On Oct. 24, Salisbury Township School District Superintendent Michael Q. Roth announced to staff and faculty his intention to leave the district.

Roth's last day in the district is expected to be Jan. 4, 2015.

His resignation will be officially accepted at the 7 p.m. Nov. 19 school board meeting in the administration building.

Roth said the reaction to his resignation has been very supportive and understanding.

The official announcement of a superintendent replacement will be announced shortly according to Board President Russell Giordano.

"While we are very disappointed Michael has decided to leave public education, we certainly wish him well and thank him for the good things he brought to the district," Giordano said.

Roth had the opportunity to sit down with The Press Nov. 4 to talk more about his decision to leave and his plans for the future.

"I love Salisbury," Roth said. "It's an amazing district. Teachers, students, parents and the community are really focused on the right things."

The decision to leave Salisbury was not an easy one for Roth.

"It was becoming more difficult to attend my children's activities and the activities involving Salisbury students. I felt conflicted when many of the functions were at the same time."

He said the decision to leave was in the best interest of his family, not because he doesn't want to stay in Salisbury.

Roth has accepted the position of director of professional development implementation at Discovery Education based in Silver Spring, Md. Although his territory will include all of the United States and travel is anticipated, he will be able to work from home.

He will be working with school districts to plan and execute professional development.

"I will still be supporting public education and teachers focused around learning," Roth said. "It's important to me."

Roth said he is frustrated with the direction the state [Pennsylvania Department of Education] is going with education.

"We have to be focused on making sure we implement more of what the state wants rather than what we are doing in Salisbury," Roth said. "I want to help teachers and be supportive of kids and was finding it increasingly difficult to see the connection between the state requirements and the success of the students."

Roth came to the district with experience as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, director of curriculum and assistant superintendent working in both Quakertown and Nazareth school districts.

He said he has no regrets in coming to Salisbury.

"Salisbury is a model of what we should be doing for kids," Roth said. "We provide a strong academic background as well as a focus on arts, athletics and activities. We are concerned about their well-being on so many levels we want them to be leaders by providing the tools and technology to explore.

"Kids are leveraging their learning to do something to improve someone's life or condition. What's very sad is that model is not captured in the school performance profiles [produced by PDE]. Those are the skills which will carry them through."

Roth has promised a smooth transition to the new superintendent.

Roth is most proud of what the students have accomplished during his two years with the district National Merit Scholars, the little things happening at the schools and the elementary students who see Roth in the hallway and shake his hand because they are proud to be leaders.

Roth has only a few regrets of items he had hoped to accomplish during his time at Salisbury. "I had hoped to build more relationships with the community, provide more support to the alumni association and the foundation.

"Salisbury has delivered on its promise to inspire...think...learn...grow together and because of the commitment of those individuals who are involved with the school district, I see them continuing to do that."

"I hope my time here at Salisbury has had a positive effect on that mission."