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Letter from Roby Robinson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Jun 21, 2005 10:59 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Dear Darlington Community:
As we transition the leadership of Darlington School from Interim President Jim Hendrix to our new Head of School Tom Whitworth, it is an important time to share certain structural administrative changes recently approved by our Board of Trustees.
Jim Hendrix’s commitment as Interim President ends on June 30, and he and Libby will begin summering in Colorado shortly thereafter—a well-earned rest after a year of many solid accomplishments, along with great tragedy and loss. I know from the appreciation so many of you have expressed to Jim for his calm, caring leadership that you feel, as I do, that we can never truly repay him for the steady, thoughtful guidance he has given to all of the Darlington community during this critical year of transition. In a few words, Jim Hendrix fell in love with Darlington, and the entire Darlington community fell in love with Jim Hendrix. The students’ own love and respect was clearly demonstrated when this year’s graduating class awarded Jim an honorary diploma, and also when he was named recipient of the Gordon Neville House Senate Faculty Award.
On July 1, Tom Whitworth will officially assume the leadership of our school. I know each of you joins me in welcoming Tom and Margo to Darlington and to Rome. We are indeed fortunate to have a veteran educator with such proven leadership skills join us as our new school Head and to lead us into our second century. Tom and Margo will be moving from Virginia into the Home-on-the-Hill over the next several weeks, and I am certain that many of you will see them socially before the beginning of the new school year. Just last week, Tom spent two days in an on-campus retreat with senior administrative staff, beginning the process of reviewing the Mission Statement and setting goals and priorities.
The changes to Darlington’s administrative structure are the result of extensive conversations Tom, Jim Hendrix, Board Vice-Chair John Irby, the Executive Committee and I have had over a number of months. These discussions ensued out of recognition that every candidate with whom we met about potentially leading Darlington expressed opinions ranging from puzzlement to high concern about our existing administrative structure. We found this unanimity of opinion to be noteworthy and a cause for thoughtful evaluation. As a result, the following changes were approved by the full Board of Trustees last week.
Effective July 1, Tom Whitworth will assume the formal title, as specified in our bylaws, of President, but he also will assume the title of Headmaster. We have determined that there is ample historical precedent for this duality at Darlington, and that three of our previous six Heads of School carried both titles at the same time. In all publications, correspondence, activities and interactions, Tom will use the title he prefers, and the one common to most independent schools, namely that of Headmaster. The literal meaning of this term, derived from the British tradition, is important to Tom—Head Teacher. Both he and the Executive Committee feel this title more appropriately describes the Board’s expectations of him and of the responsibilities of Darlington’s leader in today’s world as we begin our second 100 years.
Also effective July 1, David Rhodes will assume the title of Associate Headmaster and Upper School Principal; Bob Rogers will become Chief Financial Officer; Joe Montgomery will be Chief Advancement Officer; Bruce Watterson will be Chief Communications Officer; Sam Moss will be Dean of College Guidance; Jim Van Es will be Middle School Principal; and Mark Tayloe will be Lower School Principal.
It is our collective feeling that these changes will more clearly delineate lines of responsibility, and at the same time place appropriate emphasis on the educational mission of the school. They will also render Darlington’s administrative structure more consistent with proven and accepted independent school practices.
Through the multiple efforts of faculty, staff, students, parents, grandparents, alumni and Board members, we have attracted Tom and Margo to become a part of our community, to lead our school, and to help us take Darlington to new heights. We look forward to many good years under Tom’s guidance. I know you will enjoy getting to know them both, as many of us have over the past year.
Respectfully,
Roby Robinson '58
As we transition the leadership of Darlington School from Interim President Jim Hendrix to our new Head of School Tom Whitworth, it is an important time to share certain structural administrative changes recently approved by our Board of Trustees.
Jim Hendrix’s commitment as Interim President ends on June 30, and he and Libby will begin summering in Colorado shortly thereafter—a well-earned rest after a year of many solid accomplishments, along with great tragedy and loss. I know from the appreciation so many of you have expressed to Jim for his calm, caring leadership that you feel, as I do, that we can never truly repay him for the steady, thoughtful guidance he has given to all of the Darlington community during this critical year of transition. In a few words, Jim Hendrix fell in love with Darlington, and the entire Darlington community fell in love with Jim Hendrix. The students’ own love and respect was clearly demonstrated when this year’s graduating class awarded Jim an honorary diploma, and also when he was named recipient of the Gordon Neville House Senate Faculty Award.
On July 1, Tom Whitworth will officially assume the leadership of our school. I know each of you joins me in welcoming Tom and Margo to Darlington and to Rome. We are indeed fortunate to have a veteran educator with such proven leadership skills join us as our new school Head and to lead us into our second century. Tom and Margo will be moving from Virginia into the Home-on-the-Hill over the next several weeks, and I am certain that many of you will see them socially before the beginning of the new school year. Just last week, Tom spent two days in an on-campus retreat with senior administrative staff, beginning the process of reviewing the Mission Statement and setting goals and priorities.
The changes to Darlington’s administrative structure are the result of extensive conversations Tom, Jim Hendrix, Board Vice-Chair John Irby, the Executive Committee and I have had over a number of months. These discussions ensued out of recognition that every candidate with whom we met about potentially leading Darlington expressed opinions ranging from puzzlement to high concern about our existing administrative structure. We found this unanimity of opinion to be noteworthy and a cause for thoughtful evaluation. As a result, the following changes were approved by the full Board of Trustees last week.
Effective July 1, Tom Whitworth will assume the formal title, as specified in our bylaws, of President, but he also will assume the title of Headmaster. We have determined that there is ample historical precedent for this duality at Darlington, and that three of our previous six Heads of School carried both titles at the same time. In all publications, correspondence, activities and interactions, Tom will use the title he prefers, and the one common to most independent schools, namely that of Headmaster. The literal meaning of this term, derived from the British tradition, is important to Tom—Head Teacher. Both he and the Executive Committee feel this title more appropriately describes the Board’s expectations of him and of the responsibilities of Darlington’s leader in today’s world as we begin our second 100 years.
Also effective July 1, David Rhodes will assume the title of Associate Headmaster and Upper School Principal; Bob Rogers will become Chief Financial Officer; Joe Montgomery will be Chief Advancement Officer; Bruce Watterson will be Chief Communications Officer; Sam Moss will be Dean of College Guidance; Jim Van Es will be Middle School Principal; and Mark Tayloe will be Lower School Principal.
It is our collective feeling that these changes will more clearly delineate lines of responsibility, and at the same time place appropriate emphasis on the educational mission of the school. They will also render Darlington’s administrative structure more consistent with proven and accepted independent school practices.
Through the multiple efforts of faculty, staff, students, parents, grandparents, alumni and Board members, we have attracted Tom and Margo to become a part of our community, to lead our school, and to help us take Darlington to new heights. We look forward to many good years under Tom’s guidance. I know you will enjoy getting to know them both, as many of us have over the past year.
Respectfully,
Roby Robinson '58
