Lea Duncan, assistant director of day admission for Lower School, will retire this summer after 24 years of service to Darlington School, announced Associate Headmaster and Director of Admission James Milford at a PK-8 faculty and staff meeting today.
“Lea has dedicated more than two decades of her life to Darlington School and we are better for it,” Headmaster Tom Whitworth said. “Her passion and enthusiasm for the Lower School are reasons many families choose Darlington. She truly believes in her colleagues, in our students, and in what we are able to accomplish together at this special place. We are so fortunate to have had her leading the charge when it comes to Lower School admissions for the past 24 years.”
Duncan began working in Darlington’s Admission Office in January 1989 when her older son, Bailey (’98), was in second grade. It was a change of pace from her previous work as a licensed medical technologist, and – as the wife of a 1969 alumnus – she looked forward to the opportunity to share with families the many benefits of a Darlington education.
“At the time, I was staying at home with our younger son,” she said. “Lisa Schlenk, then director of admission, called me up right after Christmas to see if I might be interested in the job. As a parent, I was already pretty much a fixture at the Lower School, so I think they just decided to put me on the payroll. When I started, I was part time, and my office was a three-corner table in the secretary’s office. The school year, 1989, marked the start of the pre-K program, and our son, Griffin (’03), was in the first class. It’s been a great lesson for me that you’ve got to be open. You may think you know where you’re headed but you’ve got to be open to other possibilities and just kind of relax and go where you’re led.”
Over the years, Duncan has had the opportunity to see hundreds of students, including her own two children, make the journey from Lower School to Commencement.
“When our sons went to college, both of them thanked us independently for sending them to Darlington,” she said. “They felt more prepared than so many of their friends and classmates, and it was amazing to them that some students didn’t know how to even begin a research paper. Both Bailey and Griffin have a very strong work ethic and good time management skills, which I think date back to their experiences at Darlington. John’s and my values, and what we hoped for our children, were reinforced at school. We knew our boys were in a very supportive and challenging environment not only at home, but at school as well. It was a great partnership.”
Duncan has also watched the Lower School transform into the special place it is today. Some of the changes occurring during her tenure include the construction of Primary Circle and Tiger Hall; the addition of uniforms; and the launch of curricular programs like the Teaching and Learning Center and the SCIS Science Lab, to name a few.
“A lot has changed but we have always kept the heart of the school the same,” she said. “I know that even with all the advances in technology, the speed of the 21st Century, Darlington will always remember what’s important – and that’s these little children.”
Duncan added that, more than anything else, she is going to miss the relationships she has been able to build with students and their parents.
“I’m going to miss their smiles,” she said. “To see our students evolve from small children into young men and women is just so gratifying. They change, but in so many ways they don’t. They are still the same smiling little faces that I get to know in pre-K. It’s really neat to witness and it’s made my life so much better. Darlington has an incredible impact on young lives and it has been absolutely amazing to be part of that year after year. The Lower School years make a lasting imprint on all the families that come through here. We’re all part of an extended family.”
The other really gratifying thing, Duncan said, has been the opportunity to work with a number of incredible colleagues over the past 24 years.
“I have been very blessed to work with wonderful co-workers and administrators. My best friends are here and I’ll absolutely miss seeing them every day,” she said. “It’s amazing to see how our teachers relate to students in such creative ways. Even the teachers who have been here for a while reinvent themselves every single year. It’s heartwarming to see the amount of attention and pride our teachers have in what they do. They love these children and it’s so evident every day.”
With one son in North Carolina and the other in El Salvador, the Duncans look forward to slowing down a little and spending more time with family.
“Family is very important to us and we plan on seeing everyone a whole lot more,” she said. “After 13 years in the medical field and 24 here, I’m worn out. I think it’s time to be open for what opportunities might be out there and I’m ready to see what’s next.”
However, she added that retirement is definitely going to be bittersweet.
“It’s the bitterest of the bitter and the sweetest of the sweet, but I truly feel like this is my time,” she said. “Darlington hasn’t been a job for me; it’s been 24 years of loving experience. People always tell you to find what you love and do it, and fortunately it found me. I could tell a million stories. It’s been a full, unbelievably wonderful ride – more than I ever could have dreamed or hoped for. It’s the epitome of having an avocation for your vocation. My family will always be a part of Darlington, and Darlington a part of us.”
“Lea’s loyalty and love for Darlington is unmatched,” said James Milford, associate headmaster and director of admission. “She has been a constant fixture at the Lower School through four different leadership changes, and anyone who has spent any time there knows of her ever-growing frog collection and her candy trivia game. Lea truly represents what we all love as the core of the Lower School. Though we will miss her dearly, we know she will always be part of the Darlington Community. Please join me in wishing Lea all the best in her retirement!”
Darlington is currently seeking a replacement for this opening in the Admission Office. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply by contacting Jennifer Thompson, human resources manager, at jthompson@darlingtonschool.org.
