Richard Rogers
I am an AACPS: Principal, Mills-Parole Elementary | 2023 Principal of the Year
We are excited to spotlight Richard Rogers.
Mr. Rogers was nominated by regional assistant superintendent Jolyn Davis.
The Mills-Parole principal is an University of Maryland doctoral candidate who is a passionate leader that brings a high level of commitment to the students, families, and staff he collaborates with.
We had an opportunity to talk with Richard about his time as a principal and his experience as the principal of the year winner.
The full video conversation will be posted in this space after the 2023 Excellence in Education awards dinner.
Here are a few highlights of the conversation:
Describe who you are in 5 words or less.
100% committed to students in the community I serve.
Tell me one thing you remember about your first year teaching and compare it to your first year as a principal.
Most important thing from 1st year teaching, perseverance and persistence. Take it one day at a time.
Looking back, what would you tell your former self about your potential as an educator?
“Just keep swimming” is the Mills-Parole motto. Know where you are in your growth and journey through constant reflection.
What one thing do you love about working in your school? with the students? and with the community?
The teaching staff is wonderful, passionate & committed with great knowledge and expertise. We have put in place a lot of social emotional support systems for students to move away from a punitive mindset and rethink how to execute consequences to help students grow.
What is your favorite memory of your family and friends supporting you on your journey as an educator?
My grandmother & mother sat in the back of my classroom and watched in my first year of teaching, I knew they were proud of me. Also appreciative that many colleagues have become friends along the way and their encouragement has been something I am grateful and appreciative of.
COVID really challenged teachers, students, families, and schools on a level beyond imagination. How has the experience of working through COVID and then returning to “normal” instruction made you a better educator and person?
Very challenging because I began at the school in the pandemic and did not meet any staff face to face initially. Through commitment to student success, the staff and community helped build a coalition and invested stakeholders during uncertain times.
Thinking about the future of education, what are you most excited about for educators? for students? and for schools?
Rethinking what public education looks like as we go forward, especially from what we have learned about how COVID changed the environment.
What is one hidden talent you have that no one, or few people, knows about and would surprise them?
I was a DJ in the past and danced a bit, but my happy place is being out fishing.
If you had to make a time capsule about this year as the new principal of the year and you had to include an item, an image, a quote and a song/melody, what would you include?
For the time capsule I definitely would include the song “Living on a Prayer,” because we are “halfway there” in our journey to success, so just trust the process and keep going.
For the last question, what is one reason why someone should choose to become a teacher?
Stay at it! It is worth it and fulfilling. Kids need dedicated teachers from all backgrounds.
Louis Nesbitt, PDM Department
The journey of an educator is a lifetime. We are thankful to those who have chosen to embark on this path. As a community, one of our greatest capacities is availability, so when the opportunities arise, find your own way to support education.
