In his first few weeks on the job as Roslyn High School’s new dean of students, Christopher Roth made the rounds at lunchtime, learning the names of as many pupils as he could.
But Roth, who last month began the first administrative role of his career in education, kept a smile on his face and the conversation jovial. Being a stern, drill sergeant-type just isn’t his style.
“Kids are kids,” Roth said. “You put kids first no matter where you are, and our kids [at Roslyn] are great.”
That’s not to say that Roth lacks the capacity for being a tough disciplinarian, but he said the road to law and order doesn’t necessarily go through a stern approach.
“I think people have different styles, and at the end of the day, it’s the outcome that you’re looking for,” Roth said. “Not every circumstance calls for the ‘classic dean’ that most of us grew up with. When you’re building relationships with the students, it’s much easier to deal with the disciplinary issues.”
Roth spent the first part of his career as an English teacher at I.S. 10 in Queens and more recently at Amityville Memorial High School, where he taught advanced placement-level literature and regents-level courses.
While at Amityville, Roth also coached varsity girls’ soccer and baseball, and ran a summer sports camp for 3rd to 6th graders that he said laid the groundwork for some of the responsibilities that he’ll face as Roslyn High School’s dean.
“I guess with every change in life, going from two different districts to two different district roles or whatever it is, it’s going to be different,” Roth said. “Some things you’ve got to learn as they come. The kids at Roslyn need positive role models just like those in my previous community. All kids do.”
Roth said he is still getting used to Roslyn’s day-to-day routine. His office still hasn’t been fully decorated.
“My wife [Kelli] said she’s coming by to help me decorate it,” Roth said. “I have a quote from ‘[To Kill a] Mockingbird’ and a Twain poster, another quote from Hemingway. It’s all out in my car, actually.”
But even though he isn’t yet fully settled, Roth said Roslyn is starting to feel like home.
“This district is a top district, and I didn’t want to leave the kids [at Amityville], but this job allows me to build relationships with the students,” Roth said. “When I looked at it like that, it was an easy move.”
