Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 8, 1993 TAG: 9309080196
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JOANNE ANDERSON
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Short
"I have not arrived with my own agenda," she said. "I believe in shared decision-making with the parents and community."
The former instructional supervisor and assistant principal at Gilbert Linkous Elementary School, Roback spent the last school year as an elementary school principal in Charlottesville.
"My husband and I have had a house in Montgomery County since 1969, so we consider this our home," she said of her return to the area.
Among her ideas for her new school are using its resources to their fullest. "The school grounds, for example, are part of the learning environment, and should be used more. Likewise, parents and community resources are not tapped enough."
Roback said that parental involvement begins with one-on-one communication. She maintains an open door policy, is a good listener and welcomes parents to visit the school.
"Literacy is a pet project of mine," Roback said. "I'd like to see a voluntary tutoring program in reading at first grade. And I plan to establish informal discussion groups with parents."
With a master's degree from Virginia Tech, a bachelor's degree from Florida State University, 14 years as a teacher and five as an administrator, the 52-year-old educator brings a great deal of experience to her new position.
by CNB