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Howes spent 24 years at New Garden Friends School, where she taught first and second grades for 16 years before transitioning to her role as the head of lower school — a position she occupied from 2016 to 2024.

Learn more about Howes — and her upbringing on a family farm in rural Maryland — in our faculty profile from May.

My favorite obsession(s): “I love running. I enjoy training with other runners who run in run-walk intervals. I think it's a lot of fun to run in local races with my running friends. Last December, I ran in my first half-marathon in Dallas.”

My favorite memory in education: “In 10th grade, I was part of an exchange student program in Vienna, Austria. It was a life-changing experience. I loved learning about the culture and language and making friends.”

My greatest day of teaching: “I was teaching when I received the call from the adoption agency telling me about my daughter Leyna (now 18). My students were very excited about the adoption, and I love that they were part of that day. One of my students announced, ‘And now a round of applause for Carolyn and her baby girl in Vietnam.’”

Stahl specializes in working with children, adolescents, families and young adults who struggle with relationships and attachments; children who present with external behaviors; and clients who have experienced previous or ongoing trauma. She has served as a full-time therapist with Third Wave Psychotherapy since 2021, and she previously worked as a school-based therapist for RHA Health Services in Asheville. Stahl was a lead residential coach for two years at Lake House Academy, a therapeutic boarding school for girls ages 10 to 16 in Flat Rock, North Carolina.

My favorite obsession: “I started rock climbing when I was 14 and even competed some when I was 16.”

One discontinued item I wish were still available: “Philadelphia Cream Cheese used to make these yummy cheesecake bars and I used to love them when I was younger.”

One piece of technology I wish I could leave behind: “My phone!”

Tyson has worked in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten education for 11 years, dating back to her first position as a pre-k teacher in South Carolina’s Southside Early Childhood Center. She has spent the last eight years at Durham-based schools, including at Kestrel Heights Charter School as a kindergarten teacher; Reaching All Minds Academy as a classroom teacher and administrator intern; and, most recently, at Maureen Joy Charter School as a reading interventionist.

The last book I read: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

My song of the summer: “Paradise” by Bazzi

Best show on streaming right now: House of the Dragon or anything from the 90 Day Fiancé franchise.

My favorite obsession: “Snuggling with my daughter is my happy place.”

Discontinued items you wish were still available: Squeezeit drinks, Butterfinger BB’s and Toy Story Woody dolls with “ANDY” written on the boot.

Villagomez spent a year at Carolina Friends school after four years at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital Colorado as an assistant professor of pediatrics. Her extensive career in research includes seven unique research positions and authorship on four peer-reviewed journals.

The last book I read: Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want To Be by Dr. Becky Kennedy. “Especially since having young children of my own, I’ve really enjoyed reading and listening to some of the most recommended and well-known parenting books.”.

Best show on streaming right now: “Definitely Top Chef! During the height of the pandemic, my husband and I watched all 18 seasons that were available. We went to one of my favorite contestants’ restaurants in Chicago once, and the chef and owner happened to be there. When he greeted us on our way out, I was so starstruck that I could barely say, ‘Hi!’ — let alone tell him what a fan I was.”

My favorite obsession: “Travel! My husband likes to say that I love to plan trips, go on trips and come home from trips — and it’s true. My mom and I went on yearly mother-daughter trips from 2006 to 2019. Vietnam, Morocco and Japan are a few of my favorites! We missed a few years, but we returned to the tradition in May with a trip to London. Travel will certainly look different with two toddlers in tow, so I’m all ears for advice, funny travel stories and favorite family destinations!”

One discontinued item I wish were still available: “The disposable camera! There was nothing like dropping off your camera at the pharmacy and waiting to pick up the pictures to see how they came out and remembering the photos you forgot you took.”

My journey to DA: “I was initially drawn to school psychology because I loved that it allowed me both to work as a psychologist and be in a school setting. While in graduate school at UNC-Chapel Hill, I quickly grew passionate about working with children with autism and other neurodevelopmental differences, and I loved getting to also know and work with their families. Upon completing my fellowship at Children’s Hospital Colorado, I served as a psychologist in developmental pediatrics, where I worked primarily with young children, from birth to 5 years old, conducting diagnostic evaluations and developmental play-based therapy for children with autism. My husband and I returned to the Triangle in August 2020 and after taking some time off for our growing family — we have a 3-and-a-half-year-old son and a daughter who’s almost 2 — I was eager to return to my career. Most recently, I served as a consulting learning specialist at Carolina Friends School, which reminded me how much I enjoyed working in a school setting. I’m so excited to be joining the community here at Durham Academy!”

Worley coached three sports — girls soccer, girls basketball and girls lacrosse — at the Congressional School. From 2020 to 2023, she served as an age group coach at Nation’s Capital Swim Club in Arlington, Virginia. Worley was a four-year scholarship swimmer with the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill swimming and diving team. She qualified for the 2016 U.S. Olympic trials in the women’s 200m backstroke.

The last book I read: The Life List by Lori Nelson Spielman

My song of the summer: “Sunday Morning” by Maroon 5

My favorite obsession: “Reading a good book.”

Xie most recently served as a tutor for kindergartners and third graders who are learning Chinese. She was an assistant teacher at Montessori School of Durham from 2018 to 2020. Before her career in education, Xie worked as a finance officer for more than a decade at two China-based companies — an engineering firm and at a kitchen and hotel supplier.

The last book I read: Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

My song of the summer: “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers

My favorite obsession: “Dancing and playing the guzheng, a Chinese string instrument.”

Allred spent six years at New Hope Elementary School, where she taught first grade for one year before transitioning to second grade. Allred was recognized as New Hope’s teacher of the year in 2022–2023.

