“Interim” tag removed, Rogers cemented as principal of Lyman Moore Middle School

Portland Public Schools Superintendent James Morse announced Tuesday that interim Lyman Moore Middle School Principal Stephen Rogers isn’t going anywhere.

Lyman Moore Middle School Principal Stephen Rogers (Portland Public Schools)

Rogers has been getting rave reviews since his return to the school on a one-year appointment — he’d been principal of the school for nine years before moving over to serve as assistant principal at Portland High School for five, then came back to Moore this past fall to fill the void created by the retirement of Lee Crocker.

Since he’s been back, the district reports that the middle school community has launched a new outdoor classroom and sought aggressive schoolyard improvements, seen a revitalization of the local Parent Teacher Organization, and has been honored by the Portland branch of the NAACP for its efforts promoting an open and healthy learning environment for a diverse range of students.

After going through a search effort to find a permanent replacement for Crocker, Morse and fellow searchers ultimately felt that the guy they’ve got holding down the spot on an interim basis should just stay there. So on Tuesday, Morse announced that Rogers has been appointed to stay on as the permanent principal at Lyman Moore.

Here’s a statement by Rogers posted online by the district today:

I am excited to be in a position to further the great work that this school is doing. Our focus for the year was to lay the foundation upon which we can build to put this school at the top in terms of culture, climate and student achievement.

Our goal will continue to be making our learning meaningful and relevant by extending it beyond the four walls of the classroom. Our school will work as a team to ensure that all of our students exit with the knowledge, skills and habits to be successful in high school and beyond. I look forward to continuing to partner with parents and the community to achieve our mission.

Seth Koenig

About Seth Koenig

Seth has nearly a decade of professional journalism experience and writes about the greater Portland region.