4 EDCAL August 27, 2018
Roach named executive director of NASS
John Roach, a long-time education lead-
er and former California school superinten-
dent, has been named as the new executive
director of the National Association of
School Superintendents.
“I’m coming in at a time where decisions
in Washington, D.C. are having a direct
impact in our schools and on our students,”
Roach said. “Spearheading our national
advocacy effort is crucial to guaranteeing
that our schools have the resources they
need to build our next generation of lead-
ers.”
Roach served 14 years as a superinten-
dent in California. He began his career as
a sixth-grade teacher and also served as an
elementary and high school administra-
tor, middle school principal and associate
superintendent.
Roach is currently an adjunct profes-
sor at the University of
Southern California, where
he teaches leadership and
accountability classes. He
serves as a consultant to
search firms, as well as
companies that design
and build schools. He also
directs the ACSA New
Superintendents Seminar Roach
Series and provides exper-
tise in collective bargaining
and governance for school districts through
ACSA’s Targeted Assistance Program.
Roach believes superintendents have a
unique opportunity to tell the stories of
what is happening in their districts and
affect national change. NASS’ federal plat-
form and the September NASS and ACSA
Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C.
offer a valuable chance to have face-to-face
meetings with federal decision makers.
“We’ve created an agenda that is impact-
ful for school leaders,” he said. “In addition
to meetings with federal lawmakers on
Capitol Hill, we’re bringing some of educa-
tion’s foremost thought leaders and decision
makers to our members. This is the chance
to advocate on behalf of students.”
Roach earned a doctorate in educational
administration from USC and a Master’s
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degree in English from Loyola Marymount
University. He was also a finalist for the
NASS Superintendent of the Year award
in 2011.
The Third Annual NASS and ACSA
Federal Advocacy Conference will take
place in the Washington, D.C. on Sept.
23-25.
This is a unique opportunity for school
leaders to come from different parts of the
nation to network, engage, hear from edu-
cation experts from all over the world and
advocate on behalf of students.
For more information on the Third
Annual NASS and ACSA Federal Advocacy
Conference, go to www.nass.us.