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Get to Know Us

We invite you to get to know us better by taking a tour of our two campuses and meeting our team.

Meet Our Leaders

Head of School
Fanning M. Hearon, III

Get to know Mr. Hearon who became Head of School at Palm Beach Day Academy in July 2019. He was previously Head of School at Maple Street School in Vermont, prior to which he was Assistant Head of School and Academic Dean at Vermont Academy for five years. Fanning also spent thirteen years at the Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut and began his 30-year career in independent school education at his alma mater, the Woodberry Forest School in Virginia.

 

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Head of Lower School
Martha Bjorklund

Get to know Mrs. Bjorklund, Head of Lower School at PBDA. Prior to joining PBDA in Fall 2018, Martha served as Assistant Head of Lower School at Allendale-Columbia School, Rochester, NY, where she was also Head of the school’s Pre-Primary Division, a first grade teacher, and admissions evaluator. Before, she was a first grade teacher and Reading specialist at Saint David’s School in New York City.

 

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Head of Upper School
Shana Dutkewych

Get to know Mrs. Dutkewych who was appointed Head of Upper School in Summer 2022. Shana has been an integral part of PBDA’s classrooms and culture since 2001. She served as PBDA’s Director of Student Learning from 2016 until her appointment as Head of Upper School in 2022. In this role, Shana oversaw the academic support program for both campuses and worked with students in Grades 6-9 as a learning specialist. Prior to this, Shana taught at PBDA from 2001 through 2007. She also owned a private practice and worked as a learning specialist for nine years.

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Explore the Campuses

The Admission Team

Dorothea Cvelbar and Stephanie Filauro

Stephanie Filauro

Stephanie is the Director of Admission, and has been at PBDA since 2019. She graduated with a B.A. in Communications from University of Maryland, a Master's of Arts in Elementary Education from Johns Hopkins University, and a Master's of Science in Administration and Supervision from Fordham University. Prior to PBDA, she was a First Grade Teacher and then an Assistant Principal in New York City. Stephanie is the parent of Clara 2032 and John 2035.

Dorothea Cvelbar

Dorothea Cvelbar is the Associate Director of Admission and has been at PBDA since 1990. She graduated with a B.S. in Elementary Education – Early Childhood from Bridgewater State College. Prior to joining the admission team in 2006, she taught 3rd grade and Kindergarten at PBDA. Dorothea is the parent of Marin 2021.