Rowland has been selected as a 2024-25 Superintendent to Watch by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). This award recognizes up to 25 district superintendents across the country with fewer than five years of experience who demonstrate dynamic, fast-paced leadership with strong communication at its core.

Rowland will be recognized in July at the NSPRA 2025 National Seminar in Washington D.C.

He called the honor “humbling” but quickly pointed out that it doesn’t happen because of one person. He said he was blessed with a fantastic, motivated team that shares the same mindset and vision. 

“A lot of people go into this award, it doesn’t just belong to one person,” Rowland said. “We’re super proud of the brand. Everywhere we go we take the brand with us so with this opportunity, we’re taking the brand to D.C.”

He also credits Bossier Schools’ core tenets of professionalism, collaboration, and communication for leading to his recognition. Rowland noted that communication is a prominent fixture in Bossier Schools. 

For example, Rowland started the On the Record with Bossier Schools podcast that showcases success stories and important messages. A mobile app and a new website were also launched to support how the school system communicates with stakeholders.

“There is no such thing as overcommunicating. We are sensitive to things that need to be communicated and the worst thing you can do is have people make assumptions, wonder, and be unsure,” he said. “We want to address things before they become issues and our team does a fantastic job recognizing potential issues, addressing them, and being transparent.”

His priorities are to continue to create a great educational experience for any child who walks through the doors of a Bossier Parish school. He calls it “trickle up” success.

“We made the collective commitment to inverse the hierarchy. The student is the priority, then the teacher, the school, the grade, and last is the district,” Rowland explained. “We’re investing in developing leaders, leaders are investing in developing teachers, teachers are investing in developing brighter minds.”

Looking at 2025, he foresees challenges in curriculum, accountability, human capital, and administration and operations. He proposes that their biggest challenge might be in accommodating all the education needs of a booming parish. Rowland highlighted Benton, north Bossier, south Bossier, and Haughton as areas they’re watching closely.

“There are thousands of homes planned to be built in Bossier and we’re going to need space in some of our districts since some are already at capacity,” Rowland revealed. “We do not want to be reactive, we want to help guide growth.”

One of the ways they’re doing that is through the newly established Long Range Planning Committee, which actively looks at growth and future needs. 

“I’m concerned with the 3-5-7-10. I want everything we’re doing to be sustainable for three years, five years, seven years, and 10 years in the future.”

Although work is in the fabric of how Rowland was raised, his motivation to keep driving the district forward through these hurdles comes down to his passion for Bossier Schools to succeed. 

“We are viewed as one of the elite systems in the state and are working feverishly to achieve more,” said Rowland. “I have pride ‘in’ the system, not ‘of’ the system. I really enjoy what we do and what we’re trying to accomplish for the students, staff, and community of Bossier Parish.”