Head of School

Newark Charter School proudly welcomes Mr. Sam Golder as Head of School.  Mr. Golder comes to NCS with a tremendous breadth of knowledge and experience as an educational leader and is excited to lead the NCS community. Once on board in late June, Mr. Golder will formally address the school community.  In recent interviews Mr. Golder has commented, “Newark Charter School has a documented history of success, a fabulous staff, and supportive families. As the community here grows and the school’s popularity continues, it is truly an amazing time to join the Patriot team. It’s a unique opportunity to work with families for 13 years, ultimately watching students walk across the graduation stage. I’m incredibly grateful for the trust the Board of Directors has in appointing me to lead a community that means so much to them.”

Sam began his education career after spending two years in radio broadcasting. He started out working with students in a summer program promoting advancement of minorities in the field of Engineering. Soon after, he became an English teacher and Head Boys Basketball
Coach at Arundel High School, in Gambrills, Maryland. Sam’s efforts earned him Arundel High’s Excellence in Teaching Award in 1999 and Anne Arundel County’s Basketball “Coach of the Year,” for leading his team as 4A East Regional Champions in 2001. Years later, after receiving a Masters degree from Loyola College, Sam was named Assistant Principal at Southern High School. After a brief stint at Southern, Sam was moved to Annapolis High School, charged with leading the school through implementation of restructuring. Two years later, Sam was hired to serve as Principal of Alexis I du Pont High School, in Wilmington, Delaware.

Under Sam’s leadership, within three years, Alexis I du Pont High School became the first comprehensive high school in the state of Delaware to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress after being a part of the restructuring continuum. State test scores increased for three consecutive years under Sam’s direction. Sam became quickly known for his professional development in literacy, his genuine support of staff and his popularity with students and the AI community. His “Tiger Pride” character education initiative still remains strong at AI High years later. Sam was humbled to receive the Administrator of the Year Award from the Delaware Association of Student Councils in 2007.

After completing three years of the Principalship, Sam was promoted to Director of School Operations, supervising and mentoring all Red Clay Principals. In this role, Sam created an internal communication document (The Weekly DOSE) that serves today as the main source of interdepartmental communication throughout the district. Additionally, Sam has changed policy (including grade reporting and athletic eligibility) to support student success. Additional duties in Sam’s role as Director include: the State Unit Count Coordinator, grade reporting, school budgets, , district calendar, master scheduling, school evaluation procedures, school success plans, supervision of district security personnel. Through Sam’s tutelage, Red Clay Secondary Schools met every academic (AYP) target possible in the 2012-2013 school year. Additionally, two of Sam’s former Assistant Principals are now successful Principals and two of Sam’s current Principals have been named Delaware State Principal of the Year.

Sam has been the champion for Goal 2 of Red Clay’s Strategic Plan, “graduating students that are college and/or career ready.” As a result of Sam’s efforts, the district now partners with AVID Corporation, providing support for students taking high rigor coursework. Additionally, Red Clay offers more dual-enrollment opportunities than any other district in the State of Delaware. Finally, Sam has orchestrated mandatory professional development for teachers of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or STEM classes. Sam’s work on the Strategic Plan won Red Clay the prestigious Magna Award from theNational School Boards Association in 2018. With the help of the Red Clay team, Sam presented at the National School Board Conference in San Antonio, spreading Red Clay’s system for innovative programming at the Secondary level.

In August of 2021, Sam was promoted to Senior Director of Teaching and Learning, overseeing curriculum, instruction and school operations for the entire Red Clay Consolidated School District. In this new role, Sam has already begun implementing systemic, large scope initiatives, including curriculum adoption cycles, district level walkthrough data collection, district-led monthly professional development, adherence to district materials, and so much more.

Sam’s wife Holly works as the Supervisor of Social Studies for the school district. The Golders have three children, a eighteen year old son, (Brooks) a eleven year old daughter (Sophia) and a nine year old daughter. (Elizabeth) Sam’s family lives in Hockessin, Delaware.