Richland Collegiate High School has a new principal, and many may be wondering who he is and what students can expect. Stephane Rovelo is an alumnus and now principal of RCHS.
Rovelo was a graduate of the Richland Collegiate High School in 2010, and as he likes to put it, he was a “solid Bs student.” He remembers his time at RCHS fondly, having created tight-knit relationships with those around him, ones that still exist to this day.
Rovelo attributes his ability to have these relationships to the environment and position of the school.
“Because fewer students attend RCHS, it creates a closer community, and allows my students to know each other better than if they didn’t attend,” he said. He wanted to also recognize the value of those relationships and point out that it is those very same friendships students build in school that can last their whole lives.
In terms of any issues or obstacles, he has a unique plan. “The two biggest things I’d like to work on are increasing the number of students here at RCHS, and to help achieve more recognition in the Dallas College Community.”
Both go hand in hand, and he wants to focus on making students aware of the opportunities at RCHS so they may attend when it’s time. He even created the perfect slogan to help explain what exactly RCHS does.
“Two years, two degrees, for free.”
Rovelo said that in the future, his goals for students and their opportunities are simple. Expand on the programs that offer bigger pathways to students. He talked about the teaching certification programs through Dallas College, explaining that if the RCHS students could graduate and go straight into teaching certificate programs, then it would allow the school to better map out pathways for students, and to ensure that they excel in their careers.
But it isn’t just teaching. Rovelo wants this for any new and expanding programs, such as the accredited nursing degree programs and many more.
He would also like to get to know his students, and to make sure that they can be seen and heard no matter the occasion. He jokingly explained that sometimes he enjoys just saying hello to his students in the halls but has some difficulty telling the difference between RCHS students and Richland College students.
Despite that, he still does his best to say hello.
Rovelo then talked about the more serious, and sometimes uncomfortable conversations he has with students. “I’ll ask my students how they are, and if everything is going well in their classes, and sometimes they feel awkward, beginning with, ‘I don’t want anybody to get in trouble,’ or ‘It’s not that big of a deal.’ But here’s the thing, if it’s a big deal to you, then it’s a big deal to me as well, and I want to ensure that my students are comfortable coming to me with any issues that might occur.”
Rovelo offers some advice to his students. “If you can’t believe in yourself, believe in the me that believes in you.
“For the juniors at RCHS, I want you all to remember that you are embarking on an incredible journey. So trust the process, and don’t hesitate to reach out for help. For the seniors at RCHS, you are finishing your last year here, so don’t let your foot off the gas quite yet. We are so excited to see what you accomplish in your last year, so keep going.”
Students who see Rovelo around school might want to give a wave and say hello. If they like, they might want to introduce themselves. Rovelo has big plans and hopes for his students and is excited to see what they all can do.
