Family Ties
By Leslie Traba, Director of Marketing & Communications
On any given day, you might pass them in the hallway — two adults heading to a class, a meeting or an assembly. But if you look a little closer, you might see something special that connects them: a shared surname, familiar smiles, an easy shorthand that signals that they know each other well beyond the workplace. At Durham Academy, there are a handful of parent-child pairs who are not just part of the DA community — they’re literally part of the same DA family.
We asked a few of these unique pairings what it’s like when your professional and personal lives overlap in this way. There are small, joyful moments that come with crossing paths during the school day; occasional challenges of navigating dual roles; and unexpected discoveries made about one another along the way — in a workplace that feels, quite literally, like home.
Dr. Krishinda Lee ’04, Upper School Physical Education Teacher
La Sharon Lee, Lower School Extended Day Teacher
When Krishinda came to DA as a PE teacher and track and field coach in 2022, she and her mom were already familiar with the school from Krishinda’s time as a student. So it wasn’t a hard sell when Krishinda suggested that La Sharon — then retired but interested in part-time work — apply for a position with the Lower School Extended Day team. Now, with Krishinda’s son Kamden a student, three generations of the family are represented on campus at any given time.
La Sharon: “It is very gratifying to get to see my grandson frequently and occasionally run into my daughter on campus.”
Krishinda: “I love working at DA with my mom! It is fun to hear stories from colleagues or parents who have interactions with her; it makes me appreciate her even more. We always come home with a good story to tell one another about what occurred that day. … I coach track and field, and the students call me Coach Lee. When she started subbing more in Lower School PE, I began calling her Coach Lee 2.0, but I am still the O.G.”
Edie Evans ’16, Upper School Learning Support Coach
Lori Evans, Lower School Science Teaching Assistant
The Evans family first came to DA when Edie enrolled as a kindergartner, and mom Lori joined the third grade faculty eight years later. Lori eventually moved down the hall to Lower School science, leaving behind a third grade teaching assistant position that would be occupied by Edie a few years later. Now that Edie is at the Upper School, the two see each other less often than in those first years of being colleagues, but they still find moments to observe one another at work — an experience that’s been both revelatory and affirming.
Edie: “I see the amount of labor outside of teaching. I can walk by and she is cutting tons of cardboard or organizing sustainable supplies.”
Lori: “I see her ability to address and meet the needs of students across grade levels at a moment’s notice, having to jump right in when she might not even know a student (developing return to learn plans); her continuous communication with colleagues.”
Edie: “We always think it’s funny when we see each other on our respective campuses, like the Lower School Halloween parade at the Upper School, or when mom comes for sustainability meetings. It’s always like, ‘Oh hey, hi random moment!’ but also puts a smile on our faces.”
Jon Beyle, Sr., Fourth Grade Teaching Assistant
Taylor Beyle, First Grade Teaching Assistant
Many branches of the Beyle family tree have made their way to DA, starting with Jon’s daughter-in-law, Melissa, who coached track and field. Soon after, his son, Jon Beyle, Jr., joined the track and field coaching staff, the DA Summer team, and the Lower School faculty. He departed in 2021, but DA wasn’t without a Beyle for long: A couple of months later, Jon Beyle, Sr. — freshly retired from a public school teaching — followed his family’s well-worn path to Durham Academy. Before long, he’d convinced Taylor to join him.
Jon: “We both have taken the opportunity to get to know the students in each other’s classes, so it is a blast getting to know them, create more relationships around the school and joke with them. … Having won ‘Teacher Assistant of the Year’ twice in public school, I knew Taylor was a great teacher, but I had never witnessed it firsthand. I just love the way she interacts with her students. She is a love-first teacher, for sure.”
Taylor: “I get to see everything I love about my dad in action at work every day. He is so caring, hilarious and personable. He has a special gift of making everyone feel seen and appreciated. He builds great bonds and rapport with both staff and students. I can’t count how many times I have had people tell me they love my dad and what an incredible person he is. I love getting to share with everyone here the experience of knowing Jon Beyle. It’s an honor to work with him and to be his daughter.”