The Darlington Podcast

Welcome to Episode 35 of The Darlington Podcast! 

In this episode, Tara Inman, dean of students for global education, talks with Fred Igbinedion of Nigeria, Doris Kang of China, Emilia Tscherne of Austria and Roy Berglund of Finland about holiday traditions in their home countries as we prepare for Christmas here in the United States. They share similarities and differences and touch on other holidays of significance in their cultures. 

The students also share some of their favorite things about the Christmas season at Darlington, including the upcoming Service of Lessons & Carols, which will take place this coming Sunday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. in Morris Chapel. This free event is open to the public and sponsored by the Darlington "Y" Cabinet, and will be led primarily by members of the student body. If you cannot attend in person, the service will be live streamed here.

Click here for complete show notes >>

Welcome to Episode 34 of The Darlington Podcast! 

In this episode, Head of School Brent Bell talks with varsity coaches Leigh Hadaway (swimming), Mark Tunnell (girls' basketball) and Nathan West (boys' basketball) about the winter athletic season at Darlington. You'll hear a little about each team and what we might expect to see over the next few months. Note: This epsiode was recorded on Nov. 9, 2021, as the season kicked off and unfortunately Kelly McDurmon (wrestling) was unable to attend. 

Leigh Hadaway has served as Upper School history teacher and head swim coach since 2019. 

Mark Tunnell has served as associate director of admission at Darlington since 2012 and took on the additional role of director of day admission in 2014. He currently serves as the assistant middle school girls' basketball coach, assistant varsity girls' basketball coach, and head JV girls' basketball coach.

Nathan West has served as head boys' basketball coach and assistant athletic director since 2019. 

The thrill of competition. The rush of a championship. Our athletic program offers you everything you'd expect from a private school. However, the Darlington athletic program is so much more. CLICK HERE to learn more about athletics at Darlington or schedule a private tour and see our facilities for yourself. 

Click here for complete show notes >>

Welcome to Episode 33 of The Darlington Podcast! 

As we think about the things we are most grateful for this Thanksgiving Day, we want to share the address Dr. Frank Stegall ('62) gave during Alumni Weekend after receiving the 2021 Distinguished Alumnus Award. In it, he shares some of his favorite memories as well as the life lessons he is most grateful for learning during his time at Darlington. This episode begins with an introduction by his son, Dr. Frank Stegall Jr. ('02).

A native of Floyd County, Dr. Stegall enrolled at Darlington in the sixth grade. He was very involved on campus, participating in the Drama Club, Glee Club, The Darlingtonian staff and as a member of the 1962 Mid-South championship soccer team. After graduating, he went on to study at Emory University and graduated from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1971. He practiced medicine as a cardiologist for over 50 years. 

Stegall served the Rome heath care community for many years and helped thousands of people. He has received numerous awards from the medical community throughout his career, including the Cardiology Leadership Award, CCMN Cardiologist of the Year, Best Practices Physician and the esteemed HCA Frist Humanitarian Award. 

In addition to his service to the medical community, Stegall is a graduate of the Rome Floyd Chamber’s Leadership Rome program and served on the Board of United Community Bank in Rome and, for over 20 years, on Darlington School’s Board of Trustees. He was chairman of Darlington’s Board during the school’s historic Second Century Campaign, which raised over $90 million. Today, Stegall serves as a Life Trustee and is a member of the J. J. Darlington Society as well as the J. Daniel Hanks Sr. (‘27) Heritage Society. 

Click here for complete show notes >>

Welcome to Episode 32 of The Darlington Podcast! 

In this episode, host Stefan Eady, assistant head of school for academic resources, talks with Pre-K to 8 Director Hope Jones about the power of play and, specifically, why play is critical to a child's development and learning process. In fact, when Darlington overhauled its daily schedule several years ago, this idea of creating more time for inquiry, exploration and ownership of learning was at the center of the process, and Hope shares why strategically balancing both structured and unstructured play creates a healthy environment for learning. 

