Brandy Caton is a teacher who lights up the halls of Carmel Christian School. Caton works as the Journeys Yearbook Adviser, MS/HS Digital Photography and MS Dance Teacher. Caton has loved the arts and expression through dance since she can remember, and she incorporates her creativity and joy in everything she does. 

Caton is a local Charlottean- one of the few of her kind! Caton attended high school in Durham at Jordan High school. Caton is one of two girls with an older sister who is seven years older than she.  She went to East Carolina University and has a bachelor’s degree in dance education. Caton settled back in Charlotte after her college graduation, and she has been able to start her own family in the Charlotte area, where her parents still live. She is lucky to live even in the same neighborhood as them, where she and her daughters get to go on walks and enjoy time together.

Her main motivation that led her to become a teacher was her love for dance. She first started teaching at Charlotte Christian, where she stayed for three years before moving to Hickory Grove, where she taught for 16 years. Now, she’s in her sixth year at Carmel!

From dancing around the house as a child to leading a large dance program in high school, Caton’s always had a passion for movement. Caton’s mom started her in dance at the age of six, already noticing her love for the art; her favorite type of dance has been and continues to be tap. “I’m very tied to music… If music is playing I am moving,” she said. She even went on to teach dance at Charlotte Christian, believing she’d be teaching full-time in public schools. But when the arts were cut from many schools, she followed a different path and has been teaching dance in private schools ever since. 

Though her career has taken a different path, she has still found ways to be involved in shaping young dancers. Caton has done choreography for several musicals over her six years at Carmel. She has also taught the middle school dance program now for three years! Though Caton enjoys many different elements of teaching dance, she states her favorite is, “when students get to excited about what they are learning and when they see the hard work of training their body or oa perfecting choreography pay off. I also really love when [they] get to performances!”

Caton also has a passion for journalism. In her fifth year at Hickory Grove, she started teaching a newspaper class, which led her to the NCSMA at UNC Chapel Hill. Her journalism experience perfectly prepared her to take on the daunting task of yearbook creation. This is Caton’s thirteenth year as a yearbook advisor. The work is hard, but highly rewarding, as she works with young journalists and creative minds to put together a work of art each year that encapsulates the school’s year. This year, Caton and the yearbook staff has donned the 2025-2026 school year in the theme of Rooted, based off of the Sprout Garden located at Carmel.

Caton’s decision to move to Carmel was a huge deal for both her and her family.When it came time to make the move, she realized it was God’s plan all along. “I found out later that my dad had been praying for us to be here,” Caton said, “God really opened the doors, and it’s been such a blessing.”

When asked about her favorite part of teaching at Carmel, Caton said, “The students. That’s why most teachers teach. It’s so rewarding to work on yearbooks with them, and to work with the theater students to create amazing musicals and moments on stage together.” Plus, the administration at Carmel makes it easy to maintain a healthy work-life balance. They really protect the teachers, and they make sure family comes first,” Caton shared.

Caton enjoys spending time with her family. Her husband, Taylor, “is the best,” she states,, and their two daughters, Ellie and Piper, keep life exciting. Both daughters are in middle school here at Carmel and are involved in many different activities. They also have two precious long-haired cream Datsuns, Wolfie and Ollie, who are a vital part of their family.

When Caton finds herself having freetime, she explores the outdoors with her family, biking through the neighborhood, or even trying out some golf.

Caton is inspired by strong women who balance work, home and faith. “I’m really focusing on making time for God this year,” she said, “It’s all about finding a healthy balance and staying grounded.”

Brenna Whitley, senior yearbook staff editor, states that “Mrs. Caton has helped me grow a lot especially regarding the yearbook. She’s always looking for ways for me to utilize my passions as a part of her class and genuinely enjoy what I’m working on. She always has a really kind and upbeat disposition, and she is just a really uplifting teacher to have. I’m so thankful to have been able to work with her on the yearbook these past few years!” 

Ben Bash, fellow teacher at Carmel Christian, states, “Mrs. Caton doesn’t know a stranger. She genuinely cares about every soul that comes through her classroom door . . . and that’s particularly beneficial to me since I share a classroom with her!”

 Whether she’s teaching dance, creating a yearbook or making memories with her family, Caton is a true inspiration!