Eastland Independent School District

EISD is proud to announce Damon Rodgers as the new Assistant Principal at Eastland High School. Rogers has been a teacher for over twenty-five years and has spent seven of those years educating and coaching Eastland students. His wife, Tina, has also been teaching in EISD for seven years. His son graduated from EHS and his daughter will be starting her freshman year this fall. Formerly, Rogers was the Offensive Coordinator for Mavericks Football, Head Coach for Track, and taught World History.

"We are excited for Rogers to take up this mantle," Superintendent Williams stated. "He has valuable experience that will help Eastland High School provide an even better quality education moving forward."

As a coach, Rogers has overseen students shattering school track records, multiple advancements up to the Regional Track Meet, as well as being a part of the coaching staff that saw the Mavericks make it back to the Playoffs during the 2023 Football season. When asked what accomplishment he is most proud of, however, Rogers stated that it was the relationships he had built with the students. "At the Athletic Banquets, our student athletes invite people they consider mentors. I've been invited by multiple students for the past two years. That means a lot to me, personally." He also mentioned being proud of being Teacher of the Month for January and being selected as a Texas Coach of the Week.

Rogers mentioned his plans to use past experience to benefit EHS. "I have experience in writing grants," Rogers noted, "as well as writing curriculum. I've written curriculum that was approved for presentation in Florida, California, and Massachusetts. I presented to those states. Those experiences taught me a lot, and I want to use that knowledge to better serve us here in Eastland."

Rogers discussed how he planned to inspire students to learn. "I will bring a positive attitude and do my best to show each student they have value and belong. There's a famous quote from Theodore Roosevelt: 'Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.' I want our students to know they are all valued and that everything they do is valuable. With that, they can approach their classwork and activities with more drive because they know the people around them care and want to see them excel."

On leading EHS staff, Rogers echoed the sentiment he had for students. "I want to know our staff on a personal basis. I view myself as a servant leader. Our teachers want to teach and see our students succeed, and my role is to assist them in that to the best of my ability. Rather than a top-down approach, I believe in an inverted pyramid model for leadership. My goal is to facilitate the excellence we already have and foster its growth, rather than just dictate what I think should happen.”

Rogers commented on what excites him most about his new position. "The first day of school," Rogers stated with a laugh, "I'm excited to be around and working with our students and staff. I know our athletics department well, and I know teachers with whom I have worked. I'm looking forward to getting to know all of our employees, our students, and their parents better. I'm ready to start working with them to make this year the best yet."