North Augusta High School’s students, teachers, staff and school community are buzzing with excitement following the announcement of alumnus Casey Rogers as principal. Rogers’ appointment was made public following the Tuesday, July 9, 2024, school board meeting.
“As a North Augusta High School graduate, being appointed as principal has special meaning,” Rogers stated. “It is the culmination of a lifelong pursuit to give back to the community I love.”
Rogers began his career in education as a classroom teacher in 2009 at Darlington Middle School. He taught seventh grade students Social Studies for several years before transitioning to Darlington High School to teach Government and Economics. In 2016, Rogers returned home to Aiken County, and taught at Langley-Bath-Clearwater (LBC) Middle School. In 2018, Rogers was named assistant principal of LBC. Then, in 2020, principal. He led LBC to a “Good” Report Card Rating, matching its highest ever. In early 2023, Rogers felt called to an opportunity to lead a school in his hometown of North Augusta, and accepted the position to serve as Principal of Paul Knox Middle.
Under his leadership, Paul Knox (PK) achieved an “Excellent” State Report Card rating, the highest in Patriot history. Rogers also continued a trajectory of improved school climate, a path paved by the school’s history of outstanding leaders. Through adoption of personal characteristics identified as part of “Patriot P.R.I.D.E.,” PK has established a positive culture where students demonstrate Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Dependability, and Excellence. Patriot P.R.I.D.E. banners and posters decorate hallways and common spaces throughout the campus and serve as visual reminders for students. The acronym has become a mantra for high school readiness.
Rogers’ academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education from The University South Carolina Aiken (2008), as well as a Master of Education in Educational Leadership (2011) from Augusta State University.
Throughout his career, Rogers has demonstrated tremendous skill in leadership, management, and community engagement. He is committed to the success of students, faculty, and families. He is a relationship-focused leader and has successfully improved academic performance and advanced overall school improvement through a team mindset and collaborative spirit. He is well-respected by his colleagues, teachers and staff, parents, and students, and was nominated for the District’s Principal of the Year Award in 2023-2024.
The District’s announcement of North Augusta High School’s principal was coupled with an update on leadership at Paul Knox Middle, which named Kristin Risher as interim principal. Risher has served at North Augusta High since 2018 as an Assistant Principal and is honored to lead Paul Knox. In preparation for the start of the 2024-2025 school year, Rogers and Risher have worked together to transition leadership and make entry into their new roles as seamless as possible for faculty/staff, students, and families.
Rogers and Risher each welcomed students and families to their respective campuses for “Walk Your Schedule” on July 19, and utilized the opportunity to introduce themselves to school stakeholders ahead of the new school year, which started Monday, July 22.
“I am looking forward to working with families I have known and loved for years and meeting new families in our community,” Rogers commented. “I could not be more excited to collaborate with our school community to pursue excellence together and help students achieve their goals. Go Jackets!”