Darlington School: Private Boarding School in Georgia Darlington’s Roach named head of Jackson Hole Community School
Darlington School: Private Boarding School in Rome, GA
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Darlington’s Roach named head of Jackson Hole Community School

November 7, 2013 | 846 views

Headmaster Tom Whitworth announced today that Upper School Director Max Roach will leave Darlington at the end of the current school year to assume a new role as head of Jackson Hole Community School in Jackson, Wy. 

“I am thrilled about this opportunity for Max and his family, and I fully support him in this new endeavor,” Whitworth said. “This move to Wyoming is an opportunity for Max and his young family to get closer to home, which I know is important to them. I thank Max for his good work and his commitment to excellence in teaching and learning during his time at Darlington.”

Roach came to Darlington from Utah in 2011 and, in his time as division director, he has overseen the implementation of a new Upper School schedule that better meets the needs of people and programs; launched the project-based learning initiative at the Upper School; initiated the two-year rollout of the “Nextbook” initiative, the introduction of online resources in conjunction with the school’s 1:1 program; overhauled the registration process; led a collaborative revision of the Upper School Student Handbook; restructured the student intervention process; and worked with admissions to build new protocols for communication, admissions screening and new student transition. 

“The kindness and support that the Darlington Community has shown has touched my heart,” Roach said. “We will return home to our native mountain-west, enjoying the closeness of family and longtime friends, but also knowing that we leave with Darlington relationships that will last a lifetime. And so this spring I will not say goodbye, I will just invite you to come visit us in Jackson!”

Roach said his time at Darlington has been an important part of his career path, but that he and his family are ready to return to their roots. 

“As my wife, Alethea, and I drove our children back to Georgia after a vacationing at their grandparents’ house this summer, we heard a clear voice calling our family home,” Roach said. “So, at the beginning of the school year, I announced to the faculty that I would initiate a search that would bring me back to familiar horizons and, more importantly, bring Alethea and our children closer to their grandparents and extended family.” 

He added that while he is looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that will come with his new role at Jackson Hole Community School, he plans to make the most out of his remaining months at Darlington.

“At the conclusion of my three years as Upper School director, we will have accomplished much together,” Roach said. “I want to make sure that progress is set to endure and that there is a smooth transition for the next Upper School director and next head of school.”   

A search for Roach’s replacement is already underway, a process being led by Upper School science teacher Mike Hudson (’94) and a team of faculty and staff members. 

“Our goal is to locate an eminent leader who will meet the high expectations of the director’s position,” Whitworth said. “We are moving quickly and will keep our school family apprised of our progress.”