Northwood principal Leslie Roach announced this afternoon that she will become the Executive Director of Student Support Services for Irvine Unified School District next school year.
“Northwood High School has been my home for the past 24 years. I will miss so much the daily interactions, the energy surrounding the Oak,” Roach said in an email to the school. “But what I will miss most are the people of NHS. I truly believe everything good about our school finds its source in each of you.”
Roach has spent 18 of her 24 years at Northwood as principal, playing an instrumental role in shaping school identity and grounding it in the T-wolf core values of compassion, integrity and mutual respect. In addition to her role as principal, Roach was a math teacher, assistant principal and the school’s first coordinator for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges visit, earning the school its first accreditation.
Her departure has sparked bittersweet reactions from the staff.
“I’m so happy for her because she’s going to be so great in that position, but also really sad to see a great leader go,” science teacher Megan Stuart said. “She gives us so much freedom to try what we think is best for our teaching and for our students, and she supports us every step of the way.”
In her new role, Roach will apply her skills to help school nurses, librarians and counselors support students across IUSD.
“I’m incredibly excited for her and for what skills Dr. Roach can bring to the district, but in regards to the community and at school, I’m so saddened that she is no longer going to be our fearless leader,” history teacher Logan Sewell said. “Dr. Roach has allowed the freedom for teachers to create the best possible curriculum and environment for the Northwood student body.”
From spearheading Challenge Success to participating in Tuesday’s flash mob, Roach has remained committed to empowering and connecting with all students. In fact, she was recognized by the Association of California School Administrators in 2021 with the Marcus Foster Award for Administrator Excellence.
“Dr. Roach has left an influence on every person who has stepped foot on Northwood’s campus,” junior Loraine Wu said. “Her dedication to Northwood is unmatched, and we are all disappointed to see her leave, but we all know she’ll do amazing things at the district office. On behalf of every student at Northwood, we say thank you and we hope you come back to visit us.”
