Dickinson Catholic Schools superintendent resigns

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After nine months as Dickinson Catholic Schools superintendent, Darrin Roach has announced his resignation effective June 30.

“When I moved out here last June, the plan for my family was for me to be here this year and for my wife and children to spend one more year in Fargo-Moorhead and to come and join me this summer,” Roach said Tuesday. “My wife and children have indicated that they really don’t want to move anymore. They want to stay in Fargo, so I have elected to resign and go back and live with them.”

He said he has enjoyed his time here.

“I know professionally it’s been the best job I’ve ever had, but on a personal level it’s been the longest year of my life,” Roach said. “I have decided that I don’t want my kids to grow up without me there.”

He announced his resignation three months in advance to allow time for DCS to find a replacement.

“I think it would be a goal to have our next person in place by the end of this school year,” Trinity High School Principal Carter Fong said. “There’s no certainty that we can do that, but I think that may be a possibility.”

Fong and Dickinson Catholic Schools Board of Education Vice President Rev. Todd Kreitinger said they understand Roach’s decision.

“I’m sad to see him go, but we will wish him the best of luck in his next endeavor and I believe he’ll be successful at his next stop, wherever it may be,” Fong said. “Mr. Roach has been a good mentor to me in my first year in administration.

“He had served as a principal for several years previously and gave me a lot of guidance and support as I have learned my own new role within this school.”

Kreitinger said a hiring committee will be formed to search for a superintendent.

“I can’t really elaborate, but the executive session — the basic core of the school board — has met a couple of times, so we’re right in the process of doing that,” he said.

DCS faculty, staff and families of students were made aware of Roach’s intent more than a week ago, he said.

“We have accepted his letter of resignation,” Kreitinger said.

Roach said he has been struggling over whether to resign since Christmas.

“It was a very difficult thing for me to decide to leave and I absolutely love it here and the people have been great, but it was just a sense of life is short and you have spend what time you have with your kids when they’re young,” he said.

Roach has no immediate plans for employment, he said.

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