Crystal Hill
for Darien Board of Education
Crystal is 15-year Darien resident and mother of four children in Darien Public Schools who has been deeply involved in supporting local education and youth programs through a wide range of volunteer leadership roles. She holds a BSBA degree from Georgetown University and began her professional career with Ernst & Young, where she worked as a Senior Accountant/CPA before focusing her time on family and community service.
Crystal has served in leadership positions across numerous school and local organizations, including executive board roles with Noroton Presbyterian Nursery School, the Tokeneke PTO, Middlesex Parents Association, and the Darien Soccer Association. Most recently, she completed a three-year term as Chair of the Council of Darien School Parents (CDSP), the umbrella organization representing the Parent-Teacher Organizations across Darien Public Schools. In that role, she worked closely with PTO leadership, parents, and district administrators on issues ranging from school communications to student support services and was actively engaged in the school budget process and numerous district-wide initiatives.
“Through my work as a community volunteer, I have gained a strong appreciation for the diverse needs and perspectives that make up our school community. Students learn, develop, and succeed in different ways, and all Darien students deserve schools that support their individual growth. Consistent, thoughtful, and responsible investment in our schools is essential to ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive while preserving the excellence that Darien Public Schools has long been known for.”
Learn more about Crystal’s experience, priorities, and reasons for running.
Peter Orphanos
for Darien Board of Education
Peter P. Orphanos is a 29-year resident of Darien. Peter has always been a zealous advocate for the Darien Public Schools. He is a former member of the Council of Darien School Parents and was a DHS budget representative. In 2017, Peter was elected to the RTM from District Six. He has served on the RTM’s Finance & Budget Committee for nine years; as a Co-Chair for the Board of Education Budget, and also on the RTM’s Rules Committee.
Professionally, Peter was a litigation attorney at Baker & McKenzie in New York, and practiced subsequently with firms in Westchester and Connecticut. He joined the FBI in 1996, serving as an FBI Agent/Supervisor in New York specializing in counterintelligence and national security issues. Peter’s leadership is reflected in his work authoring the FBI’s national counterintelligence policy, building new and innovative programs throughout his career and earning multiple awards from the FBI and the Director of National Intelligence. After retiring from the FBI, Peter joined Global Data Risk, a risk advisory consulting firm. Peter and his wife Karen have been married for 31 years, and their daughter Caroline is a K-12 graduate of Darien Public Schools. Peter graduated from Williams, and New York Law School.
“I have been a public servant for most of my professional life, and I want to continue serving Darien by joining the Board of Education. Public education is the bedrock of our Darien community. Darien schools should always aspire to greater success for all students rather than being content with the status quo. Effective budgets aligned with district goals and objectives is an essential, responsible policy for Darien. We must embrace the fact that our school district is the preeminent reason for families moving to and living in Darien.”
Learn more about Peter's experience, priorities, and reasons for running.
