OHArrow_Fall2018

OHA Welcomes

Mr. Jeff Bala Mr. Bala joins Oak Hill Academy as a Resident Manager in Ingram Dormitory. He is originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He lived in Boca Raton, Florida, for the past seven years where he served as a campus dining manager at Lynn University. Mr. Bala attended The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, as a four-year boarding student. He recently graduated from Grand Canyon University with a degree in counseling, and has begun work on his Masters in Leadership. Mr. Bala resides on campus with his dog Jax. In his free time he enjoys cooking, traveling, golf, and ice hockey. Ms. Tori Brown Ms. Brown joins Oak Hill Academy as a Resident Manager in Hough Dormitory. She graduated from Fordham University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Minor in Creative Writing. As a life-long resident of New Jersey, coming to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia is a big change for her, but one that she has challenged herself to embrace. In her free time Ms. Brown enjoys painting, fishing, baking, swimming (especially in the ocean), and loves to play tennis. She is excited about the team she gets to work with every day and appreciates the support from these co-workers whom she can call her friends. Mrs. Shaquera Clawson Mrs. Clawson is returning to Oak Hill Academy as the new Dean of Girls. She previously worked as a Resident Manager in Hough Dormitory during the 2011-2012 school year. During her time away from Oak Hill, she worked in Financial Services as a Personal Banker at Wells Fargo and Bank of America and has worked in Youth and Family ministry through the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA). Most recently, she served as the Assistant Director of Student Financial Aid at Appalachian State University. Mrs. Clawson received her Bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts and Religious Studies from Lees-McRae College. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Family Studies with a concentration in Christian Counseling from Amberton University. Mrs. Clawson is excited to be back on “The Hill” and have the chance to interact with the new and returning students. She is passionate about the mission of Oak Hill and committed to serving the population of students that attend the school. In her free time, Mrs. Clawson enjoys vacationing in tropical places, watching new films in the movie theatre, singing in the church choir, and spending time with her godson, Jude. She is married to Brandon and they have a French bulldog, Penny, who can be seen sporting her Oak Hill doggy gear around campus. Mrs. Gail Duranko Mrs. Duranko joins Oak Hill Academy as an administrative assistant in the Business Office. She also assists our nurses with student medical appointments. Mrs. Duranko received her bachelor’s degree in marketing from Penn State University, where she met her husband Gary. She is originally from Pennsylvania, but spent 20 years in New Hampshire before coming to Mouth of Wilson. She worked 16 years at the front desk of an animal hospital, the last two as office manager. Mrs. Duranko and her husband have two children, Jill and Megan. They have two dogs, Bailey and Phoebe, who both love meeting the students. Mrs. Duranko loves animals and enjoys reading, listening to music, watching movies, RV’ing with her husband and dogs, and texting with her daughters. She is loving the South and life on “The Hill!”