In the podcast, Hope mentions two of her favorite books on this topic:

"Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul" by Dr. Stuart Brown

We've all seen the happiness on the face of a child while playing in the school yard. Or the blissful abandon of a golden retriever racing across a lawn. This is the joy of play. By definition, play is purposeless, all-consuming, and fun. But as Dr. Stuart Brown illustrates, play is anything but trivial. It is a biological drive as integral to our health as sleep or nutrition. We are designed by nature to flourish through play. A fascinating blend of cutting-edge neuroscience, biology, psychology, social science, and inspiring human stories of the transformative power of play, this book proves why play just might be the most important work we can ever do.

"The Power of Play: How Spontaneous, Imaginative Activities Lead to Happier, Healthier Children" by Dr. David Elkind

In modern childhood, free, unstructured play time is being replaced more and more by academics, lessons, competitive sports, and passive, electronic entertainment. While parents may worry that their children will be at a disadvantage if they are not engaged in constant, explicit learning or using the latest "educational" games, David Elkind's "The Power of Play" reassures us that unscheduled imaginative play goes far in preparing children for academic and social success. Through expert analysis of the research and powerful situational examples, Elkind shows that, indeed, creative spontaneous activity best sets the stage for academic learning in the first place.

Click here for complete show notes >>

Welcome to Episode 31 of The Darlington Podcast! 

In this Darlington Connects episode, host Julie Lucas ('97), Darlington's chief advancement officer, talks with longtime Dean of College Guidance Sam Moss ('63) about his time at Darlington as a student, his career path, and his upcoming retirement after 40 years of service to Darlington and 55 years in independent school education.

Click here to learn more about Darlington's unique College Guidance Program that earns 100% of its graduates admission to colleges all over the country and the world each year.

About Darlington Connects:

Every member of the Darlington Community has countless Darlington connections, especially in the work world. By supporting each other's careers and life goals, we are better connecting our students, alumni, parents, parents of alumni, and grandparents.

• Share more about your career in a Darlington Connects spotlight on our website or social media
• Lend your expertise to a current student or recent graduate
• Connect with others in your field or your geographic area via our Alumni Directory or our Darlington Connects group on LinkedIn
• Volunteer to be one of our guest speakers at Career Day

Click here for complete show notes >>

Welcome to Episode 30 of The Darlington Podcast! 

In this Darlington Connects episode, host Carson Raymond, Darlington's director of major gifts, connects student musician Elliot Luitwieler ('22) with Hannah (Montgomery) Bay-Schuck ('10), an executive A&R in Los Angeles. 

As Hannah shares her Darlington story, she talks about being exposed to different elements of performing arts throughout her time here as well as a unique opportunity that helped guide her next steps. She then dives into life after Darlington, which has taken her from Nashville to Los Angeles, and offers some practical advice to Elliot as he, too, explores his passion for making music and thinks about what he wants to do next. This episode is a prime example of the talent that lies within the Darlington Community and the connections that can be made through the Darlington Connects program. 

Hannah works with artists and repertoire at music publishing company Prescription Songs, which is home to artists and writers such as Doja Cat, Lauv, Kbeazy, Emily Warren, Kim Petras, and more. Prior to moving to Los Angeles and joining Prescription, she ran hit country writer Dallas Davidson's (credits include Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, FGL, etc.) publishing company, Play It Again Publishing in Nashville, Tenn. Hannah's roster of writers include Lauren LaRue (“Roxanne,” Arizona Zervas), Kaine (“Best Friend,” Saweetie & Doja Cat), Ryan Ogren (“Nobody’s Love,” Maroon 5), Rocco (“Tick Tock,” Young Thug), Lauv, and more. After graduating from Darlington in 2010, she attended Florida State University and graduated from Belmont University in 2014 with a B.A. in Mass Communication and minor in Music Business.

