families.

Throughout Rebelein’s years of working at South Lake, volunteering played a big role in her life. She served on the parent groups at the elementary and middle school levels. When her children reached the high school level, she helped other parents start a parent group there as well. That is the group that eventually became the Dads & Moms Club.

Rebelein’s contributions don’t end there. At all levels, she assisted Science Olympiad coaches in preparing students for competition. Also, she volunteered as a piano accompanist for solo and ensemble performances, as well as for choirs at all levels. In fact, she still does some accompaniments for middle and high school solo and ensemble students.

Rebelein said she is honored and proud to be serving the district in a new capacity.

“Education is important to me, and having the opportunity to work with the board is a way that I can serve to assist in making South Lake the best possible district that it can be, continuing to put students first and help to educate the leaders of the future,” she said.

Although this is her first term on a school board, Rebelein is by no means a stranger to the concept.

“My grandmother and my husband, Verlyn, both served many years on boards of education, and I hope that I can live up to their standards of serving the educational community,” she said. 

Education is definitely in Rebelein’s blood, as her grandmother, mother and brother have all been teachers.

“I have a very strong background in the belief that education is important for all and that everyone should be lifelong learners. It is important to me to help our students in South Lake strive to be the best that they can in their many years of learning, both in school and in life.”