Alumni Spotlight: Robert Rogers, Class of 2017
Robert Rogers is a physician in private practice specializing in allergy and immunology. Not only does he love helping people learn how to control their symptoms and thrive with a better quality of life, but he is just as passionate about advocating for education and reading.
His passion for education equity began about 15 years ago, when he learned that only about a third of Fort Worth ISD third graders were able to read at grade level. “I was flabbergasted,” said Robert. “I realize our schools face many challenges, but – at a bare minimum – we should expect that all students should be taught to read proficiently. Not surprisingly, this situation is much worse for students in neighborhoods of high economic disadvantage. We live in a city and a state with vast resources, and it is indefensible, not to mention shortsighted, to accept this situation as “normal”.”
Robert does not accept this citation as normal and in addition to his work as a physician, he is helping build the Texas chapter of The Reading League, whose mission is to advance the awareness, understanding, and use of evidence-aligned reading instruction. “I can think of no more effective tool to achieve educational equity for all students, with no exceptions, than to ensure that each child receives what is needed to become proficient in reading.”
He has also been a volunteer tutor with Reading Partners for many years and served on the Reading Partners North Texas board and served as its chair.
“I would be a much less effective education advocate if it were not for my Civic Voices fellowship,” shared Robert. “Not only did I learn important information about the structure, leadership, and funding of public schools in Texas, I met some amazing and dedicated advocates whom I continue to contact frequently as thought partners in this work.”
In his free time, Robert enjoys playing with his grandchildren, traveling, being outside and maintaining his yard which provides him with lots of time to listen to podcasts about reading and Texas politics.
