West Irondequoit CSD

July 11, 2023

Mr. Peter Hens appointed Rogers Interim Principal

Mr. Peter Hens has been appointed Interim Principal for Rogers Middle School by the West Irondequoit CSD Board of Education. He will replace Dr. Christine Richards. Her final day is scheduled for Friday, July 28.

“I am excited to welcome Mr. Hens to the team,” said Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Aaron Johnson. “His wealth of local experience and his enthusiasm for his work will be a great support to students and staff and will complement the culture and energy at Rogers.”

The district expects to have a new principal in place by Jan. 2, 2024. The job will be posted later this month, and the selection process will include multiple stakeholders, including administrators, teachers and students.

A lifelong educator, Mr. Hens is also a West Irondequoit resident. He retired in June of 2022 after spending the final 23 of his 34 years in education as an elementary school principal – the last 16 at Gates Chili (Paul Road). Since then, he has served in two interim roles. Last fall, Mr. Hens spent six weeks as an interim principal in the East Irondequoit CSD (Helendale Primary) and then from November of 2022 through last month served in the same capacity for the Penfield CSD (Cobbles).

Prior to leading Paul Road Elementary in Gates, Mr. Hens was a principal for Patchogue-Medford Schools (1999-2006) and an assistant principal/acting principal at Bayport-Blue Point Schools. He also was an associate professor for four years at Dowling College of Long Island (2002-06). He started his career as a secondary English teacher in Hornell in 1989, then became Dean of Students/Continuing Education Director for Wheatland-Chili schools in 1996.

A native of East Aurora, near Buffalo, Mr. Hens received his Bachelor’s degree from Buffalo State and Master’s from Canisius College. He also earned his Educational Administration certificate from SUNY Brockport in 1997.