The Charlotte Educator Helping Families Navigate Elementary School Like Pros
If you’ve ever found yourself Googling “what does kindergarten readiness actually mean?” or silently panicking at the phrase “school choice lottery,” consider this your sign to take a deep breath, and connect with “friendly, freelance teacher” Natalie Parmenter.
Natalie, a former CMS teacher turned education consultant, is the founder of Primary Focus, a resource hub built to help parents understand and support their child’s elementary school journey without the confusion, jargon, or panic spirals.
After ten years in the classroom teaching multiple grades and children from myriad backgrounds, Natalie noticed a pattern: parents had the same 20 questions every year.
“The questions felt so simple to me… I’d dedicated my career to education… but parents felt real stress and concern about these issues,” she says.
Bridge the Gap
So, she decided to bridge the gap between teachers and families. What started as a YouTube channel explaining how schools actually work has grown into a full-fledged platform complete with workshops, one-on-one guidance sessions, and a newsletter that makes understanding education feel refreshingly doable.
Her flagship offering, The Kindergarten School Talk Workshop, helps Charlotte families decode the sometimes chaotic process of finding and applying to schools. “Charlotte has great options,” Natalie says, “but if you’re looking beyond your assigned public school, it can get confusing fast.”
And she’s not stopping there. Primary Focus is expanding with new workshops, more local partnerships, and plenty of humor and empathy along the way.
She loves giving families confidence; once parents feel empowered, everything changes for the better, for both them and for their kids.
Attend a Workshop
Upcoming Workshops:
📍 Vaulted Oak Brewing – Nov. 12, 6:30 PM
📍 Montclaire Families – Nov. 16, 1 PM (email hello@primaryfocus.tv)
📍 Matthews, Lived In Creative Studio – Nov. 23, 11 AM
🎟️ Tickets: buytickets.at/primaryfocus
When she’s not running workshops or creating content, Natalie’s celebrating wins like hiring her former teacher friends to help with projects and surprising her husband with a Wrightsville Beach vacation.
Tips for Families Enrolling in CMS
Natalie shared some of her top tips for navigating the 2025 CMS School Choice Magnet Lottery in her recent Charlotte Parent feature, and we pulled out a few:
1. Deadlines sneak up fast.
This year’s CMS magnet lottery closes December 5, 2025 for the 2026–27 school year — earlier than usual. Parents should register their child, secure their Student ID, and submit school rankings (up to three options) before that date.
2. Visit in person.
Tour the schools! Each has its own culture, approach, and rhythm. CMS offers incredible programs for free that parents should take advantage of. Seeing a school firsthand is the best way to know if it’s the right fit.
3. Start local.
It’s easy to get tunnel vision for the most popular magnet schools, but Natalie says there are great options across every part of Charlotte. Begin your search close to home or work and don’t forget to factor in the bell schedule. A 2:45 p.m. dismissal hits differently when you’re coordinating after-school care.
For the full list, check out her Charlotte Parent feature!
Want to learn more? Visit primaryfocus.tv or follow along on Instagram at @primaryfocus_.
