The Upper School welcomes eight new faculty members and four new dormitory staff members this academic year.
Jane Hajeck joins the history department after completing a degree in anthropology from Colby College. She has also studied in Thailand and England.
Danielle Hall will teach history at the Upper School, after earning a bachelor’s degree in government and history from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville.
Todd Jones, who earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from St. Francis Xaviar University in Nova Scotia, joins the science department.
Owen Kinney, who earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in conservation ecology from Berry College, will teach science at the Upper School. His prior experience includes working as a research technician and an ecology lab instructor and teaching in two elementary schools. He and his wife, Rebekah, have a 9-month-old son.
Ana O’Beirne, a new member of the science department, earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and philosophy from Emory University, where she was a residence hall director, resident adviser, and tutor.
Jill Pate, Darlington’s director of personal counseling, received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Denver. Prior to Darlington, Pate worked with several adolescent psychiatric programs in Rome. Pate and her husband Dan ’76 have two children in the Lower School.
Kevin Purpura, a former Darlington faculty member, will return to teach history. Purpura earned his bachelor’s at Ohio State University. After leaving Darlington in 1998, Purpura worked for American Express in Alpharetta, Ga. Purpura and his wife, Lori Harris, resident dean of Persons Hall, have two children.
Donald Sweeney, his wife, Catherine, and 15-year-old daughter, Joyce, come to Darlington from Ireland. Sweeney, who will teach science, has 30 years of teaching experience as a science and math instructor and lecturer at four schools in Cork, Ireland.
Mindy Gibbons will be a housemother in Persons Hall. She and her husband, Mark, an Upper School math instructor, have two children.
Tiffany Roth, who works during the day with Rome’s department of Family and Children Services, will also be a housemother in Persons. Her husband, Andy, teaches English and is student activities director at Darlington.
Heather Carswell, wife of Director of Residential Life Mike, will do dormitory duty in Trippeer Hall. During the day, she teaches at St. Mary’s School in Rome.
Carrie Eady, wife of Director of Publications Stefan Eady, will also be a duty teacher in Trippeer. During the day, she works for Cash Construction Co. in Rome.
