Her Story
About Christina
Christina Rogers serves as a high school principal in Atlanta, Georgia, where she is responsible for creating a safe and welcoming environment, ensuring an equitable setting where all feel seen, valued, and heard, and driving positive student outcomes academically and behaviorally. With 24 years in education, including seven as principal, she previously worked as a teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal. Under her leadership, the class of 2026 earned $55 million in scholarships, participation in the Early College Model Program increased by 75 percent over four years, and 14 staff members received promotions. Rogers also founded Elite Sisterhood, Incorporated, a nonprofit supporting underserved girls across Atlanta Public Schools, Clayton County, Henry County, and DeKalb County, which has served over 1,000 young ladies since 2009 and awarded $30,000 in scholarships. Her numerous honors include being named Teacher of the Year twice, receiving the National Council of Teachers of English Development Award, earning the EE Fellowship Award, being a finalist for Principal of the Year through the Federal Teachers Association, and receiving the Rising in Community Excellence Award for her nonprofit in 2019. The school has been recognized by State Superintendent Richard Woods for literacy leadership and by the district for double-digit gains. Rogers attributes her success to healthy professional relationships, mentorship, receptiveness to feedback, partnerships with parents and stakeholders, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Christina
01What do you attribute your success to?
I've had a number of healthy relationships, very important relationships, since I've been a part of education. Mentors and coaches who have pushed me beyond my own limitations. I've built relationships with my peers, being open and receptive to receiving feedback and expanding my thinking of how to better reach students and increase student outcomes. Also partnering with my parents and partnering with the stakeholders. To hear the voice of the community and the needs so that I can respond based on what their feedback is and not just looking at things through my own lens. Those things have really, really made me successful in committing myself to being a lifelong learner. And continuing to be introspective, and always looking at things, and looking at myself, and how I can get better, so that I can make others around me better as well.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would definitely say make sure that this is your calling and that you remain committed to your passion. Find mentors and coaches who will guide you along the way, and support you in this process. I would say join professional organizations. And network with other women who have done well in education, and who are going to be supportive of your goals and dreams as well.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the things that I think is an opportunity, of course, would be student attendance. I think that there is a challenge after the pandemic, of course, that there's an opportunity for us to just re-engage students into just coming back to school, and so we do a really good job here at Early College of promoting student attendance and also this year we're going to be focused more on also including parents and rewarding them and incentivizing them as well.
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