Darlington School announces the following faculty and staff changes and additions for the 2006-07 school year:
Chris Allen has been named Upper School counselor. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Carson-Newman College and a Master of Arts from the Georgia School of Professional Psychology (later renamed Argosy University) in Atlanta. Most recently, Allen was associate director of counseling at Hidden Lake Academy in Dahlonega, Ga.
Audra Babb has been named database administrator in the I.T. Office. She holds a Bachelor of Science from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. Babb has served as database manager in the Advancement Office since 2003. Previously, she was advancement services coordinator for Shorter College in Rome.
Dr. Steve Bartholomew has been named director of the Lower School. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Massachusetts, a Master of Science from Western Connecticut State University, a Master of Science from Nova Southeastern University (Fla.) and a Doctorate in Education, also from Nova Southeastern University. Most recently, Bartholomew served as head of school at The Day School at Coral Springs (Fla.), and also worked as an adjunct professor in Nova Southeastern University’s GTEP Program. Prior to his time in Coral Springs, he spent 23 years at St. Michael’s Independent School in Stuart, Fla., holding various positions including head of school, assistant headmaster and director of development, middle school head, and science teacher. He has also taught in Warsaw, Poland, and served in the Peace Corps in Ghana, West Africa.
Brooker Battle will teach Upper School English and Journalism. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Warren Wilson College. Most recently, Battle taught at The Asheville School, where he was also dormitory head, student newspaper adviser and P.E. coach.
Jean Bonnyman will serve as Upper School learning specialist. She holds a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Education and an Educational Specialist degree, all from the University of Virginia. Bonnyman currently serves as an academic/personal coach at Darlington, working with students who have learning differences. She has more than 20 years of experience in education and is certified by the National Board of Certified Counselors.
Dr. Mark Carleton will serve as assistant headmaster and director of the Upper School, and will teach Upper School English. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Centenary College (La.), a Master of Arts from Louisiana State University and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Most recently, Carleton served as academic dean and head of upper school at Presbyterian Day School in Memphis, Tenn. Prior to his time at PDS, he served as chairman of the English department and dorm parent/adviser at Baylor School in Chattanooga.
Madge Crawford ('84) has been named administrative assistant to the dean of college guidance. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Berry College. Most recently, she served as library aide at Darlington's McCallie-Kennedy Library.
Ashley Ellington has been named chief development officer in the Advancement Office. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Ouachita Baptist University (Ark.), a Master of Arts from Vanderbilt University and a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University. Most recently, she served as director of special projects for the national office of the American Cancer Society. Previously, she worked with capital campaigns for American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge Program and as a major gifts officer with the Southeast Division of American Cancer Society in Raleigh, N.C.
Gabriela Espejo will teach Upper School Spanish. She holds a bachelor's degree from Universidad Nacional de Trujillo in Peru and a Master's in Spanish Literature from the University of Georgia. At UGA, she was a Spanish teaching assistant. She also taught English at several educational instutions in Peru.
Thomas Funkhouser will teach Middle School history and coach Middle School boys’ lacrosse. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from St. Lawrence University (N.Y.) and a Master of Business Administration from Babson Graduate School of Business (Mass.) Most recently, Funkhouser taught at Cardigan Mountain School in Canaan, N.H., where he also coached several sports.
Lisa Goldin has been named Middle School learning specialist. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology and Teacher Certification in Middle School from the State University of West Georgia. Most recently, Goldin taught at Crossroads Academy in Carrollton, Ga., where she also served as the school’s technology specialist and chairperson of the Student Support Team. She was named Crossroads Academy Teacher of the Year in 2001-02.
Debbie Greeson has been named gift accountant in the Advancement Office. She holds Bachelor of Science degrees from Vanderbilt University and the Medical University of South Carolina. Most recently, Greeson was bookkeeper/office manager at Smithson Builders Inc. in Rome.
Ivey Harrison (’99) has been named assistant director of admission for boarding. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Presbyterian College. Most recently, Harrison served as assistant director of admission at Presbyterian.
Kent Harrison (’01) will serve as a member of the house duty staff. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the State University of West Georgia. Most recently, Harrison worked at Meadow Lakes Golf Course in Cedartown, Ga. He has also been a counselor at Camp Darlington.
Marcus Holmes has been named desktop support specialist in the I.T. Office. Holmes holds a Bachelor of Science from Virginia Commonwealth University, and completed additional studies at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, where he became a Microsoft Certified Professional (+ Internet) and a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. Most recently, Holmes served as help desk technician for Market Corporation in Glen Allen, Va.
Melinda Holmes has been named head librarian at the Upper School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from James Madison University (Va.) and a Master of Science from Longwood University (Va.) Most recently, Holmes was college counseling secretary at St. Catherine’s School in Richmond, Va. She also worked as library media specialist for Henrico County Public Schools in Richmond.
Renee Hutchins has been named Lower School learning specialist. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Shorter College and a Master of Science from Jacksonville State University. Most recently, Hutchins taught multi-age classes at Cave Spring Elementary School, where she was recognized as Teacher of the Year. She has also attended numerous conferences on learning and brain-based instruction. Her husband, James, teaches Middle School science.
