As Darlington School approaches its Centennial year in 2005, the Board of Trustees announces the appointment of Thomas Whitworth III as the School’s new president. Whitworth will assume his duties in July 2005, leading Darlington School into its second century.
“I am truly honored to be a part of the Darlington family as well as the Rome community, and I look forward to spending many years here,” Whitworth said. “One of the things that pleases me most about the campus community is the openness and the caring attitude that students bring to the table. They are sincere, forthright and focused on what I consider to be the right things. No matter where they are – lunch, dorms, classrooms or playing fields – they are engaged. Darlington also has a great group of professionals both in its faculty and staff who lead, guide, coach and serve the students.
“If the teaching faculty and administration are in place and they are all working well, then the opportunity to build a fine arts center, a new middle school facility and to enrich the quality of the educational experience will be assured,” he continued. “It will be key for me to listen to people who have been at Darlington, whether it be for 40 years or a few months, in order to guide the School to new heights in the future.”
According to Roby Robinson, chairman of the Board of Trustees, Presidential Search Committee members focused their efforts on finding a candidate who possessed strong leadership skills and a love for education. They looked for a leader who could relate to and work effectively with the Board and who could complement the School’s mission and, at the same time, interact with and be embraced by the faculty and students.
“The Board wanted someone who had experience in growing and building a school, focusing on the mission, implementing a curriculum, building the best infrastructure and hiring great faculty members. We wanted someone who could get the very most out of the administrative team, involving that team to the extent that one can build consensus and support,” Robinson said.
With 25 years of administrative experience, Whitworth has served as founding headmaster of Flint Hill School in Oakton, Va., since 1989.
“As founding headmaster of Flint Hill School, an independent school located 20 minutes from Washington, D.C., Tom Whitworth has developed all the leadership attributes our Search Committee sought,” Robinson said. “Tom believes it is the role of the president to serve as the moral, ethical, philosophical and educational leader of the school. He believes the head must be willing to confront in a caring and compassionate way, build consensus where possible, be available and a good listener. It was also clear to the Search Committee that Tom believes quality leadership is a calling which includes leading by example, allowing faculty to explore, take risks and develop themselves and have a vision for the future of the School.”
John Irby, chairman of the Presidential Search Committee, said committee members were impressed with Whitworth’s leadership style.
“At Flint Hill, Tom took a newly-created school and generated $26 million from fund-raising efforts,” Irby said. “I spoke with Johanna L. Fitzpatrick, chief judge of the Court of Appeals of the Commonwealth of Virginia. In her words, ‘I’m often congratulated on my ability to manage big meetings. I owe much of this skill to Tom Whitworth. He conducts productive meetings, getting the most out of people in such situations.’ Fitzpatrick went on to say that Whitworth will make fair and forward-thinking decisions, but not without input.
“In my opinion,” Irby continued, “Tom seems to connect so greatly with the students. His sincere interest shines through. As a committee member, I also feel good about the positive evaluations Tom received from faculty and senior staff. That is reinforcing.”
In his professional experience, Whitworth has served as assistant headmaster and academic dean at St. Stephen’s School in Alexandria, Va.; headmaster at Frederica Academy on St. Simon’s Island, Ga.; and assistant headmaster and upper school director at Sea Pines Academy on Hilton Head Island, S.C.
In addition to his administrative duties, Whitworth has taught journalism, American History and English and has served as college counselor and athletic director. He and his wife, Margo, an elementary school teacher, have three children: Thomas Coke Whitworth IV of Boone, N.C.; Tyler Matthias Whitworth of Black Mountain, N.C.; and Shannon O’Riley Whitworth of Asheville, N.C. The Whitworths also have three grandchildren.
Whitworth holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Education in Secondary Education and Supervision and English from The Citadel (Charleston, S.C.) He is a member of the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington (AISGW), where he has served two terms on the board; the Community of Concern Steering Committee; and is a founding member of the Emerging Scholars Program (ESP), where he serves on the Board.
“I have known and admired Tom Whitworth for 15 years,” Jim Hendrix, interim president, said. “His warmth, wisdom, character, work ethic and love for children make him a wonderful match for Darlington School.”
Irby said the School owes a great deal of gratitude to former president Jim McCallie and his team from Educators Collaborative and to the members of the committee for their time and commitment, serious deliberation and good decision making throughout this seven-month process.
