Claire Rogers: Class of 2005

Taking on those artistic challenges at Phoenix High School taught me that I could do anything I put my mind to, and that sense of confidence and work ethic propelled the rest of my career. Claire Rogers

Beyond PTS

Claire Rogers graduated from Lewis & Clark College with a degree in Economics. She went on to serve as a 7th grade math teacher through Teach for America, following in the footsteps of educators who had inspired her. Claire later earned a Master of Public Policy degree from Georgetown University and has dedicated over a decade to public service in Washington, DC. She currently works as a Federal civil servant in economics, applying her quantitative skills and passion for public good.

Love for PTS

"My experiences in the performing arts – putting on Broadway-worthy productions with Mr. Horton, singing in the State Champion Choir with Ms. Putney, and playing flute in the Pirate marching band with Mr. Wraight – were the essence of my time at Phoenix High School. Those opportunities made me eager to come to school every day and collaborate with my classmates. They're where I met my best friends and made my best memories. Taking on those artistic challenges at Phoenix High School taught me that I could do anything I put my mind to, and that sense of confidence and work ethic propelled the rest of my career.

Also, when I was struggling in Ms. Feller's Algebra II class, she told me that it's very common for artistic people to do better with Geometry than Algebra. Too many kids decide at some point along their journey that they're 'just not a math person,' but she took what could have been a similar inflection point for me and helped me reframe my identity as an 'artsy geometrist.' Ms. Feller stopped by every single student's desk to give them individualized help, every single class. I tried my best to emulate her methods when I became a math teacher myself right after college, and her encouragement to keep developing quantitative skills provided the foundation for my career in economics."