North Augusta alum Casey Rogers named new principal of his alma mater

The students, teachers, staff and school community at North Augusta High School were excited to hear that former student Casey Rogers is the school’s new principal.

Rogers’ appointment was announced following the July 9 meeting of the Aiken County Board of Education.

“As a graduate of North Augusta High School, being named principal has special meaning,” Rogers said. “It is the culmination of a lifelong quest to give back to the community I love.”

Rogers began his career in education as a teacher in 2009 at Darlington Middle School. He taught seventh grade social studies for several years before transferring to Darlington High School to teach government and economics.

In 2016, Rogers returned to Aiken County and taught at Langley-Bath-Clearwater Middle School. In 2018, Rogers was named assistant principal of LBC. In 2020, he became principal. He led LBC to a “good” grade, which was the highest grade ever. In early 2023, Rogers felt called to lead a school in his hometown of North Augusta and accepted the position of principal of Paul Knox Middle.

Under his leadership, Paul Knox earned an “Excellent” State Report Card rating, the highest in Patriot’s history. Rogers also continued a path of improved school climate, a path paved by the school’s history of outstanding leaders. By adopting personal characteristics identified as part of “Patriot PRIDE,” the school established a positive culture in which students demonstrate Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Trustworthiness and Excellence. Patriot PRIDE banners and posters adorn hallways and common areas across campus, serving as visual reminders for students. The acronym has become a mantra for high school readiness.

Rogers earned a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education from USC Aiken (2008) and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership (2011) from Augusta State University.

Throughout his career, Rogers has demonstrated tremendous leadership, management, and community involvement skills. He is committed to the success of students, faculty, and families. He is a relationship-focused leader who has successfully improved academic performance and fostered overall school improvement through a team mentality and collaborative spirit.

He was nominated for the Aiken County Public School District’s Principal of the Year Award in 2023-2024.

The district’s announcement of the North Augusta High School principal was accompanied by a leadership update at Paul Knox Middle, naming Kristin Risher as interim principal. Risher has served as assistant principal at North Augusta High since 2018 and is honored to lead Paul Knox. In preparation for the start of the 2024-25 school year, Rogers and Risher have worked together to transition leadership and make the transition into their new roles as smooth as possible for faculty/staff, students and families.

“I look forward to working with families I have known and loved for years and meeting new families in our community,” Rogers said. “I can’t wait to work with our school community to strive for excellence together and help students achieve their goals. Go Jackets!”