Jean Cook
cook@dutchessday.org

Jean joined the DDS faculty in 1994. She is the director of technology/media specialist. She is yearbook advisor, runs the after school program and school store, teaches library skills to PreK through 3, fourth and fifth grade internet research skills, and serves as the eighth grade homeroom teacher and advisor. Jean attended Simmons College where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Communications, and Marist College where she obtained her Master’s degree in Educational Psychology.

Prior to joining DDS, she co-owned a computer sales/services/training business where she taught computer classes for corporate and private clients. She also taught adult classes at Marist College, Dutchess Community College, and teacher classes at BOCES, and Hyde Park Adult Education.

Jean grew up in the town of Clinton where she resides today after short residences in Boston and southern California. Jean has one grown daughter who is amazing and a lovable, but annoying cat.

Russell Day
day@dutchessday.org

Russell joined the DDS faculty in 2007. He is the Latin teacher for sixth through eighth grades, the writing teacher for eighth grade and the yearbook assistant. He is also the faculty advisor for the school’s student publication “Tiger Times” and teaches an acting class during activity period.

Russell attended Columbia University where he obtained an A.B., and the University of New Mexico where he obtained a Masters degree.

Prior to joining the faculty at DDS, Russell taught English at various colleges and junior colleges, and taught English and Latin at Campbell Hall School.

Diane Duffus
duffus@dutchessday.org

Diane joined the DDS faculty in 1992. She teaches sixth and seventh grade science, seventh grade computer and homeroom, is a seventh grade advisor, is the co-coordinator of both the Sustainability Committee and the Ecology Club, and is the coordinator for many of the upper school field trips, including the Nature’s Classroom/Cape Cod and Costa Rica trips.

Prior to her arrival at DDS, she worked at Putnam-Northern Westchester BOCES as both a science consultant and an outdoor education specialist where she developed curriculum, led teacher training workshops and coordinated their outdoor education program. In her tenure at DDS, she has taught 4th, 6th, and 7th grade science and 8th grade science lab, and 4th through 8th grade computer. In the past she has also coached the school’s JV soccer team.

Diane attended Orange County Community College where she obtained an Associate’s degree in Recreation Leadership, SUNY Cortland where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Conservation of Natural Resources and Biology, and SUNY New Paltz where she obtained a Master’s of Science degree in Education. She is NYS certified to teach elementary education, biology and general science.

Diane’s interests include gardening, hiking, birding and most other outdoor pursuits.

Christine Miroff
miroff@dutchessday.org

Christine joined the DDS faculty in 2008. She is the part-time Spanish teacher for sixth through eighth grades. She is an advisor and a member of the Strategic Planning Task Force.

Christine attended Barauch College in New York where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in International Business, and Marist College where she earned a teaching certificate for kindergarten through sixth grade.

In addition to DDS, Christine has taught Spanish to kindergarten through eighth grade at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Poughkeepsie and was an ESL teacher at Dutchess County BOCES for adults. She has also taught life skills to adults with developmental disabilities.

Christine is originally from Colombia, South America and a native speaker. She emigrated to the United States at the age of eight and lives in Pleasant Valley with her husband and two sons.

Vanessa Park
park@dutchessday.org

Vanessa joined the DDS faculty in 1987. She began her time here as the upper school English teacher and stayed in that position until 2007. Shortly after she arrived at the school she started the lower school writing program, and has taught writing at every grade level. In the fall of 2007 Vanessa became the sixth grade homeroom, English and history teacher. In addition, Ms. Park has been a staff writer for “The Courtyard” and helped the school with publicity. Vanessa attended the University of Virginia as an Echols scholar, receiving her Bachelor’s degree, and Columbia University where she obtained a MFA in writing.

Vanessa grew up in New York City, where her own educational experiences cemented her commitment to independent education. Prior to teaching, Vanessa worked as a chef and founded and administered a reading series in Charlottesville, VA. She is married to Dan Haas, also a teacher. They live in Copake, New York and have two teenaged children, both DDS graduates.

Laura Y. Roberts
roberts@dutchessday.org

Laura joined the DDS faculty in 2007. She is the upper school English teacher and also work closely with Hillary Henderson on publications, writing press releases and contributing to the school magazine, “The Courtyard.” Laura attended Wesleyan University in Connecticut where she obtained her Bachelors in Russian Language and Literature, Bank Street College in Manhattan where she obtained her Masters of Education, and Naropa University in Colorado where she obtained her Masters in Contemplative Education. Prior to joining DDS, Laura ran her own tutoring business in New York City for four years and has taught at The Dalton School in Manhattan and Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn. Laura grew up in Garrison, New York and then spent three high school years attending The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey. She now lives in Red Hook, NY with her husband, his daughter and their new baby girl.

Beth Utter
utter@dutchessday.org

Beth joined the DDS faculty in 2008. She is the mathematics teacher for fifth through eighth grades, is the homeroom teacher for seventh grade and is an advisor in sixth grade. Beth is also the co-leader for Student Leadership Council.

Beth attended SUNY Brockport where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, and then Marist College where she earned her teacher certification and Master of Arts degree in Educational Psychology.

Before joining DDS, Beth worked in public schools as an elementary and middle school teacher and in the private sector as a teacher/educational evaluator.

Beth was born and raised in Poughkeepsie and is married with three children.

Darlene Yager
yager@dutchessday.org

Darlene joined the DDS faculty in 1995. She is the upper school head and teaches science to fifth grade and math to seventh and eighth grades. In addition, Darlene coaches volleyball and Lego Robotics, and is on the school’s Strategic Planning Committee.

Darlene attended SUNY Cortland where she obtained both a Bachelor’s degree in science and a Master’s degree in education.

Prior to coming to DDS, Darlene was a substitute in the Millbrook Central School District and then taught remedial math at Millbrook High School for several years.

Darlene grew up near Syracuse and attended a small school named Fabius-Pompey. She moved to Millbrook to marry her college sweetheart, Bill, and together they have a son named Ben who attends DDS.

Eleanor Yates
yates@dutchessday.org

Eleanor joined the DDS faculty in 1995. She is the fifth grade teacher.

Eleanor attended SUNY Oneonta where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in education, and University of South Carolina where she obtained a Master’s degree in education. In addition to teaching fifth grade at DDS, Eleanor taught fourth grade and a combined class of fourth through sixth grades, and has also taught at the elementary level for a school in South Carolina.