Two administrators, Director of Upper School Amy Kumpel and Upper School Dean of Students Lydia Stoye, are both leaving Dana Hall for new job opportunities. Ms. Kumpel, who has worked at the school for three years, is excited to pursue her new role as the Assistant Head of School and Dean of Faculty at St. Mark’s School, while Ms. Stoye has worked here for four years and is on her way to become Assistant Head of School for Student Life at Idyllwild Arts Academy in California.
Ms. Kumpel described her leave as “bittersweet” because of her love for Dana Hall. Although she wasn’t seeking a new job, St. Mark’s reached out and offered her a chance to take her dream job. Additionally, this school is her wife’s alma mater, which led to even more interest: “To have both of these things be true, being the Dean of Faculty role that opened at the school that is so meaningful to my wife was that perfect intersection of things for me.” Ms. Kumpel expressed her eagerness for this new position since she’s looking forward to teaching physics again, but also “Whenever you do something new or different or make a big change you can be both nervous and excited.” Alongside that, she’s also appreciative of her experiences at Dana Hall. Ms. Kumpel added that her favorite memories are “So many of it is the firsts. My first time chaperoning for Midwinter, my first Revels, my first Senior Sophomore, my first Step-Sing,” and the ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the new Upper School Building.
Similarly, Ms Stoye also wasn’t job searching, her former colleague reached out to her about new role in California, which is also closer to family. Although she too found it difficult to transition to a new school, her attitude towards this change reflects on the advice that she has offered to students “to take risks and be leaders and put themselves out there.” She‘s highlighted how “Nervouscited” she feels but her time at Dana Hall taught her “How to lead well with empathy.” Ms. Stoye also conveyed her love for the traditions and specifically mentioned how “Cabaret is such an epitome of if you just trust the process and let the students guide and lead, it will all come out for the better.”
Ms. Kumpel emphasized Dana Hall as “an amazing institution and an amazing place for girls and young women to find their voice and to become the future leaders of this world.” She went more in depth to describe faculty members as “smart […] passionate […] dedicated and give their all to Dana Hall,” and will miss the students here who she labels as “funny, dedicated, passionate, interesting, complex in all the best ways.” Ms. Stoye indicates how “students can be firm and hold to their values but also be whole humans and empathetic and see a whole person,” and how she will miss the faculty, “one of the most supportive faculties I have ever worked with […] they are kind and care about each other.”
When asked about a piece of advice they would give to the person filling their shoes, Ms. Kumpel said “to always have candy,” while Stoye would say that “If you provide the right support, the right scaffolding, the right guidance, students will always surprise you in a positive way.”