Jason Rowland is a Louisiana native and 31-year educator who began his career with Bossier Schools in 1995 as the head baseball coach at Airline High School. Six years later, he moved into the administrative side of education, serving as an assistant principal at Benton and Airline High Schools, then as principal at Airline, where he spent nine years at the helm of the largest school in Bossier Parish. In 2019, Superintendent Mitch Downey appointed Rowland to serve as Assistant Superintendent of Administration and Personnel.

An astute leader, Rowland centers his leadership philosophy on the idea that it is not about being in charge, but rather taking care of and investing in those in his charge. He comes from a family deeply rooted in public education. His wife is an educator at Benton Intermediate School; his late mother was a long-time educator in Webster Parish; his brother is the current Superintendent of Webster Parish Schools; and his sister teaches in Sibley, LA. Rowland cites his late uncle, Richard Noles, as his biggest educational influence. Noles left a legacy as a storied teacher, principal and supervisor before ultimately becoming Superintendent of Webster Parish Schools.

Always an educator at heart and proponent of student athletics, Rowland has served as President of the Northwest Louisiana Principals Association (NLPA); Finance Committee Chairman with the Louisiana High School Athletics Association (LHSAA); and on the LHSAA Executive Committee as the 5A representative for North Louisiana.

He also serves as a Sunday School teacher and in leadership positions at Cypress Baptist Church. He is a member of the Family Research Council advisory panel in Washington, D.C., a long-time youth sports coach for Bossier Parks and Recreation and Bossier Dixie and has traveled as an international missionary to Romania, Honduras and India.

Rowland and his wife, Marla, are blessed with two daughters, both of whom are graduates of Airline High School, a six-year-old granddaughter and another grandchild on the way.

Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Waylon Bates is a native of Bossier Parish and proud graduate of Bossier High School. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at Northwestern State University, his Masters of Education in School Administration at Centenary College and his Master’s Degree Plus 30 at University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Bates’ career in education began in 1999 as a teacher at Waller Elementary. He then entered the administrative arena as Administrative Assistant at Butler Educational Complex, followed by Assistant Principal at Greenacres Middle School, Principal at Haughton Middle School and later, Parkway High. Bates then served for three years as Supervisor of High School Curriculum before being tapped as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction.

An active administrator and life-long learner, Bates served on the Advanced Ed Team in 2015-16; was named the 2016-17 Middle School Principal of the Year; maintained membership in the Louisiana Association of Principals; acted as President of Bossier Association of Principals in 2018-19; and graduated from the Louisiana Superintendent’s Academy in 2022.

Bates is married and has two children, both of whom are products of Bossier Schools. Away from work, Bates enjoys playing the guitar at church and in an Elvis Tribute band.

Assistant Superintendent of Administration Andrea Spinney is a proud graduate of Bossier Schools who has dedicated her entire 24-year career in education to the district. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree at East Texas Baptist University and her Master’s and Plus 30 at Louisiana Tech University, she began teaching second grade at Platt Elementary, then moved into administration at Princeton Elementary, where she served as assistant principal and principal. Spinney then opened the doors to Haughton Elementary, spending six years there as principal.

Spinney’s accomplishments and recognitions are many, a few of which include graduating from the Louisiana Superintendent’s Academy and National Institute for School Leadership; earning her National Board Certification in Early Childhood; being named Bossier Parish Elementary Principal of the Year and Bossier Parish Elementary Teacher of the Year; and acting as President of the Bossier Association of Principals. Additionally, Spinney created the first-year principal mentorship called the Empowering Principals Program.

Married to husband Gevan, both graduates of Haughton High, they have three sons. Outside of work, Spinney is an active member of First Baptist Church Haughton and enjoys singing in the church choir and traveling.