New Superintendent at Georgia‘s Houston County Schools Charts an Ambitious Course
Beyond its strong job market and lower cost of living, Houston County is well known for its public school system, which attracts new families to our area. The Houston County School District continues to strengthen its legacy of quality, award-winning education and leadership with the appointment of a new superintendent of schools.
Dr. Richard Rogers, the sole finalist for the position, will begin his new role in June 2025 following the retirement of Dr. Mark Scott, who served as superintendent since 2014. Rogers has held the position of deputy superintendent for the district since 2021.
Lifelong Career Calling
As for his passion for education, Rogers says it became apparent to him early on.
“I had a yearning to be an assistant Sunday School teacher when I was in middle school and then became a Sunday School teacher in high school,” Rogers says.
After high school, he worked as a substitute teacher and discovered he loved it, noting the opportunity allowed him to substitute at the elementary, middle and high school levels to find his strongest area of passion, which turned out to be the middle school level. As a result, he majored in middle grades education in college.
“I felt I could help students as they went through a transitional, and possibly difficult, time in their life,” Rogers says.
Well-Rounded Education
His appointment to superintendent of the Houston County School District coincides with his 27th year in education, and he finds the work as riveting as ever. As for what he’s most looking forward to in his new role, Rogers says he’s excited about the opportunity “to make a meaningful impact on the lives of students, staff and the entire Houston County community.”
He plans to do that by expanding partnerships and relationships among students, staff, local businesses and the community at large. Rogers also notes that the Board of Education plays a vital role.
“Our board members continue to place the needs of our students and staff first in their budgeting and policies,” he says. “They care about this community, and together, we will continue to strengthen our relationship and commitment to the future needs of our schools.”
Rogers acknowledges that the school district has a strong foundation of excellence that he plans to expand upon.
“My goal in this new position is to build on the strong foundation of the Houston County Way and continue moving our district forward, what I call The Houston County Way Forward,” he says. “This means maintaining our commitment to excellence while embracing innovation and new opportunities for growth.”
Specifically, Rogers says he anticipates initiatives – like enhanced STEM preparation, modernized arts through the new Performing Arts Center and expanded athletic programs with state-of-the-art facilities – will significantly benefit the district.
Why these areas? Rogers says the arts and athletics offer students the opportunity to learn a multitude of soft and leadership skills that are necessary for success.
Participating in music, theater or visual arts can enhance students’ critical thinking, problem-solving and self-expression skills, while athletics teach students perseverance, teamwork and resilience.
These endeavors not only help students develop strong work ethics, he says, they help produce well-rounded people who are capable of meeting “the ever-changing workforce needs of our future community.”
Investing in the Future
One way the district is able to support educational endeavors is through the region’s utilization of tax programs like Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) and Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST), which benefit local schools and the community.
Rogers is grateful for community support of these programs, which enable schools to be built and renovated, facilities to be upgraded, and opportunities for student growth to be expanded.
“As our community grows, so do the facility needs of our district,” Rogers says. “A strong ESPLOST program coupled with engaged community stakeholders allow us to continue as a leader in education in Georgia.”
Warner Robins Campus Welcomes New Computer Science Department
Middle Georgia State University (MGA) has expanded its computing programs by establishing a Department of Computer Science at its Warner Robins campus, complementing the existing School of Computing in Macon.
The new department debuted in 2024, and students can now earn certificates, associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees in computer science without having to leave Houston County.
“It’s an ideal fit, with a big demand today at the base for computer science degrees,” says Jed Edge, interim chair of the MGA Department of Information Technology. “Robins Air Force Base runs a modern economy with a big reliance on tech, and computer science grads are needed to work with computer systems, software, AI, robots, web development and cybersecurity.”
But Edge says the demand extends beyond the base. “Companies like Frito-Lay, Perdue Farms and Walmart all have jobs in highly technical fields dealing with automation and logistics.”
According to Edge, the fledgling computer science department at Warner Robins is already attracting significant student interest.
– Kevin Litwin
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