Roller named director of Scott Tech
August 26, 2020
Former Southwest High School Principal, Eric Roller named new director of Scott Tech in Monett
Mary Hagens
Eric Roller, the new director at the Scott Regional Technical Center, believes “Not every young person is meant to go to a four-year college/university, but every student deserves an opportunity to learn, grow, and earn. Every parent deserves to see their child presented with an education and opportunity to be successful. It is our responsibility and duty to ensure that we at SRTC provide that for our students and communities.”
Scott Regional Technical Center (SRTC), one of the Monett R-I School District facilities, is a career and technical educational school hosting 14 area school districts. SRTC instructors prepare students for “real world” experiences through 16 hands-on career and technical education programs. Scott Tech also serves local citizens by offering a series of Community Education courses in the spring and fall.
For as long as he can remember, Roller says Career and Technical Education has been “a way of life” for him. He grew up on a farm and still operates one. After graduation from Wheaton High School, Roller received his Agricultural Education degree from the University of Arkansas and earned his M.Ed. and Specialist degrees from William Woods University. Like his father, he became an agriculture teacher and taught high school agriculture for 13 years at Clever, Wheaton, and McDonald County schools. He also served as the principal at Southwest High School for four years. When David Miller, the previous SRTC director, announced his retirement, Roller decided to apply for the position.
Roller has a strong desire to see students succeed in life and wants to support SRTC instructors in their efforts to reach students. His background in CTE and his knowledge of the area schools, their communities, and their students, have made his new job a “natural fit.”
“I believe that SRTC is one of the finest career and technical centers in the state of Missouri,” Roller said. “It is a tremendous honor to serve in this position…Our staff at SRTC is exceptional, and our students are an incredibly special group of young people.”
Roller’s goals for the new school year are not complicated. He plans to continue the established quality programs taught by instructors who foster strong relationships with their students.
“This year is an opportunity to learn and grow with my staff,” he said. “By being new to this position, I have a tremendous amount to learn....We want to see our programs continue to grow. I want to support our staff to make students successful, not only today, but 30 years from now.”
The biggest challenge faced by Roller and the staff is figuring out how to operate Scott Regional Technology Center during a pandemic with students from 14 different communities.
“Quite honestly, with the programs that we have, it is basically impossible to do a virtual only option and ethically state that students are prepared for post-secondary instruction or a career. Hands-on, learning-by-doing methods are the life blood of our center,” Roller said.
The school staff will provide the safest possible environment for their students by frequently cleaning and disinfecting the facility, requiring masks when physical distancing is not possible, and staggering arrival times. Students will have assigned seats and designated lab partners.
“We may be operating during a pandemic, but we still have the highest of expectations of our staff and our students,” Roller added. “We will still continue to teach the right things, the right way. We want to continue preparing students for the careers that you rely on every day. I want the readers to know that we represent 14 schools and 14 communities, and we take that responsibility very seriously.
“Please take a look at our website at www.monettschools.org/o/srtc, or stop by when things normalize somewhat. We would love to show our communities what we have to offer their kids,” Roller said.
Eric Roller, the new director at the Scott Regional Technical Center, believes “Not every young person is meant to go to a four-year college/university, but every student deserves an opportunity to learn, grow, and earn. Every parent deserves to see their child presented with an education and opportunity to be successful. It is our responsibility and duty to ensure that we at SRTC provide that for our students and communities.”
Scott Regional Technical Center (SRTC), one of the Monett R-I School District facilities, is a career and technical educational school hosting 14 area school districts. SRTC instructors prepare students for “real world” experiences through 16 hands-on career and technical education programs. Scott Tech also serves local citizens by offering a series of Community Education courses in the spring and fall.
For as long as he can remember, Roller says Career and Technical Education has been “a way of life” for him. He grew up on a farm and still operates one. After graduation from Wheaton High School, Roller received his Agricultural Education degree from the University of Arkansas and earned his M.Ed. and Specialist degrees from William Woods University. Like his father, he became an agriculture teacher and taught high school agriculture for 13 years at Clever, Wheaton, and McDonald County schools. He also served as the principal at Southwest High School for four years. When David Miller, the previous SRTC director, announced his retirement, Roller decided to apply for the position.
Roller has a strong desire to see students succeed in life and wants to support SRTC instructors in their efforts to reach students. His background in CTE and his knowledge of the area schools, their communities, and their students, have made his new job a “natural fit.”
“I believe that SRTC is one of the finest career and technical centers in the state of Missouri,” Roller said. “It is a tremendous honor to serve in this position…Our staff at SRTC is exceptional, and our students are an incredibly special group of young people.”
Roller’s goals for the new school year are not complicated. He plans to continue the established quality programs taught by instructors who foster strong relationships with their students.
“This year is an opportunity to learn and grow with my staff,” he said. “By being new to this position, I have a tremendous amount to learn....We want to see our programs continue to grow. I want to support our staff to make students successful, not only today, but 30 years from now.”
The biggest challenge faced by Roller and the staff is figuring out how to operate Scott Regional Technology Center during a pandemic with students from 14 different communities.
“Quite honestly, with the programs that we have, it is basically impossible to do a virtual only option and ethically state that students are prepared for post-secondary instruction or a career. Hands-on, learning-by-doing methods are the life blood of our center,” Roller said.
The school staff will provide the safest possible environment for their students by frequently cleaning and disinfecting the facility, requiring masks when physical distancing is not possible, and staggering arrival times. Students will have assigned seats and designated lab partners.
“We may be operating during a pandemic, but we still have the highest of expectations of our staff and our students,” Roller added. “We will still continue to teach the right things, the right way. We want to continue preparing students for the careers that you rely on every day. I want the readers to know that we represent 14 schools and 14 communities, and we take that responsibility very seriously.
“Please take a look at our website at www.monettschools.org/o/srtc, or stop by when things normalize somewhat. We would love to show our communities what we have to offer their kids,” Roller said.
