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Darnaby Profile

Darnaby Elementary officially opened in January 1980, after its 376 students were temporarily housed in a wing of Tulsa Public School's Byrd Junior High.

James Darnaby was a businessman who had served on the Union Board of Education for 10 years, starting in 1969.

Darnaby

 

Parent Teacher Connection

Darnaby has an active PTA, which works closely with the principal and its teachers to enhance not just the educational experience for students but their entire school experience. One of the highlights during the school year is the annual Jog-A-Thon when families and staff join students in a fun, family-friendly exercise to raise funds for classroom projects.

Darnaby loves volunteers and there are many ways for volunteers to lend their support for our future generations. Opportunities may include sharing your special talents or your career knowledge, reading to classes, individual tutoring, library, vision and hearing screenings, picture day, science lab, gardening in the Serendipity Center, Darnaby Publishing Center, Jog-a-thon, carnival, Reflections, Junior Great Books and much, much more.

One of the biggest events for the entire Union School District is the result of the hard work conducted by the Darnaby PTA, which coordinates an annual arts and crafts fair.

Students play an active role in the arts thanks to PTA involvement as well. It is not unusual to see as many as 200 or more entries as students routinely take home awards of merit and excellence.

A man and a boy pose in front of a library door, with shelves of books visible inside.

Welcome to Darnaby Elementary School!

Amy Naylor
Darnaby Elementary Teacher of the Year

Principal

Chris Reynolds

Chris-Reynolds

Chris Reynolds attended Union Public Schools kindergarten through 12th grade.  He earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Oklahoma State University and a master’s degree in school administration from Northeastern State University.

Prior to coming to Union, Reynolds began his teaching career with Tulsa Public Schools.  He taught second grade and fourth grade at Carnegie Elementary and sixth grade at Nimitz Middle School.  In 2007, he received an award as Oklahoma’s PTA Teacher of the Year, the Pat Henry Award.

Reynolds began his career at Union in 2008 as the assistant principal of Boevers Elementary.  In May of 2010, Reynolds was named the assistant principal of Clark Elementary, one of only three schools in the nation to be recognized in Washington, D.C., as a recipient of the National Community Schools Award. 

In May of 2011, Reynolds was named principal of Darnaby Elementary, which has since been recognized by Project Lead the Way as a National Showcase School. In 2017, Reynolds again received the Pat Henry Award, as Oklahoma’s PTA Administrator of the Year.  In the fall of 2018, Reynolds was also recognized by the Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance as a recipient of the Flight Night Innovator Award to acknowledge excellence in promoting STEM in the community.

Reynolds is married to a fellow educator and together, they have three wonderful children. 

Assistant Principal

Hayley Whorton

Hayley Whorton

My name is Hayley Whorton, and I am absolutely thrilled to be joining Darnaby as your Assistant Principal!

As I prepare for this new adventure, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want you to know first. While I could tell you about degrees, certifications, and years of experience (don’t worry, that’s coming!), what I hope you know most is that I am a people person through and through. Relationships matter to me, and I can’t wait to get to know each of you.

A little about me…

Professionally:
• I am entering my 10th year in education.
• I began my teaching career at McAuliffe Elementary in Union Public Schools, where I taught 2nd grade for three years.
• I then spent four years teaching 1st grade at another elementary school closer to home before returning to McAuliffe to teach 4th, where I’ve taught for the past two years.
• Throughout my career, I’ve loved being involved in all things school life such as Run Club, Yearbook, STEM, student engagement, school culture, leadership teams…if there’s a way to jump in and support kids and staff, I’m usually all in!
• I recently completed my Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership, and I am incredibly excited to step into this role at Darnaby.
• I firmly believe that great schools are built through teamwork, trust, positive relationships, and a shared commitment to doing what’s best for kids.