My song of the summer: “I spend what most would probably consider an embarrassing amount of time listening to Taylor Swift’s music, so it only feels right to say that 'Cruel Summer' is the song of the summer every year!”

Best show on streaming right now: “I will always consider The Office the greatest show of all time. I’ve watched the series in its entirety at least six times. I am a creature of habit, and it is my ultimate comfort show.”

My favorite obsession: “I am obsessed with checking out new cookbooks at the Durham County Library. I love to cook a variety of new recipes, and some of my most recent favorites that I have discovered are the Donut Loaf Bread from Shauna Sever’s Midwest Made: Big, Bold Baking from the Heartland, along with Spaghetti Alla Carbonara from Nadia Caterina Munno’s book, The Pasta Queen.”

Goodhand returns to the role that she held on an interim basis during the 2021–2022 school year at DA. She will occupy the math specialist’s role during Emily Pyron’s parental leave. Goodhand served as principal of Durham’s E.K. Powe Elementary School for 10 years and taught in Durham Public Schools for 20 years. For the past three years, Goodhand has served as an adjunct instructor within the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program at the UNC School of Education.

Upon her graduation from UNC-Charlotte in 2023, Fakir served as a teaching assistant and office assistant at her alma mater’s College of Arts + Architecture.

The last book I read: Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin

My song of the summer: “Supernatural” by NewJeans; “All Things End” by Hozier; and “Wasted” by Don Toliver

Best show on streaming right now: Living Single or Parks and Recreation

My favorite obsession: “My current obsession is reading Jujutsu Kaisen, a Japanese manga series.”

My favorite memory in education: “My favorite memory would be in undergrad, when I got to learn the foundations of art, such as 2D design and art history. I remember how much I loved learning new tools and aspects of art.”

My greatest day of teaching: “Getting to create crafts and having a general sitdown with students who were eager to talk about different memes of their generation.”

One discontinued item I wish were still available: “Real dollar menus.”

One piece of technology I wish I could leave behind: “My phone.”

Painter’s current research at Duke focuses on modeling the effects of changes in climate and land use on streamflow. She is an enrolled member of Nebraska’s Winnebago Tribe and endeavors to incorporate indigenous forms of knowledge into Western science, as well as to make science more accessible to tribal communities. Painter previously served as a civil designer for Cape Fear Engineering, Inc., and she worked as a research assistant during her time as an undergraduate at North Carolina State University.

My song of the summer: “Apple” by Charli XCX

One discontinued item I wish were still available: “I recently saw a throwback pic of Walmart — circa 2000 — and remembered that there used to be game consoles in the video game aisle, and it made me reminisce about a time when stores were more fun.”

Westbrook was a physical education teacher for 31 years — including 24 years at River Park Elementary School in Hillsborough — before his retirement in 2023. He served as head cross-country coach at Orange High School, and he has coached basketball at the high school and AAU levels. Westbrook has also worked as a personal trainer and has taught classes in high-intensity interval training and in Basic Training, which is inspired by the Navy SEAL exercise regimen. In 2013, Westbrook founded the Hillsborough Running Club and served as the organization's president for three years. His wife, Lisa, is a kindergarten teacher. Together they have two sons, Keaton and Ryland, and three golden retrievers.

The last book I read: Feherty: The Remarkably Funny and Tragic Journey of Golf’s David Feherty by John Feinstein

My song of the summer: “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey

Best show on streaming right now: “Tossup between The Office and Seinfeld.”

My favorite obsession(s): “ “Golfing and going to my mountain house, which allows me to hike and run Doughton Park in Laurel Springs, North Carolina. It is truly my happy place.”

My greatest day of teaching: “I had a moment three years ago that touched my heart to the core. I had my students participate in the mile run starting in the second grade. A student who was adopted had only one leg and completed the mile without complaining or making any excuses to not participate or try. As he completed the mile, his parents, fellow students and I were all overcome with joy and happy tears. It was an example for me, and hopefully everyone else, that everyone goes through ‘stuff’ and you can accomplish anything with the proper mindset. I still get emotional every time I think about this moment in my teaching career.”

My favorite meme: “Anything with NBA star Russell Westbrook. I use these on my friends constantly.”

One discontinued item I wish were still available: Citrus Cooler Gatorade

One piece of technology I wish I could leave behind: Cellphone

Whitehead spent parts of three consecutive years at Durham Nativity School, where she served as a teaching assistant in a self-contained fifth-grade classroom and as a summer reading camp teacher for lower school students.

The last book I read: Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks

Best show on streaming right now: MasterChef

My favorite obsession: “My niece and nephew are my sunshine. I love them so much!”

My favorite memory in education: “When I taught kindergarten and first grade at a YMCA after-school program, one of my favorite activities we would do was spelling words using shaving cream on the desks! It would get messy, but the kids were so engaged and learned a lot of writing and spelling skills. We would also spell special words during the holidays, like words related to Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas!”

One discontinued item I wish were still available: The Original Snack Wrap — always a grilled chicken chipotle BBQ wrap — and the frozen strawberry lemonades from McDonald’s!

Winch has spent the last four years in education, including the last three as a tutor with a Durham-based program that provides literacy support to students with dyslexia and other reading challenges. Before her career as an educator, Winch worked for 14 years as a business manager at RF Film, Inc. — a video production company in Los Angeles that provides action-film technology and custom applications to major motion pictures, including franchises at Universal Pictures and Sony.

Best show on streaming right now: “My favorite show currently streaming is Emily in Paris. I love the beautiful, iconic locations, the characters and how the stories weave among the various vignettes.”

My favorite obsession: “My favorite sport to play is tennis. I truly enjoy the camaraderie among players, working to improve my game, and it’s a great source of exercise.”