When the doors first opened at The Franciscan School, a newness radiated the campus. A newness surrounded by the warmth of special people embarking on a journey together. Lindsey Chehreh Edwards '06 joined TFS the year it opened as a third grader. “The school was brand new but everyone was so welcoming,” says Edwards. Joining together created a special bond for those first students, and Edwards shares that TFS is where she made lifelong friends.

Those early days at TFS made an impact on Edwards and her future. After graduating from TFS, she went on to attend Cardinal Gibbons High School and then Barton College in Wilson, NC where she graduated with a double major in Human Resources and Business Management. After working in HR for various companies, Edwards has returned to the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh where she is an HR Generalist. “I knew I wanted to make a positive impact on the lives of people who work for the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh,” says Edwards.

Edwards believes wholeheartedly in the importance of HR and the difference it makes in the people who work for an organization. She plans to obtain her PHR, a specialized certification for HR professionals. This certification will help increase her technical and operational knowledge of HR management, as well as assist in implementing programs with tactical and logistical orientation. She dreams of continuing her career in HR, impacting work in the HR field and at the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh. 

Reflecting back on her time at TFS, she particularly remembers her first teacher at the school who made an impact on her- third grade teacher Mrs. Belna. She also fondly thinks back on her days in the before-school program, as well as Mrs. Marie Leone who managed it. “Mrs. Leone always had a smile on her face and made us feel like a part of her family.” And among many other favorite memories of the school, attending field day while watching teachers get dropped into the dunking booth always makes her laugh and smile.

Thankful for her journey and her time at TFS, Edwards leaves the following wisdom for current students:  “Follow your dreams and your passion. And always keep the faith.”