Personally:
• I’m married and have three amazing kiddos (Kaison-6, Kinsley-5, and Wyatt-3) who keep life busy, fun, and just the right amount of chaotic.
• Coffee is not just a beverage; it’s a lifestyle.
• I love spending time with family and friends and am happiest when surrounded by people I care about.
• I am known for being a little bubbly, a lot enthusiastic, and a sprinkle of socially awkward to even things out. 
• I genuinely enjoy celebrating others, finding the positive in difficult situations, and helping people feel valued and supported.
• I firmly believe that laughter belongs in schools and that some of the best days happen when we don’t take ourselves too seriously.

One thing that especially excites me about Darnaby is that this is the first year the school will have a full-time Assistant Principal. What an incredible opportunity! I am eager to learn from you, support you, partner alongside you, and help make great things happen for our students and staff.

My door will always be open. Whether you want to share ideas, celebrate successes, problem-solve challenges, or simply say hello, I’d love to connect.

I can’t wait to meet each of you and begin this journey together. Here’s to a fantastic year at Darnaby!

Hayley Whorton

 

A young boy in mid-air jumps over a man lying on the grass, with a group of children and trees in the background under a clear blue sky.

Darnaby students run and jump for joy - even over their own principal - during the annual PTA jog-a-thon.

Darnaby At Glance

A young boy wearing a turkey shirt and a %2267 Days of School%22 hat stands in front of a smiling woman in a classroom setting.
A young boy in the foreground holds a snack while a girl smiles beside him, as other children work at desks in a classroom background.
Two young girls and a woman stand behind tables displaying historical artifacts in a classroom with an American flag in the background.
A smiling man and a young girl stand on a sidewalk in front of parked cars and houses under a clear sky.
Children in green shirts race across a grassy field in the foreground, while a mascot and spectators watch from the background.
In the foreground, women are seated at tables in a classroom, while in the background, a man stands addressing a group of people in front of a colorful mural.
An older man and a young boy fish by a lake with a lodge in the background.
A man and a boy fish on a rocky shore with a calm lake and trees in the background under a cloudy sky.
A man in a cap instructs a group of children in green shirts holding fishing rods in the foreground, while a park with trees and a road is visible in the background.
A group of children in green shirts pose with their hands forming letters in the foreground, while adults and store displays fill the background.
Blurry, vibrant streaks of neon lights in the foreground weave through a dark, indistinct background.
A group of children and an adult stand in front of a colorful display in a classroom.
Four women on tricycles in the foreground are smiling with a crowd of people and trees in the background.
Four boys pose for a photo, with three standing behind a boy seated on a tricycle, against a backdrop of trees and a building under a clear blue sky.
A woman in the foreground shouts into a megaphone at another woman who is smiling and waving, with a blue SUV and houses visible in the background.
A teacher guides a young boy in a classroom as they interact with a robotic toy on a grid in the foreground, with desks and educational materials visible in the background.
A young boy in mid-air jumps over a man lying on the grass, with other children running in the background on a sunny day.
A boy with red hair races a tricycle in the foreground, while a crowd of children watches in the background under a clear blue sky.
A smiling woman in the foreground stands next to a line of happy children in the background.
In the foreground, a %22Ranger Robotics%22 sign sits before various robotic creations, while in the background, four people observe the displays in a brightly lit room.
A woman in a black blazer and patterned skirt stands to the left of a young boy in an orange shirt, both looking at a small robot on a track, with shelves of supplies in the background.
A boy and a woman high-five amidst a flurry of white confetti in the foreground, while two girls watch from a doorway in the background.
A smiling girl in the foreground holds up a %223rd Grade Memory Book%22 while a boy in the background smiles and writes at his desk in a classroom.
Three smiling children in the foreground are posing in front of a colorful inflatable bounce house, with other children playing in the background.
Three young cadets stand at attention with rifles and an American flag in the foreground, while a large group of children in red shirts stand on risers in the background, facing a stage decorated with American flags.
A group of smiling children and their teacher pose in a classroom with a whiteboard and computer in the background.
Children in pajamas stand on colorful steps in front of a starry backdrop.
A man in a baseball cap and hoodie kneels to comfort a crying boy in a camouflage shirt, while a crowd of people watches in the background.