Over the course of her 22-year career with IUSD, in which she was a math teacher and activities director prior to becoming principal of Northwood High School in 2007, Dr. Leslie Roach has been a passionate, dedicated, student-centered leader focused on maximizing student learning, while working collaboratively with the Northwood High team. It is no wonder why Dr. Roach received Administrator of the Year honors from the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). This week, she was named the 2021 Marcus Foster Memorial Award recipient for the Southern California region.
ACSA established the Marcus Foster Memorial Award to honor education administrators, who demonstrate outstanding leadership and significant contributions to education. Dr. Roach’s staff and colleagues have characterized her as a leader with “high emotional intelligence, who embodies ingenuity, tenacity and problem-solving, inspiring her colleagues and the Northwood High student population to strive for excellence.”
“Leslie truly has all of the qualities that I believe are essential to leadership: intelligence, passion, dedication, and an endless reserve of energy,” said Cassie Parham, IUSD Assistant Superintendent of Education Services. Leslie’s capacity to manage the complexity of a comprehensive high school while prioritizing student learning is one of her greatest talents. The students remain at the core of her decision-making. She has a clear vision for the instructional program at Northwood, but she also understands the importance of that vision being a collective one that staff can support.”
ACSA’s awards are given regionally and at a state level depending on the award category. Dr. Roach will now be considered for the ACSA State Administrator of the Year. Please join IUSD in congratulating Dr. Roach!