Tom Whitworth
Since his tenure began in 2005, Whitworth said he has been most inspired by the people in this tight-knit community who make Darlington the special place that it is.
“Margo and I have been very fortunate to encounter the beauty and good people of Rome,” Whitworth said. “However, working with the faculty, staff and students at Darlington has been our highlight. We have loved our time and our work here, and we will always be invested in Darlington’s future and well-being.
“While Margo and I are really looking forward to this new chapter in life and to spending more time with our children and grandchildren, we cannot lose sight of the present,” he continued. “There is much to do over the next 18 months and I plan to work as hard as ever. We have so very much that is positive and defining to accomplish together, to ensure the very best for our students and families in Darlington’s second century and beyond.”
Whitworth began his tenure as headmaster during the school’s Centennial Celebration. Since then, he has led Darlington through the completion of a $90 million Second Century Campaign, which included the addition of Thatcher Hall, a LEED-certified Middle School facility.
“His steadfast dedication to building endowment for faculty support and student financial aid has inspired us to keep on working hard to raise funds over and above our goal,” said Jere Drummond (’57), chairman of the Board of Trustees. “He has also worked with the Business Office to maintain a balanced budget despite the national economic downturn and the increased need for financial aid among current and prospective families.”
With over 30 years of administrative experience, Whitworth has been the driving force behind many initiatives that have strengthened Darlington’s student-centered programming over the past eight years. He was integral in the establishment of the Teaching and Learning Center, which meets the needs of all types of learners in grades PK-12. He led Darlington through the transition to a unified PK-8 program, which strengthened curriculum continuity and allows students to progress with fewer transitions. Under his leadership, Darlington has also integrated 21st Century skills in all facets of its curriculum through initiatives such as the 1:1 program in grades 4-9 and a focus on project-based learning in all grade levels.
"Tom has been purposeful in his effort to create a ‘one-school’ atmosphere between what, for years, has felt like three different campuses,” Drummond said. “But most importantly, he has always shown an unwavering commitment to the mission of Darlington School.”
A Search Committee, chaired by trustee Linda (Grizzard) Owens (’79), has already been formed to lead the national search for Whitworth’s successor. Ad-hoc committees comprised of faculty, staff, parents and students will also be involved in the search process.
“We hope to identify a new headmaster by fall 2013 in order to ensure a seamless and effective transition,” Drummond said. “I want to take this opportunity to thank Tom for his dedication to Darlington. It has been such a pleasure to work with him in so many aspects of life at Darlington, and I know he has always had the school’s best interests at heart. I look forward to continuing our work over the next year and a half.”
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In his bio, it should read: "In helping Darlington raise the $22 million for a gaudy and grossly overpriced Middle School, Whitworth along the way sacrificed one of the school's TRUE legends - Jim Van Es, a man with more courage and integrity in one finger than Whitworth will ever have.
"Additionally, he FAILED on the one goal he said from the day he was hired that he would make good on: making teacher salaries competitive with peer schools."
90 million so-called dollars later, Darlington's hard working, dedicated faculty are no nearer the top half of its peer schools than when this mover and shaker took his throne.
A collective "yes!" must have gone up Friday from the faculty, staff and a huge portion of the alumni base when this bully and iron-fisted "leader" made his announcement. Indeed, he'll leave Darlington a better place than he found it, but it's only because he's leaving.
To the Board of Trustees - shame on you for allowing this man to run off more good people in the last 7 or 8 years than I care to mention. And allowing him to insulate his power hungry rule with weak leaders - indeed, "yes men," as fudpucker put it - and smiting those who took a stand against him is just as bad.
BUT HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS, BoT: You can get it right on the next one. You charge an unbelievable amount of money to educate children there. You badger a stretched alumni base for dollar after dollar. Darlington parents and alumni deserve not only a national search, but a global one. Their money deserves the best possible headmaster candidate you can find. Turning it over in-house would be a huge mistake. Find a compassionate human - and a true teacher - unlike this detached, cold, dictator, and get Darlington back to the golden years it so richly deserves.
And I laugh every time I hear about Darlington reaching $90 million. Too bad people don't know the real truth behind every dollar "raised" there.
Anyway, congratulations, Darlington faculty - especially you, Sam Moss - the dark days of Tomlington are almost over.
I disagree that he's wrecked the programs, but in his ridiculous love of the Soccer Academy is an absolute joke. The SA helps the bottom line, but adds zero culture to the school and kills the varsity boys' and girls' programs.