Leaving a super-intendent legacy
Dr. Kevin Rogers shaking the hand of an LISD graduate. Photo via LISD
Every year, he’s planted on the stage of the North Texas Coliseum with his hand ready to shake one of the thousands of students who have completed their 13-year journey through the Lewisville ISD education system, Dr. Kevin Rogers proudly looks over what his work made possible.
Former superintendent Dr. Rogers, currently 62-years-old, started his career as an educator when he joined LISD in 1982. He announced his retirement in November of 2020, and his retirement reception was held Jan. 20, 2022. On Jan. 25, the Lewisville Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Lori Rapp as lone finalist for LISD Superintendent of Schools.
“I would’ve never thought early on in my career that I would be superintendent,” Rogers said. “That’s not what I went to school for — I loved teaching. But being a superintendent or being a principal — you’re still a teacher [and] a teacher of teachers. So you try to make a difference that way.”
Before Killian or Creek Valley Middle School were established, Rogers taught at Arbor Creek Middle School and Millikan Middle School (now Delay MS). He gradually climbed the ladder to being assistant principal, then principal of Arbor Creek and later, Marcus High School. Hebron principal Amy Boughton had Rogers as her teacher and track coach during middle school. Boughton then went on to be a teacher, coach and then administrator.
“He was part of the reason why I went into teaching and coaching, because he had such a strong influence on me,” Boughton said.“I was always looking for the opportunity to come back and work under him because I knew working for him as an adult would be an amazing opportunity.”
After teaching and being assistant principal and principal of Arbor Creek, Rogers became the principal of Marcus High School, where a few years later he would hire Boughton as an assistant principal. A year after she had joined, he would go on to become chief of operations for Lewisville ISD.
“[After working together,] I saw from him the importance of having integrity,” Boughton said. “Even when a conversation is hard where you’re having to tell a student or teacher or parents something they’re not going to like hearing, you still tell people the truth and you have integrity in what you are doing.”
While Rogers was serving as Marcus principal, his son Shane Rogers was a student. Shane is now the head basketball coach at Marcus. Growing up, Shane hoped to forge his own path and avoid his father’s shadow.
“I know he doesn’t like to see himself as a boss, but he was a great leader [who] out-worked people — I can take that back to when he was the principal of Marcus,” Shane said. “When I was [at Marcus], there would be times where I didn’t see my dad a lot, especially during the week. [After his day as a principal,] he was going back to school as a doctorate student. His work ethic has been something that I’ve always looked up to and I think others look up to.”
Being superintendent for seven years, Rogers has been behind almost every opportunity available to students in Lewisville ISD. From the technology in the hands of students to the multitude of classes on campus and in the career centers, they were made possible by the former superintendent. Attempting to boost Lewisville ISD’s learning environment wasn’t the only thing Rogers enjoyed doing.
“Every year, the greatest thing that I look forward to, that’s sort of the culmination of 13 years of school, is [getting] to shake the hands of 4,000 plus graduates that walk across the stage [from] the five LISD high schools,” Dr. Rogers said.
At the end of his journey as superintendent, Rogers plans to remain an advocate for public education. With his free time, he plans to find a part-time job and spend time with his family and grandchildren.
“Part of our job is always to serve others, so if we can [understand] that we need to serve others and treat others the way we would want to be treated, then I feel very good about what small difference [I have made],” Rogers said.
Senior Henry Pham is the visuals editor and this is his second year on staff. He spends a lot of time gaming, munching on food, listening to jazz music...