Click here for complete show notes >>

Welcome to Episode 29 of The Darlington Podcast! 

In this episode, Technology Integration Coordinator Beth Wardlaw talks with junior Anaya Desai, senior Mason Wu and sophomore Tommy Cowan about the role technology has played in their unique Darlington experiences. Whether our students are members of the robotics team, using their MacBooks to collaborate with classmates near and far, or coming up with a creative project for the annual Technology Competition, they appreciate the value technology integration has added to their learning experience.

Recent recognition for Darlington's technology program:

For the third time since 2016, Apple has named Darlington an Apple Distinguished School, recognizing the school for its commitment to teaching students technology skills to solve real-world problems as an integrated part of its curriculum. Click here to read more. 

Common Sense Education recently recognized Darlington School as a Common Sense School. Darlington has demonstrated its commitment to taking a whole-community approach to preparing its students to think critically and use technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate, while preparing them for the perils that exist in the online realm, such as plagiarism, loss of privacy, and cyberbullying. Click here to read more.

Click here to learn more about technology at Darlington.

Click here for complete show notes >>

Welcome to Episode 28 of The Darlington Podcast! 

In this episode, Pre-K to 8 Director Hopes Jones talks with Pre-K teacher Beth Smith ('87, LD '12) and Kindergarten teacher Jody Deaton about what a skills-based curriculum and active learning look like for our youngest students. Together, these primary grades teachers have 43 combined years of experience teaching in the primary grades at Darlington.

About the Primary Grades (Pre-K to 2):

Special care and attention is paid to the littlest learners at Darlington School. Here, we open the world of creativity and independence as children develop and grow in a safe, secure and academically nurturing space.

All Darlington primary grades teachers and teaching assistants are Orton-Gillingham Classroom Educator trained. This advanced training draws on developmental neuroscience to provide an optimal education experience.

Additionally, all pre-K to second grade students enjoy classes dedicated to art, music, Spanish, physical education and regular visits to the library. They also explore the world through technology designed to enhance learning, including iPads, 3D printers, and STEM activities integrated within the MakerSpace.

Click here to explore the Primary Grades at Darlington.

Click here for complete show notes >>

Welcome to Episode 27 of The Darlington Podcast! 

In this episode, Scott Greene, director of the Teaching & Learning Center, talks with Learning Specialists Justin Bruce and Kristen Bell about their work with students. Together, they share some of the organization, time management, and study strategies they use to help students who have executive function issues to be successful at Darlington and beyond.

About the Teaching & Learning Center:

Founded in 2006, Darlington School’s Glenn Teaching and Learning Center provides individualized academic support to students pre-K to 12 with identified learning differences. Our learning specialists work directly with students in the Center and in the classroom to help them achieve academic success.

Click here to read more about the Learning Center.

Click here for complete show notes >>

Welcome to Episode 26 of The Darlington Podcast! 

In this episode, Bob Berry ('64) chats with members of Darlington School's advancement team -- Julie Lucas ('97), Carson Raymond, and Becca Wood -- about the Darlington Connects program. 

Bob Berry, this week's guest host, is a Darlington alumnus, former faculty member, parent of alum, current grandparent, former trustee, longtime volunteer, the voice of the TIgers football team on Friday nights, and one of the first members of our community to give his time as a mentor in the Darlington Connects program.

About Darlington Connects

Every member of the Darlington Community has countless Darlington connections, especially in the work world. By supporting each other's careers and life goals, we are better connecting our students, alumni, parents, parents of alumni, and grandparents.

• Share more about your career in a Darlington Connects spotlight on our website or social media
• Lend your expertise to a current student or recent graduate
• Connect with others in your field or your geographic area via our Alumni Directory or our Darlington Connects group on LinkedIn
• Volunteer to be one of our guest speakers at Career Day

Click here to read more about how to get involved with Darlington Connects and email [email protected] with questions.

Click here for complete show notes >>