May 21, 2026
By CORY ANN MICHEL
Rutherford County Schools
After 35 years in education, 25 serving Rutherford County Schools, Principal Luker announced he will be trading his title of principal of Rockvale High School for that of retiree.
Soon after the last bell rings and summer begins, he and his wife, Karla, will start their new life in a small fishing town in Florida. While retiring and moving to Florida produces immense excitement, it is mixed with the heaviness of realizing his presence at Rockvale will soon be referred to in past tense.
The Rockvale history that he has worked so hard to preserve, he will soon become a part of.
Luker’s appreciation of Rockvale’s history is evident; stepping into his office feels like stepping back in time. Housing artifacts such as class rings from the 1920’s, a handwritten catalog of graduates up to 1972 and a clock donated by the class of 1930, it’s easy to see his intention to preserve the roots of Rockvale.
While he opened the school in 2019, the original Rockvale High opened its doors in 1927, later closing in 1972.
Not only does Luker hold the relics of Rockvale’s past, but he also embodies the culture of Rockvale’s present and its dependency on progress while never losing sight of its origin. The warmth of the past and vibrancy of Rockvale’s future blends to create an environment Luker hopes will continue.
“That was what we started out to do was just connect the past with the present and you know, I feel like we’ve done that” Luker said. “A lot of time, effort, heart and soul was put into starting Rockvale. It’s not complete. It’s still on firm ground, but the job here is not done. But someone else has to finish that job.”
Throughout his career Luker served as principal over three different grade bands, which few have done. Even fewer have wrestled a bear two nights in a row, as 19-year-old Luker is seen doing in a YouTube video that has currently amassed over 53,000 views.
Luker grew up in Nashville and attended Austin Peay where he played football and baseball. He went on to Ezell-Harding Christian School, where he coached football and worked at Outboard Marine Corp. building boats and working on motors.
He graduated with a degree in geology, which allowed him to continue coaching while teaching science. Throughout his career he coached baseball, basketball, football and wrestling.
Luker began his teaching career in 1990. After one year of teaching high school in Cheatham County, he taught at Smyrna Middle School for three years and then in Chapel Hill for 10. After leaving RCS for a decade, Luker returned and taught at LaVergne Middle for a year before stepping into his role as principal.
“When I decided I really wanted to get into administration, Rutherford County was a premier county. Everybody knows that,” he said. “In this state it’s one of the best. It’s probably one of the best in the country.”
He started in administration by serving as assistant principal from 2005 to 2008. In that time, he served at Cedar Grove Elementary, La Vergne Middle, Smyrna Elementary, Cedar Grove and at Buchanan as an interim principal.
“When I left Chapel Hill, I thought, I can’t come to Rutherford County and coach football,” Luker said. “This is an elite football county, town and community, so I chose to go into administration.”
While he doubted his skills to continue coaching football he knew he could be a good principal.
From 2008-2015 Luker served as principal of David Youree, followed by four years at Smyrna Middle.
Luker then went on to serve in his final role as principal of Rockvale High School, when it opened its doors in 2019.
“I had no desire to apply to any other school,” Luker said. “I knew this could be a community school — that this school could be a gem in this county, in this state, just because of the history they had here.”
Through his 18 years serving as principal, one thing remained, Luker’s secretary, Stephanie Matschinegg. Through all Luker’s school moves, Matschinegg also chose to move.
“We’re a lot like brother and sister,” Matschinegg said. “I can say things to him and he might get mad, but he listens.”
She describes his leadership as consistent and unwavering.
“Expectation is there. You meet it, and if you don’t, then we’ve got to have a conversation, but he’s fair,” Matschinegg stated.
Although opening the school came with many challenges, such as establishing the culture while maintaining its history as well as navigating through COVID with brand new students and families, Luker said being the principal of Rockvale has been his favorite job. It’s the people he will miss the most.
“When you get connected to something, you don’t want to disconnect,” Luker said.
He said he will greatly miss Matschinegg and the fresh cup of coffee she leaves on his desk every morning.
“She keeps me grounded,” Luker said. “You know what she said when I went in there and said, ‘I think I’m going to Rockvale?’ (She said), ‘Can we not pray about it?’”
While Luker describes retiring as surreal, he does not see it as the end of his ties to Rockvale.
“I’ve got my health and I want to go do some other things, but I’m not leaving Rockvale,” Luker said. “I’m just going to do something else.
“We’ll always be friends,” he continues. “I may not see you, but when I do, you’ll be my friend.”
While Luker’s office holds memories of Rockvale’s past it also holds relics of his past and aspirations for his future. Sitting on the desk in his office is a lamp he and his wife crafted which holds fishing tackle that was left over from his dad who was a fishing tackle salesman. Luker plans to spend his retirement out on the water on a bay boat fishing, perfecting his shucking skills and learning to bake and grill oysters.
While he will physically be gone from the halls of Rockvale High, he’s hopeful the foundation he established will remain and continue to be built upon.
“I hope the culture is solid enough that it’s built because they deserve it, this community, these kids, these teachers,” Luker said.
The rich history of Rockvale and the culture Luker has helped create there, is palpable.
“Our freshman orientation parents come up and say, it gives them a good feeling,” Luker said. “This school has meaning.”