Rogers-Herr’s Tawauna Stewart named DPS Principal of the Year

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Rogers-Herr Middle School Principal Dr. Tawauna Stewart has been named Durham Public Schools’ 2026-27 Principal of the Year, the district announced Monday.

DPS credited Stewart with bringing teachers and school programs together around shared expectations while building trust and supporting students.

Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis said Rogers-Herr has remained one of the district’s highest-performing middle schools under Stewart’s leadership. He also pointed to results from the Teacher Working Conditions survey, in which 98% of respondents identified Rogers-Herr as a good place to work and learn.

“These results reflect her ability to establish high expectations while fostering an environment where educators feel supported, valued, and empowered,” Lewis said in the district’s announcement.

Stewart uses a framework called the “Great 8” to connect the school’s instructional programs, teacher collaboration, staff development, student support, family engagement, and school culture.

“Rather than allowing programs to run in silos, the Great 8 gives our entire staff a shared language and a clear set of expectations for high-quality teaching and learning,” Stewart said in the release.

“It ensures that our daily classroom practices consistently challenge scholars intellectually while meeting them at their individual skill levels,” she said.

District leadership described Stewart’s approach as grounded in shared leadership, trust, and compassionate accountability.

“Dr. Stewart represents the very best of school leadership: a commitment to excellence, an investment in people, and a belief in continuous improvement,” Lewis said.

Families can weigh in through Oct. 30

Durham School Improvement Plans: Feedback Due Oct. 30

Local plans propose academic gains, better attendance, and more consistent student support. Families can weigh in before the district's feedback window closes.

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The recognition comes as Rogers-Herr families have an opportunity to help shape the school’s next steps. DPS is accepting feedback on proposed school improvement plans through Friday, Oct. 30.

Rogers-Herr’s plan, in a report dated Oct. 19, sets goals that include:

• Higher academic proficiency: Increase overall grade-level proficiency on state end-of-grade tests from 70.8% to at least 73% by June 2027.
• Fewer suspensions: Reduce the number of suspensions by at least 10% from the 2025-26 school year by June 2027, using consistent behavior expectations, early intervention, restorative practices, and student support.
• Strong attendance: Maintain an attendance rate of at least 94% for the school years ending in 2027 and 2028.

The plan also calls for better coordination among classroom teachers, special education staff, multilingual learner staff, advanced academics staff, and interventionists. It identifies limited family involvement in the process of providing extra support and calls for families to become informed partners in decisions about their children’s learning.

For parents, the survey is a chance to describe what’s working and where they want clearer communication, more consistent help, or a greater role in those decisions.

Families can find guest login information on the DPS School Improvement Plans webpage, review the plan at Indistar, and complete the School Improvement Plan Feedback Survey. Select Rogers-Herr and submit responses by Oct. 30.

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