Darlington School: Private Boarding School in Georgia Bartholomew announces departure, Hutchins to lead PK-8
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Bartholomew announces departure, Hutchins to lead PK-8

January 23, 2012 | 989 views

Bartholomew

Lower School Director Steve Bartholomew has announced that this will be his last year at Darlington School as he seeks a change of pace and the opportunity to live closer to family.

“After 41 years in education, I am looking forward to this, but you certainly won’t see me sitting in a rocking chair day in and day out,” he said, adding that his time at Darlington has been a wonderful experience for him and his family.

“Darlington is a very special place, but I feel like now is the right time for me to slow down a little bit and take a rest,” Bartholomew continued. “I have really cherished getting to know the children and their families – I will miss them. Young people bring so much joy to the Lower School each day and it is such a happy place to be. I am grateful to have had this experience and for the support of my colleagues and the school leadership over the past five years.”

He added that he is content with his decision because he knows he is leaving the Lower School in a very good place. Headmaster Tom Whitworth agreed.

“Since his arrival in 2006, Bartholomew and his teaching team have worked very hard to continuously improve Darlington’s Lower School program,” said Whitworth in a letter to the Darlington Community today. “The results are evident in the differentiated instruction that is going on in our classrooms, a new reading and writing curriculum, the implementation of a standards-based grading system, the daily integration of technology that begins in pre-K, a professional development model that has been embraced by teachers, a thriving character development program, the extra layer of support provided by our learning specialists, the cross-curricular learning opportunities that have emerged from our enrichment program, a growth in enrollment over the last two years, and so much more.”

Though Bartholomew will be dearly missed, Whitworth said he is excited about a new opportunity that came to light as he worked with Bartholomew to plan for this transition.

“As we began to talk, our conversations focused on the work our faculty members have been doing over the past two years to map out our curriculum and ensure fluidity PK-12,” Whitworth said. “After much discussion, it became apparent that Darlington could really benefit from a PK-8 model for the Lower and Middle divisions. The benefits of the new model are vast but, most importantly, it will allow our students to progress for 10 years with fewer transitions.”

While the two campuses will continue to remain separate for the time being, the goal is to unite grades PK-8 under one leader who will build unity and consistency within the program. James Hutchins, current director of Middle School, has agreed to take on the charge.

“I’m very excited to be given the opportunity to lead the PK-8 program,” Hutchins said. “This model lends itself to better communication, curriculum continuity, the vertical alignment of teaching and learning (including the integration of technology), as well as an enhanced team approach. Moving forward, we will build on the many successes that Steve and his team have accomplished as we develop a program that will meet the needs of the 21st Century learner.”

A member of Darlington’s faculty since 2002, Hutchins served as associate director and dean of studies before being named division director in 2010. He holds a B.S. from Shorter College, an M.S. from Jacksonville State University, and an Ed.D. and Ed.S. from the University of Alabama.

“James has proven himself to be an ambitious, mission-driven, thoughtful and very capable leader,” Whitworth said. “He has worked hard to build a dean’s program at the Middle School to give teachers an opportunity to lead. I hope to see the same at the Lower School in the coming years.”

Moving to a PK-8 model is expected to enhance teacher collaboration and articulation within and across grades, provide more opportunities for cross-age tutoring and role modeling, promote long-term relationships and personal connections, increase opportunities for parent involvement, allow for the building of a strong sense of community between the Lower and Middle School divisions, and better prepare them for their high school years at Darlington.

“This will strengthen our vertical curriculum teams and allow us to provide better individualized instruction because we are tracking our students’ progress from year to year,” said Academic Dean David Powell. “It’s not just about our curriculum, though, it’s about vertical mentoring and planning as well. For instance, our fifth-grade teachers are already starting to meet with fourth-grade teachers to ensure a smooth transition for students.”

Whitworth said he is excited about the future of Darlington, adding, “I hope everyone will join me in wishing Steve and his wife, Dolores, all the best as they move into the next phase of their lives, and in welcoming James to his new role this fall.”