THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 31, 1994 TAG: 9408300162
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Back to School '94
SOURCE: BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WINDSOR LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Harold Rogers got more than a gold watch when he retired from Durham, N.C., public schools on June 30.
The former high school principal also got a new job.
Just one day after his retirement, Rogers, 52, became principal at Isle of Wight County's new Windsor Middle School. The school will open its doors to 400 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders on Tuesday.
``The opportunity to open a new school attracted me to this area,'' Rogers said. ``This is an all new building, program and faculty.
``I've never had the opportunity to start a school from scratch,'' the North Carolina native said. ``I wanted that challenge.''
Rogers' education career in Durham spanned 30 years. Although he retired as a high school principal, he spent 21 years as a junior high school administrator.
Windsor Middle School shares its building and campus on Church Street with Windsor High School.
Windsor Middle brings all of Isle of Wight County into the middle school system. Until last year, sixth and seventh grades were taught at the elementary schools, while eighth grades were taught at the high schools.
Smithfield Middle School started the middle school program in this county last fall, but eighth-graders will be at that school for the first time this year.
``These kids are too old for elementary school and too young for high school,'' Rogers said. ``They are at the age when they are trying to find their own role and place in society. We focus on the unique needs of these youngsters. Our teachers are really in tune with their changing needs.''
Rogers and his wife, Rita, who will teach kindergarten at Hardy Elementary School, live near Smithfield. The couple's two children, Michael, 24, and Dana, 22, teach in North Carolina. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Harold Rogers is principal of Isle of Wight County's new Windsor
Middle School.
KEYWORDS: ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY SCHOOLS
by CNB