Darlington Headmaster Tom Whitworth announced today that Colin “Max” Roach will replace Gordon Hight (’94) as director of Upper School at the end of the current school year.
“Max is a seasoned educator and administrator who will take our Upper School program to a whole new level,” Whitworth said. “This is a natural next step for Max, who has served as director of Schools Attuned, dean of the department for teaching and learning, and learning strategies department head at Wasatch Academy in Mt. Pleasant, Utah.”
In the hiring process, Darlington administrators took the opportunity to look closely at and redefine the roles of director of Upper School, academic dean and director of student life to ensure that each administrator’s areas of responsibility were clear and that the partnership between these three positions would strengthen the support system for students, faculty and current families. In clarifying the role of the director of Upper School, they saw the opportunity to hire someone who could focus more deliberately on the academic program for grades 9-12 to ensure that it remains among the best in the Southeast, while continuing to enhance the culture and vision for the Upper School community.
As director of Upper School, Roach will be guided in curricular matters by PK-12 Academic Dean David Powell, partnering with him to promote academic excellence, effectiveness and efficiency in the faculty and academic programs. Roach will facilitate and support faculty evaluation, development, program development, assessment of student learning, and use of technology for instruction and communications. He will also guide Director of Student Life Matthew Peer in programmatic efforts that will shape positive behavior, promote honor, and cultivate leadership, thus helping students mature and become responsible, productive members of the community.
“After my many conversations with Max, there is no doubt in my mind that he is the perfect candidate for the job,” Whitworth said. “Max spent a good portion of last week here on campus meeting with faculty, staff, students, and parents, and as he talked with these constituent groups about their expectations, concerns, challenges, and hopes, it was clear to me that he is the right fit for Darlington. He is a good communicator and a strong collaborator and I feel that he will bring a strong sense of integrity and honor to his work. He is more than qualified to equip and support faculty as they seek to perform their jobs effectively. His previous classroom experience and work with students in a residential setting will also serve him well as he continues to cultivate a positive learning culture at the Upper School. Additionally, the opportunity to get Max and Matthew Peer working together for the benefit of every child at the Upper School is very exciting for us. We are building a great team, and I’m thrilled about the prospect of defining more clearly our strengths and working collectively on those areas in which we need to better ourselves.”
Roach holds a B.A. in Education from Westminster College, a Graduate-Level Teaching Endorsement in English as a Second Language from the University of Utah, and an M.Ed. in Educational Management and Innovation from Western Governors University, all located in Salt Lake City. In addition to his work at Wasatch Academy, he is a member of the All Kinds of Minds national teaching faculty. He has taught at the elementary, high school, college and in-service professional development levels.
“Another interesting fact about Max is that he’s classically trained in Japanese martial arts instruction and recently published a book titled ‘Japanese Swords: Cultural Icons of a Nation – The history metallurgy and iconography of the Japanese sword,’” Whitworth added. “Please join me in congratulating Max and welcoming him; his wife, Alethea; and his children, Aidan, 6, Porter, 4, and Charlie, 2, to Darlington.”
Roach said he is excited to offer his energy, passion and skills to this position and he looks forward to becoming a member of the Darlington Community.
“I came to Darlington five years ago for a Schools Attuned training session and fell in love with the school and its people. I have had my eye on Darlington ever since,” Roach said. “My family and I cherish the rich quality of life that comes from sharing meals, activities and fun with a close-knit school community, and we can’t wait to immerse ourselves in the Darlington School experience. As a high school student, I attended a college-preparatory boarding school for four years and came away transformed. So, at a deep level, I know that a school like Darlington can unlock greatness and undiscovered potential in young people. I am excited beyond words at the thought of my children entering the Lower School next year. My wife and I can't wait to see our three boys running with the Darlington pack!”