Alice Johnson will teach Upper School science and coach cross country and track. She will earn a Bachelor of Science from Harvard College in June. Most recently, Johnson was a summer school intern at Phillips Exeter Academy. She also tutored Harvard undergraduates in chemistry, physics and math and served as a calculus course assistant.
Matthew Jones (’99) has been named assistant dean of students and assistant coach of the varsity boys’ lacrosse team. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Georgia. In 2005-06, Jones served as Darlington’s director of student activities and Middle School boys’ lacrosse coach. He has been a member of the house duty staff, football coach and a substitute teacher since 2004.
Mitch Jordan (’90) has been named P.E. coach, and will no longer teach Middle School history. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he completed additional post-graduate studies. Jordan has taught at Darlington’s Middle School since 2002.
Whitney Keene ('01) has been named alumni relations officer. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Mississippi at Oxford. Most recently, she was assistant director at Camp Skyline Ranch in Mentone, Ala. She also served as a Class Agent during the 2005-06 year.
Elizabeth Hamilton Keith will teach Upper School history. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts from the University of Mississippi. Most recently, Hamilton was student services coordinator at Everest College Online (Ariz.) She also taught at the University of Mississippi.
Eduard Loewen has been named Soccer Academy assistant. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Berry College. Most recently, he was head coach of the German Beach Soccer National Team in Cologne, Germany. He is an NAIA All-American and was named to the Tran South All-Conference and All-Region Teams.
Michelle Major will teach Middle School English and coach cross country and track. She holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Middle Grades Education from Berry College. Most recently, Major was a fifth-grade teacher at Berry College Elementary School, where she coached cross country, track and girls’ basketball.
Brooks Mathis has been named annual fund gifts officer. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Shorter College. Most recently, Mathis was director of communications, marketing and special projects at Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce.
Tim McCann has been named head of house. He is a graduate of St. Lawrence College (Ontario, Canada) and is currently working toward a Bachelor of Arts from Athabasca University (Alberta, Canada). Most recently, McCann was a corrections officer with Correctional Service of Canada. His wife, Kila, is also a head of house at Darlington.
James Milford has been named director of residential life. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Shorter College. Milford will continue to serve as head of house (a title he has held since 2001), and will be director of the First-Year Experience program. His wife, Angie, is a P.E. teacher and head coach of the girls’ varsity basketball team.
Lynda Miller has been named executive assistant to the assistant headmaster and director of Upper School at Darlington. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Information Science from the University of Georgia and a Master of Business Administration from Georgia State University, where she completed additional coursework in Computer Information Systems (CIS). Most recently, Miller worked at Darlington as administrative assistant to the dean of college guidance. She has also worked for the State of Georgia (Governor’s staff), Unisys Corporation, Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems and Miller Landscaping Group, Inc.
Rebekah Montgomery (’78) has been named first-grade assistant. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Stetson University. Montgomery is a former member of Darlington’s Board of Trustees, past president of Tiger PRIDE and past president of the Parents’ Association. Her husband, Joe, is chief advancement officer at Darlington.
Erin Nida will teach second grade. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Shorter College and a Master of Education from the State University of West Georgia. Most recently, Nida was employed as a teaching assistant at Darlington. She has nine years experience as a classroom teacher, including first and second grade.
Beth Pollard has been named controller in the Business Office. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Clemson University. Most recently, Pollard was director of finance at Marglen Industries Inc. in Rome and as a partner with Bradshaw, Gordon and Clinkscales PLLC (certified public accounting firm) in Tryon, N.C.
Melissa Robinson has been named Middle School counselor. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Berry College and a Master of Education from the University of Georgia. Most recently, she was a peer group counselor at Hidden Lake Academy in Dahlonega, Ga.
Jennifer Snow has been named night nurse at the Upper School. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Jacksonville State University. Snow currently works as an RN at Redmond Regional Medical Center.
Jennifer Talley has been named library aide. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Texas Tech University. Talley has worked as a substitute teacher at St. Mary's School in Rome and a pre-K teacher at Rome First School. She also worked with Darlington Lower School's Extended Day Program for several years, serving as director from 1995-2002.
Keith Trotter has been named Upper School learning specialist. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Carson-Newman College, a Master of Science from Jacksonville State University, and is currently working on his Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership. Most recently, he taught at Cartersville High School, where he was named Teacher of the Year in 2004. He has also taught at Model and Armuchee High Schools.
Vicki Vincent has been named class agent officer in the Advancement Office. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Georgia. After spending the past three years as a homemaker and community volunteer, Vincent is returning to Darlington School, where she served previously as director of development services, office manager, gift registrar and Annual Fund assistant.
Chad Woods will teach Upper School math and coach varsity baseball. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the State University of West Georgia. Most recently, Woods taught math at Heard County High School in Newnan, Ga., where he also coached baseball, softball and basketball. He was named Heard County High School Teacher of the Year in 2006, received the Georgia Retired Educators Association Outstanding Educator Award in 2005, and was named Georgia Dugout Club Baseball Assistant Coach of the Year in 2004.
Libbie Zimmer has been named Learning Center director. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Meredith College (N.C.) and a Master of Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. Zimmer has been on staff at Darlington for nine years, and has broad experience in working with the students in residence halls, on the Discipline Committee and in day-to-day student life. She also taught for nine years in public schools prior to her time at Darlington. Her husband, Casey, is director of admission for Darlington.
