TASA’s “Inspiring Leaders” tagline is not just a reminder of TASA’s commitment to leadership development; it describes our members themselves — school leaders who inspire others as they work to prepare future-ready students. Meet Duana Brashear, one of those Inspiring Leaders.
Duana Brashear has been superintendent of Rogers ISD since 2024, bringing with her more than 20 years of work in public education. Amanda Dodd, curriculum director in Rogers ISD, nominated Brashear as a TASA Inspiring Leader, pointing to the way Brashear helps others see new possibilities while building trust and relationships to create meaningful change without losing sight of the people at the heart of the work.
“What makes Duana exceptional is not simply the positions she has held or the results she has achieved,” Dodd says. “It’s the way she accomplishes those results. Throughout her career, from classroom teacher to superintendent, she has led with authenticity, vision, and an unwavering belief that students deserve exceptional opportunities and educators deserve support to do their best work.”
Since becoming superintendent in Rogers, Brashear has led the district through transformational work, including the passage of a $31 million bond through a process that kept staff and community members involved and resulted in a 71% approval vote. Driving this work is Brashear’s wholehearted belief in the importance of public education.
“At my core, I believe we have a moral responsibility to provide an exceptional experience for every person who walks through our doors,” she says. “For our students, an exceptional experience goes beyond academics. Our staff deserve an exceptional experience as well. They should feel valued as professionals, honored as servant leaders, and treated with the respect they deserve. When we intentionally create an exceptional experience for our staff, they are better able to create exceptional experiences for our students.”
As a leader, Brashear builds up those around her and leads by example, inspiring others to do the same.
“Personally, Duana has inspired me by showing that leadership is not about having all the answers,” Dodd says. “It is about serving others, making difficult decisions with integrity, and helping people become more than they believed they could be. She leads with high expectations and genuine care, proving that accountability and compassion can exist together.”
For Brashear, part of leadership is mentorship, and she mentors others to pay forward the gift of mentorship she has received in her career.
“I believe one of the greatest responsibilities we have as educational leaders is to invest in the next generation of leaders because none of us reaches a leadership position alone,” Brashear says. “I have been incredibly fortunate to learn from outstanding mentors, particularly Rick Kershner and Glenn Barnes. They invested their time, wisdom, and experience in me, challenged my thinking, and modeled what servant leadership looks like. Their guidance has shaped not only the leader I am today but also the leader I continue striving to become.”
If you’d like to nominate an Inspiring Leader, complete and submit this form.
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