The Highland Central School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Darling as its new assistant superintendent, welcoming back an experienced educational leader who previously served the Highland school community as both an assistant principal and a principal.
 

Darling will fill the vacancy created by Dr. Patrick Boyd’s transition to superintendent of schools following the retirement of Superintendent Joel Freer at the end of August. The appointment brings Darling back to a district he knows well while marking the latest step in Highland’s leadership transition.
            

Darling first joined Highland Elementary School as assistant principal in 2020, working alongside school leadership to foster a safe, responsive learning environment while using student data to guide instructional decisions. He was named principal of the school in 2021 and served in that position through August 2022.
            

During his time as principal in Highland, Darling managed the school’s instructional, professional development, and materials budgets; helped establish PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) and building equity committees; and led the building leadership team in analyzing data, setting goals, and monitoring progress. His instructional leadership contributed to improved student outcomes and the discontinuation of the school’s Targeted Support and Improvement designation.

Darling returns to Highland with additional leadership experience gained as principal of Ralph R. Smith Elementary School in Hyde Park, a position he has held since August 2022. There, his responsibilities have included State assessment preparation and administration, continuous improvement efforts, instructional leadership, and human resources functions. He has worked with building leadership teams to identify areas of strength and opportunity and develop goals designed to improve student achievement.

His career in education began in 2014 as an elementary school teacher at Temple Hill Academy in Newburgh, where he served until 2020. As a classroom educator, Darling used student data to inform instruction, implemented an innovative mathematics curriculum, and differentiated learning experiences to meet individual student needs.

Darling holds a bachelor’s degree in Childhood Education and a master’s degree in Special Education from Mount Saint Mary College. He also earned a Certificate of Advanced Study in School/District Leadership from SUNY New Paltz in 2019, with preparation in both school building and district leadership.

As assistant superintendent, Darling brings experience in instructional supervision, fiscal oversight, school improvement, and district-level initiatives, along with  a deep understanding of Highland’s schools and community.

Dr. Boyd said that Darling’s familiarity with Highland, coupled with the leadership experience he has gained since leaving the District, will allow him to make an immediate contribution in his new role.

“We are thrilled to welcome Matt back to Highland,” Dr. Boyd said. “He already understands our students, families, staff, and community, and he returns with additional leadership experience that will be tremendously valuable to our District. Matt has demonstrated a strong commitment to instructional leadership, the thoughtful use of data, and the creation of school environments where students can succeed. I look forward to working alongside him as we begin this next chapter for Highland.”

For Darling, the appointment is a homecoming in more ways than one. A Highland resident who lives in the community with his family, he is returning to a school district that has already played an important role in his career.

“I am incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to return to the Highland Central School District,” Darling said. “Highland is a special community, and I look forward to reconnecting with its students, families, and staff while contributing in a new capacity. I am eager to build on the District’s strengths and work collaboratively to support outstanding opportunities and outcomes for every student.”

Darling will begin his new position on September 1.