Stefan Eady, assistant head of school for academic resources, will take on a new role as assistant head of school for academic affairs, effective July 1, announced Head of School Brent Bell today. As such, Eady will serve as the chief academic officer of the school in directing and developing the Pre-K to 12 academic program and faculty. This position is responsible for the implementation of the school’s Cycle of Learning.
“We have not had anyone in a whole-school academic role of this kind since Academic Dean David Powell’s retirement in 2016,” said Bell. “As we move forward from this most unusual school year, the time is now to reimagine this position, and Stefan is the right person for the job.”
Eady has held a variety of different roles in communications, web development and information technology since he began working at Darlington in 1997. In 2016, he was named assistant head of school for academic resources, overseeing information technology, library services, and the Teaching and Learning Center. He also continues to teach AP Computer Science and holds a B.A. from Berry College and an M.S.I.S. from Kennesaw State University.
During his tenure at Darlington, Eady created the school's first website in 1997; created the website that put Darlington's first grades online in 1999, which has grown into a fully customized online student management system that now powers the school; started Darlington's first I.T. Office in 2003, leading multiple technical and academic initiatives over the years; led the the technology integration initiative that brought our one-to-one program to life in 2011 and resulted in Darlington being named an Apple Distinguished School from 2016-2021; and expanded the role as assistant head to start organizing the academic support arm of the school in 2016, establishing a framework called the Cycle of Learning to guide academic development and revamping several related programs, including professional development grants and curriculum mapping. Most recently, he helped coordinate enhancements to the academic program to facilitate a flexible learning program during the pandemic.
“The assistant head of school for academic affairs must be able to think broadly and bring groups together in the best interest of the students at Darlington School, and Stefan has already proven that he embodies this,” said Bell. “This role requires someone who is both a problem solver and problem identifier as we seek to empower our students and strive for continual improvement. Most importantly, the assistant head of school for academic affairs will ensure that Darlington has a skilled, student-centered, enthusiastic, and diverse faculty that supports the mission and goals of the school.”
Eady said he looks forward to working more closely with faculty and staff in his new role and providing support.
“I hope this new position enables me to do a better job helping our faculty make our school the very best place for students to learn,” he said. “Darlington educates our students really well, but there are still plenty of opportunities to get better. I'm looking forward to working with our entire community to address the needs of our existing programs as well as identify new ways to grow and innovate in support of the mission of our school.”
As part of this transition, Derek Fine will replace Eady as director of information technology.
“I have loved leading the I.T. Office for the past 18 years and that may be the hardest part of my own transition, but I am thankful and relieved to have someone of Derek's experience and knowledge to lead the technology operations at Darlington,” said Eady. “In his time in the office, he has shown not only the capability to manage technology projects, but a capacity to learn and grow in such a challenging industry. Most importantly, he shares a philosophy of making our work about the people it serves rather than just the technology itself. I have no doubt that he along with the rest of our excellent technology team will keep technology thriving at Darlington. And of course I'm excited that in my new role I will continue to work closely with Derek and his team.”
Fine joined Darlington’s I.T. department in 2015 as technology support specialist and was promoted to technology support coordinator in 2016 and network administrator in 2020. He also served as assistant varsity and JV baseball coach this year. Fine holds a B.A. in Business and Marketing from Clayton State University and an M.S. in Information Technology from Kennesaw State University.
“I am grateful for this new opportunity,” said Fine. “Our I.T. team is very strong and has thrived under Stefan’s leadership. The technology programs at Darlington are on solid footing and align with the goals of the school, helping to maximize the learning experience for each student. I look forward to building upon this foundation and continuing to work hard to serve the school and our students in my new role.”
