Our Team

I'm the director of DA Summer and an assistant JV field hockey coach. 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 15 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, yard work, detailing a car and I especially love to cheer on local sports teams.

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

Read more about Kantz.

I grew up in the mountains of Tennessee with two younger brothers and attended The University of the South – Sewanee (B.S.). After spending 12 years working with development organizations such as the Peace Corps and the United Nations in California, West Africa, the Solomon Islands, and Turkey, I relocated to North Carolina to pursue a career in education. Since 2004, I have been teaching biology at Durham Academy Upper School, as well as working as the assistant director of DA Summer Programs with a focus on our sports programming. My two sons, Jed and Zeke, as well as my daughter, Stella, have also been a part of Summer Programs with me, serving as campers, camp helpers, and Summer Programs staff over the years.

Summer is a great time at DA — I love the positive energy and enthusiasm that our campers bring to Summer Programs. I am also continually in awe of the level of expertise and professionalism that our lead counselors bring to their individual camps. One of the highlights of camp for me has been running a Dodgeball Camp with my sons. I look forward to being a Big Kid with all of our Summer Programs campers this summer!

Contact: 919-489-3400 ext. 6313

Read more about Edwards.

Ricardo Morales

I'm from Graham, NC, and I graduated from the University of North Carolina at 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 be part of DA Summer and help the program continue to be happy and healthy this summer.

Bernadette Cooper Vereen

I am 2014 “lifer” graduate of Durham Academy. In 2018, I graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Psychology and minors in Neuroscience, Leadership Studies, and Criminal Justice from Elon University. I am currently completing a 2-year Masters of Social Work program and Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) research assistantship at North Carolina State University. I have a passion for community involvement, equity, social justice, and child and maternal health. I am a practicing doula and in the long term, I hope to become a perinatal social worker for an O.B. or NICU clinic.

My involvement in DA Summer began when I was an Upper School student. I am excited to return to the team in a more integral role. At DA Summer, I am involved in several camp operations including-strategic planning, program development, financial aid, fundraising, external communications and social media. Additionally, I co-lead the fifth-grade cohort of StrongHer Together girls.

In my (limited) free time, I enjoy trying new restaurants with my husband, volunteering at church, traveling and playing with my two furbabies, Rottweilers Roxie and Rello! If you see me on campus say hello!

Katie Ryan Kantz

I'm the director of DA Summer and an assistant JV field hockey coach. 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 15 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.

Contact info: 919-489-3400 ext 6114

Costen Irons

I have been teaching Lower School PE at Durham Academy since 2006. I'm the boys’ JV cross-country, JV basketball, and JV track coach. A 1998 graduate of Durham Academy, I ran eight seasons under legendary coach Dennis Cullen. I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where I majored in psychology and minored in coaching. While at Carolina, I played on the JV basketball team. From 2004 to 2006, I was a teacher’s aide for Wake County’s Bridges program, a program for students expelled from elementary school.

I work to help students develop a passion for exercise and an understanding for how to live a healthy life. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, contemplating the meaning of life and playing the sports I coach.

Alexandria Chadwick

I am a junior studying Public Policy, Business Administration, and Statistics as a Morehead-Cain Scholar at UNC-Chapel Hill. After working at an education-focused nonprofit in Thailand and Quizlet in San Francisco, I'm excited to be a part of the DA Summer team! I enjoy giving campus tours of Carolina, coordinating service events for Alpha Phi Omega, and reading good books.