By Katie Kohler

Norristown Area High School Principal Ed Roth is completing his first school year at the helm on Eagle Drive. He took over the post from Jeff Smith, who held the position for six years before leaving to become principal at Hershey High School.

Roth grew up in Collingdale, Delaware County, and graduated from Academy Park High School, a town and a school similar to Norristown in many ways. Prior to Norristown Area High School, Roth was the principal at Upper Darby High School beginning in 2013, having started as a social studies teacher there in 2003. His Delaware County roots and experience at the high school were contributing factors to his attraction to the open position at Norristown. Roth was looking for an “a good fit, strong leadership in place and a community feel.”

Roth acknowledged the size adjustment of the schools. Upper Darby High School has an enrollment of close to 4,000 compared to Norristown’s 1,700.

“Upper Darby is my first love. But it gets to be impersonal. This is a people business. I love being able to get to know people better and know them by name,” commented Roth

Roth started two weeks before the opening school bell in August 2017. He mentions the Monaco Fair one of the best first interactions in meet kids, parents, and teachers. He got a feeling the kids liked the school and their teachers. However, many of them felt like it wasn’t the popular opinion. Roth has made it a point to improve the culture and positive school feelings.

“Part of that is focusing on school pride and being uplifting. There are a lot of adults and kids who want Norristown to be known as the great place it is.”

A top-of-mind fear among all school administrators is violence. On average in 2018, there has been one school shooting every week in the United States during 2018.

“At any training I have ever been to about crisis management or drills, the first thing they tell you is they are not going to teach you how to prevent this because no one knows how. You have to know your best practices inside and out. God forbid something happens,” said Roth, turning serious. “It’s scary. At the end of the day, every adult who works in the building, none of us signed up to save kids lives. Hopefully, we are never in that position, but you also know you have that responsibility and parents count on you for that.”

In May, the school district made two major announcements. Superintendent Janet Samuels announced her retirement and Assistant Superintendent Christopher Dormer was named the next superintendent in a late May meeting.  Also, the months-long search for a football coach concluded with Joseph Milligan (Norristown Class of ’96) being named head coach.

“I admire Dr. Samuels. You are always going to disagree with people when you work with them. Anytime I have ever thought I wish something would be different, I never doubted the intentions,” said Roth.

Roth previously worked with Dormer at Upper Darby, where Dormer was principal when Roth was assistant principal. They worked together well, Roth said, and he trusted that if Dormer enjoyed Norristown, he would also enjoy it.

In terms of football, Roth acknowledged the role it plays in boosting the school’s culture and positive feelings, something he has made an objective.

“There is no better way of having people feel good about the school than a winning football team,” Roth said. “Coach Milligan not only has a good football mind, but he has the leadership and personality that we want. He holds the kids to a high standard on the field and in the classroom.”