Welcome
Message from Principal Stewart
Welcome to Will Rogers Middle School! We are incredibly proud of our Panther community and all that makes our school a special place for students to learn and grow. At Rogers, we are committed to excellence in academics while also prioritizing social-emotional learning and providing meaningful co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities that support the development of the whole child.
Our outstanding faculty and staff are deeply student-centered and dedicated to continuous growth. Through our Professional Learning Community (PLC) process, our educators collaborate intentionally to reflect on practice, analyze student learning, and implement strategies that ensure all students are supported and challenged to reach their full potential.
Will Rogers Middle School is also proud to be a PBIS school. We believe that a positive school culture is essential for student success, and our Panther P.A.W. - Practicing Safety, Acting Respectfully, and Working Towards Success - reflects this commitment. Our students and staff demonstrate their P.A.W. every day through respectful interactions, responsible and safe choices, and a shared dedication to learning and one another.
Together, we have built a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment where students feel valued, connected, and empowered. Thank you for being a part of the Will Rogers Middle School community - we are proud to serve all Panthers and look forward to continuing growth and success together.
Leadership
Principal Drew Stewart
Mr. Stewart grew up locally in Long Beach and later in Tustin, before attending UC San Diego as an undergraduate and earning a BA in Political Science. He went on to earn his Single Subject Teaching Credential in Social Studies and an Administrative Services Credential from San Diego State University, as well as a Master’s Degree in Teaching and Learning from Point Loma Nazarene University.
Mr. Stewart then stayed in East County San Diego, beginning his teaching career there, where he taught various Social Studies courses, including World Geography, U.S. History, AP Government, and humanities support classes. He also served as an ASB advisor, department chair, and varsity soccer coach for both boys and girls, in addition to being part of multiple teacher leadership teams. His work in developing student leadership and fostering school culture was one of the most rewarding parts of his time during this early phase of his career in education.
After returning to the Los Angeles area, Mr. Stewart joined Beverly Hills High School, initially as a teacher, and was quickly tapped to serve as Interim Assistant Principal. Over the next several years, he served as Assistant Principal, Co-Principal, and finally as Principal. Mr. Stewart is now excited for his transition into leading Will Rogers Middle School and about the many new opportunities that will come with working at such a dynamic and proud school. He brings a unique perspective coming from high school, and an understanding of how to prepare our middle school students for success at the next level once they finish their pivotal middle school years. Mr. Stewart is so proud to be joining the excellent staff already in place at Rogers, and looks forward to serving this very special community of learners.
Assistant Principal Esmeralda Rosas
Esmeralda Rosas is the Assistant Principal at Rogers. She has over 15 years of experience working in education serving as a general education teacher for 10 years in grades 3rd through 8th, as a school administrator for 5 years, and both as a Dean of Students and Assistant Principal in grades K-12th. Esmeralda was named the 2023 Educator of the Year at Aspire Pacific Academy and is a committed education advocate previously collaborating with Instituto Nacional de Lenguas Indígenas (INALI) to provide professional development to over 50 teachers of an indigenous community in Guerrero, Mexico. Esmeralda strongly believes in empowering teachers, parents, and students through shared decision-making processes and learning experiences that promote self- advocacy.
Mission Statement
Will Rogers' mission is to prepare students to become citizen leaders of the 21st Century. Rogers expects academic excellence from every student. We enable each student to maximize their potential through an outstanding educational program. Students are engaged in critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration and communication in a standards-based curriculum. Rogers believes in project based learning with a focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Will Rogers Middle School is organized into small learning communities where every student is known, valued for their contributions, and nurtured.