Meet Our Team

I'm the director of DA Summer and a graduate of Durham Academy. I earned a B.A. from UNC-Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in social foundations of education from the University of Virginia. I have 19 years of experience at U.S. and international boarding schools — most recently at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, where I served as director of activities, trips and summer programs, history teacher, dorm head and field hockey coach.

I love new technology, backpacking and learning new skills — and I especially love to cheer on local sports teams. Summer and education are passions of mine, and I am excited to meet new campers and their families!

Contact info: 919-489-3400 ext 6114, email

Read more about Katie Kantz

I'm from Graham, NC, and I graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in exercise and sports science, with a concentration in athletic training. While at UNC, I worked with various varsity teams, club sports and two local high schools. I'm excited to return to DA Summer in 2021 and help our campers stay happy and healthy.

I spent the fall serving as the marketing and communications intern for Durham Academy Summer and am stepping into the role of Assistant Camp Director in summer 2021.

I graduated from Durham Academy in 2017 and currently am a senior at Elon University, working toward my B.A. in strategic communications and a minor in psychology.  Born and raised in Durham, I am passionate about Duke athletics, particularly Duke basketball and football. I also appreciate the learning process of trying new things, competitive spirit, and time spent with my friends and family. I have been around a variety of summer camps for 15 years filling multiple roles. Whether it be as a camper, counselor or working as an intern, I am so excited for the summer of 2021!  

My name is Maya Mitchell. I am a first-year undergraduate student at UNC-Chapel Hill. I am from Atlanta and am studying to be a business major with a focus in finance or marketing. I am a strong supporter of education equity, and I have been engaged in education-based service work for several years now — so I am incredibly excited to be apart of the Durham Academy Summer team. I am an avid ice hockey fan, and my favorite team is the Pittsburgh Penguins. In my free time, I like to bake and make pottery, and I enjoy binge-watching reality cooking shows like Chopped and The Great British Bake-Off.

I lived in San Diego, California, my whole life until my wife and I relocated to beautiful Durham in Fall 2020. For the last 14 years, I have worked in the nonprofit sector serving youth communities, specifically in athletic programs. Of that time, eight years were spent working as the athletic director of my local Boys & Girls Club. Simultaneously, from 2016–2020, I served as the varsity head coach for the women’s basketball team at Sage Creek High School in Carlsbad, CA.

Upon moving to Durham last fall, I began working at Durham Academy as the assistant coach for the varsity men’s basketball program. I’m excited to take part in summer programming at Durham Academy! I have a goal in mind to ensure all campers have a joyous and productive Summer 2021!

My name is Talbot Waters. I have been at Durham Academy since Pre-K and am a part of the class of 2022! From the ages of 7 to 15, I attended a camp in the mountains for 5 weeks every summer. After I completed my final camper summer, I came to work as a counselor at DA Summer. Being a camper was one of the most valuable experiences I have ever had, and I want every camper to have the opportunity to find something that they are passionate about. I am so excited to continue helping campers learn, grow and achieve! I love playing sports, the outdoors, UNC, and spending time with my friends and family. I am so excited for the new DA Summer camps, and I can’t wait to meet all of the campers!  

My name is Kennedy Yon. I have been attending Durham Academy since Preschool, and I am a part of the class of 2022! I have a younger brother and sister who also attend DA, and we all love the community feel of the school. One of my biggest passions is playing soccer, and I have been playing competitively since I was a kid. I also love to spend time with my family and friends! Being a part of the DA Summer team has been an amazing experience, and I’m so excited for all of the new additions coming in summer 2021! A goal I have for this summer is for everyone who participates to have a fun time and create some memorable experiences, and for the counselors to develop teamwork and leadership skills. 

I am Elijah Nambo, and I have been at Durham Academy since kindergarten and I am a part of the class of 2022. I played varsity soccer for DA this fall. My older sister graduated from DA in 2020. I have many passions including being with family and friends, the outdoors, swimming, running, and most of all playing soccer. I am really excited to be a part of the DA Summer team. I think it is really important to create personal connections between each camper and the camp leaders. I really value the importance of individualizing the camp experience for each camper. Personalizing each camper's experience in the camp shows each camper that they are appreciated and special by the camp leaders. My main goal this summer is to make sure every camper has a great experience and to ensure that they are all getting to make these special connections with their camp leaders. 

I have been a student at DA for 10 years and am a member of the Class of 2021. I was a camper myself for many years before I started volunteering at DA Summer camps the summer after seventh grade, and have been working here every summer since. I love being a part of the DA Summer team and getting to form connections with new campers and counselors every summer. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, watching sports, and being outdoors. This summer, I am especially focused on our outdoor education program for all ages and our new Night Camp. I can't wait to meet all the new campers and families!

My name is Mary-Katherine Bryant! I have been at DA since my ninth-grade year and am in the class of 2021. I love competitive swimming, UNC, playing guitar, and music. Also, I have a deep passion for learning. My favorite subjects are math, chemistry, and history. DA Summer  is a special place where kids can embrace their uniqueness and step out of their comfort zones. My biggest goal this summer is to create a space where our campers can challenge themselves, think creatively, and explore their learning abilities. I am very excited about the summer of 2021! See you soon!

My name is Anna Catherine Wilson, and I have been at Durham Academy since Preschool and am a part of the class of 2021! My brother and dad have both graduated from DA. One of my biggest passions is running, and I also love being outdoors and spending time with my friends and family. I have loved being a part of the DA Summer team, and I am so excited for the new camps beginning in the summer of 2021! One of my biggest goals for this summer is to ensure that every camper has a fun and enjoyable experience, as well as develop a sense of camaraderie among the counselors. 

I am Glenn Green. I have been at Durham Academy since eighth grade and am part of the class of 2022. I am a leader of our hip hop club at the Upper School, and I also manage the DA women's basketball team. I really enjoy the field of art in every which way imaginable. I love painting, listening to music, drawing, and performing. Joining the DA Summer team once again this year is amazing. I really enjoyed making new friends with camp leaders and campers alike. Despite the masks we wear, I enjoy sharing smiles with the ones around me. I know when one is smiling by the gleaming look in their eyes. That is what makes me the happiest. 

My name is Alex Bayer, and I am currently a first-year student at Duke. I was a member of the Durham Academy tennis team from seventh through 12th grade. Tennis has always been a huge part of my life, and I love finding opportunities to share my passion for the sport with children. During my time at DA, my girls’ varsity tennis team won two consecutive state championships. In addition, I was the leader of ACEing Autism, a nonprofit organization that aims to teach children with autism the fundamentals of tennis.

I am so excited to lead the tennis camp at DA again this summer! I look forward to providing the campers with new skills and a fun outlet during these difficult pandemic times.