River Trails principal wants kids to bring 'A' game
Keir Rogers has been principal at River Trails Middle School in Mount Prospect for nine years. He arrived at the school after teaching English in the Chicago Public Schools and serving as assistant principal at Rockford Auburn High School.
Rogers, 48, graduated from Loyola University in Chicago, where he was a star on the school's basketball team, and even played professionally in Cyprus and France before launching his career as an educator. He's currently working on his doctoral dissertation at Concordia University in River Forest.
Q. Why did you want to be a principal?
A positive school culture is vital for healthy academic and emotional growth. I felt confident that I could contribute toward creating this type of learning environment.
Q. What's the best part of your job?
A. Watching positive relationships grow within the school community. I appreciate the "A-ha" moments, when students connect knowledge with understanding and demonstrate wisdom.
I also enjoy observing the joy a teacher experiences when this happens. These encounters extend beyond the time students spend with us in middle school; so many of them return to visit from high school and college.
I love talking to former students and their parents about their past, present and their future. The River Trails community is special in this way.
Q. What's the most challenging part of what you do?
A. Understanding the lack of understanding about education. It's a complex process; each school day consists of numerous interpersonal interactions occurring simultaneously. We all come from different backgrounds and abilities, each with our own views of the world.
My challenge is to sustain high standards for learning and behavior without standardizing or labeling humans. I cannot expect that every child or staff member will perform at the same level, but I can expect that everyone comes ready to do their best every day. I don't demand perfection, but there is no excuse for not trying and doing your best.
Q. What's your goal for the school this year?
A. Ready for Excellence is our school motto. We define excellence as doing your best; not being the best. The goal is to have every school community member bring their "A" game with a great attitude every day.
I want to end each day knowing RTMS is an excellent school. I want every student to be an excellent student. I want every teacher to be an excellent teacher. I want to be an excellent principal. I'm proud of the effort our community puts into the concept of excellence.