The Ladies of
HILTON HEAD PREP Education is ultimately the pursuit of goals, whatever form those goals might take. At Hilton Head Prep, these goals vary from student to student and can be attained in the classroom, on the field or in the world that awaits beyond graduation. Giving students the tools to achieve these goals falls on the celebrated staff at Hilton Head Prep, who all share one singular goal: Excellence. And excellence is rarely achieved alone. To be ranked the No. 1 private K-12 school in Beaufort County, No.1 private school for athletes in Beaufort County, No. 1 boarding school in the state, No. 2 private K-12 school in the state and in the top 14 percent of all private K-12 schools in America takes teamwork. It takes a group of outstanding leading ladies (ladies who, incidentally, have put 10 of their own children through Prep collectively). Margot Brown, director of development and finance, is a 31-year veteran of the educational field who led a capital campaign that raised $6.5 million for the Joseph B. Fraser Jr. Field House, the largest non-profit fundraising effort in island history. “The most rewarding part of this job is that I get to impact the lives of children every day,” says Brown. “Knowing the mission behind my work, makes me happy to come to school every morning.” Sarah DeMaria, director of admissions, is among the first friendly faces a new student encounters as they begin their journey to excellence at Hilton Head Prep. Helping those students fulfill their passion is what drives her. “I love seeing students shine in an environment in which each can pursue their passion, whether it’s in athletics, on the stage in performing arts, and of course, academically,” she said. Head of the lower and middle schools, Darcy Devrnja, has been in education for 35 years, the last seven of which were spent at Prep. The task of overseeing such a wide age range of students presents a unique set of challenges, and never was that truer than this past year. “The teachers did a fantastic job handling COVID protocol while providing a stellar academic program. They successfully navigated this hybrid virtual/ in person world of learning due to their dedication, collaboration, and determination,” she said. Tina Webb-Browning is the head of the upper school, a career educator of 37 years who finds the greatest rewards come from the lives she reaches. “There is nothing more rewarding than working with young people and helping them find the right path… helping them believe in themselves during those crazy teenage years,” she said. Excellence can be found in all aspects of Hilton Head Prep. Business Manager Jennifer Cody Murphy has spent 34 years in education, serving Prep with a steady fiscal hand and ensuring that the school’s finances reflect the excellence found in the classroom. “The most rewarding part of my job is developing solutions that benefit the various goals and needs of our constituents; hoping to balance the fiscal with the ideal,” she said. Each of these leading ladies serves a vital role in Hilton Head Prep’s ceaseless pursuit of that one goal above all others: Excellence.
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