Covington Latin School Announces Leadership Team for the 2025-2026 School Year
COVINGTON, KY – Thomas More University announces the leadership team for Covington Latin School for the 2025-2026 Academic Year.
In addition to the Director for Advancement, Amy Darpel, and Director for Enrollment Management and Marketing, Zack Ryle, (both of whom are currently serving in their respective roles), the following individuals have been appointed to serve on Covington Latin’s leadership team.
- Dean of Studies – Samantha Darpel Rice
- Dean of Students – James Stebbins
- Director of Campus Ministry – Madison Light
“We are excited to have this group of individuals leading Covington Latin School for the next school year,” said Thomas More University President Joseph L. Chillo, LP.D. “Each of these individuals are not only experts in their fields, but they have a common passion of wanting to help gifted children in their educational pursuits. As the affiliation with Thomas More became official, we knew we had to have a strong leadership team, and we believe we have
found it with this team.”
Each of these individuals will report to Covington Latin School’s Head of School. Thomas More is currently in the interview process for the Head of School position, with the successful interview candidate scheduled to start at the school on July 1, 2025.
Learn More about Leadership Team:
Dean of Studies
Samantha Darpel Rice has been working at Covington Latin School since 2016, where she found her passion for teaching. She completed her undergraduate degree from Thomas More University in 2018, with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication, Theater, and English. After completing her studies, Samantha went on to earn her Master’s degree in the Art of Teaching English Grades 5-12 from the University of the Cumberlands. She currently teaches Speech, Theater, English, and Film Studies at CLS. Samantha also serves as the moderator for the Drama Club, Book Club, and Student Council.
Dean of Students
James Stebbins (’16) is an alumnus of Covington Latin School. Following graduation, James studied at Xavier University, where he earned his CPHAB (Classics and Philosophy Honors Bachelor of the Arts program) degree. In the fall of 2020, James joined the faculty of Covington Latin, returning to his roots to teach future generations of Trojans Latin, Greek, Chemistry, and Philosophy. In 2023, James received his Master of Arts in Teaching from Thomas More University. He lives in Latonia and is getting married in June of this year.
Director of Campus Ministry
Madison Light (’15) is an alumna of Covington Latin School. Upon graduation from CLS, Madison pursued her Bachelor of Arts degree in History with minors in English and Philosophy from Thomas More University, which she earned in 2019. In 2022, Madison earned her Master of Arts degree in Public History from Northern Kentucky University, and she is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Teaching from Thomas More University. Madison joined Covington Latin’s faculty in the Fall of 2022 as a History faculty member. In the Fall of 2023, she accepted the role of Director of Campus Ministry. As Director of Campus Ministry, she is excited to deepen student engagement in faith, service, and leadership, in keeping with the school’s mission of forming young people in goodness, discipline, and knowledge.
COVINGTON LATIN SCHOOL MEDIA CONTACT: Zack Ryle, Director for Enrollment Management and Marketing, zack.ryle@covingtonlatin.org, 859-291-7044
THOMAS MORE MEDIA CONTACT: Kristen Gallagher, Director of Communications & PR, gallagherk@thomasmore.edu, 859-344-3309
About Covington Latin School
Founded in 1923, Covington Latin School is the premier educational institution located for gifted and talented students in the region. Located in Covington, KY, CLS serves gifted students in grades 7-12 and provides them with an academically challenging curriculum designed to nurture intellectual curiosity and critical thinking skills. With a 100 percent college placement rate and our strong emphasis on service and spiritual growth, Covington Latin has been consistently ranked the Top Catholic School in Kentucky by Niche. Covington Latin students are uniquely prepared to succeed in the 21st century, both in their future professions and in service to their communities. To learn more about the school, visit us at covingtonlatin.org.
About Thomas More University
Founded in 1921, Thomas More University stands as a beacon of academic excellence and innovation, challenging students to Make It More. Deeply rooted in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, this timeless foundation supports a transformative educational experience as students looking to Be More are guided in the pursuit of knowledge, ethical leadership, and the integration of faith and reason. Through the high-quality, liberal arts education provided at Thomas More, students examine the ultimate meaning of life, their place in the world, and their responsibility to others which leads to the ability to think critically and contribute meaningfully to the world. Serving more than 2,300 students, Thomas More takes its place as the premier Catholic university in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region, being named one of the 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S. by the Wall Street Journal. For more, visit thomasmore.edu.