Contact: Jenni Brockman
Telephone: (804) 443-3357
Fax: (804) 443-6781

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Eight Join St. Margaret's School Faculty and Staff

September 11, 1998, TAPPAHANNOCK, Va.-St. Margaret's School welcomes eight new faculty and staff for the 1998-99 academic year: Ruth Bennett, Sarah Brooks, Hollis Duncan, Jennifer Gura, Elizabeth Halberstadt, Gay Hurst, Shelley Hooker, and Janet Lewis.

Ruth Bennett graduated from Marymount College with a BA in English, studied at Oxford University, and most recently received her Master's Degree in English from Case Western Reserve University. She will teach two levels of English.

Sarah Brooks received her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Randolph-Macon Woman's College, and will be the Chemistry teacher at St. Margaret's. Mrs. Brooks, an alumna of St. Margaret's, class of 1979, joins three other faculty members who graduated from the school. She resides in Tappahannock with her husband and two daughters.

Hollis Duncan received his Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences from The University of the South, Sewanee. He spent a summer in Mauritania, West Africa with the Peace Corps. Most recently, Mr. Duncan worked with the Elizabeth River Project in Norfolk, Va. He will teach eighth grade science and ESL Science.

Jennifer Gura comes to St. Margaret's from Dickinson College, where she received her B.A. in Spanish. Ms. Gura will teach all levels of Spanish. She spent one year in Málaga, Spain. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Ms. Gura will be a dorm counselor in Latané Hall.

Elizabeth Halberstadt, a 1994 graduate of St. Margaret's School, returns to campus as a communications intern and dorm counselor in Latané Hall. Ms. Halberstadt received her Bachelor of Arts in communication from Randolph-Macon Woman's College.

Shelley Hooker, a graduate of Denison University, will teach Pre-Algebra and Geometry. She will also serve as a dorm counselor in Anderton House. Ms. Hooker also plays several musical instruments.

Gay Hurst, the school's new Director of Residence and Director of International Program, received her B.A. from Abilene Christian College and her M.A. from the University of Virginia. Mrs. Hurst comes to St. Margaret's from The Culver Academies in Indiana where she was the Dean of Girls. She resides in Anderson House with her husband, a teacher at Collegiate School.

Janet Lewis joins the English department as the eighth and ninth grade English teacher. A graduate of Radford University, Ms. Lewis will also be a dorm counselor in Latané Hall.

St. Margaret's is an Episcopal boarding and day school for girls in grades 8-12 that operates under a non-discriminatory policy. Inquiries regarding admission may be directed to Kimberly McDowell, Director of Admission at (804) 443-3357.