Pinecrest Academy Names Head of School for 2021-2022 School Year

Rodgers comes to Pinecrest Academy from Sacred Heart Cathedral School, a preschool through 8th grade Catholic school in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he serves as Principal. Prior to his time at Sacred Heart, Rodgers worked as an 11th grade AP English teacher and grade level dean at Knoxville Catholic High School in Knoxville, as well as an English teacher, grade level dean, basketball coach, and interim assistant upper school principal at St. David’s School, a PreK-12 school, in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Rodgers holds an M.Ed. in Independent School Leadership from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College, where he was awarded the Peabody Honors Scholarship. He also holds an M.A. in Humanities from the University of Dallas. Currently, he is a fellow of the University of Notre Dame’s Reform Leadership Summit, and was named a member of the “Top 40 Under 40” class by the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Beth Howard has been serving as Interim Head of School since spring 2020. A member of the Board of Directors, Howard enjoyed a lengthy teaching and administrative tenure at Pinecrest Academy from 2002 to 2011, and both of her daughters are Pinecrest Academy graduates. Charlene Dougal has been serving alongside Howard as Assistant Head of School.

Upon his arrival to Pinecrest, Rodgers’ immediate focus will be to work with Howard and Dougal and the Board of Directors to ensure a smooth transition and continuity in the execution of the school’s strategic plan.
 

“I am thrilled to be Pinecrest Academy’s next Head of School. As I’ve gone through this discernment process, it’s been evident to me that Pinecrest has an amazing legacy that folks have prayed and sacrificed to make possible throughout the years, and I feel honored to be a part of that legacy,” commented Jake Rodgers.

“As I think about the future, I am excited about the immense potential that this school has to further realize its vision, to build on its tradition of excellence, and to share the light of Christ with others,” he continued.

“We are extremely excited and grateful that Jake, his wife Rachel, and daughter Cate have decided to join our Pinecrest community,” said Mark Doxtader, Pinecrest Academy Chairman of the Board of Directors.  “After an extensive and extremely robust evaluation process, we are sure that Jake will bring the excellence in all areas of Integral Formation that our students and families expect. Equally important, Jake has proven to be a community builder and will focus on humbly supporting our most important asset, our faculty and staff! Jake is a leader that will help take Pinecrest to the next level,” Doxtader continued.

Rodgers and wife, Rachel, are the proud parents of a three-year-old and are expecting their second child in May. A former collegiate athlete, Rodgers enjoys running, fly fishing, and reading. The Rodgers family will be relocating to the Cumming area in early summer.