Colorado's Tom Dodd Named National Principal of the Year

Fort Collins, Colo. — Dr. Thomas J. Dodd, of Lesher Middle School in the Poudre School District, Fort Collins, has been named the 2017 National Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). The award was announced today at a surprise assembly at his school attended by the school community, local dignitaries, and elected officials. The announcement came as part of NASSP’s celebration of National Principals Month.

During his 12-year tenure as Lesher principal, Dodd has led the reinvention of the school's climate captured by the "Anchor Down" motto and anchor pins that all teachers wear to symbolized their firm, stable role as advocates for each child in the school. Under Dodd's leadership, the school eliminated de facto academic tracking by opening the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IBMYP) from a select few to the whole school. Dodd is a regular presenter at state and national conferences, and has led his school to be named a MetLife Foundation-NASSP Breakthrough School in 2012 and a National School to Watch every year since 2014 by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform.

Dodd holds a bachelor's degree in history and secondary education from Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA, two master's degrees in physical education and in social studies education from Adams State University in Alamosa, CO, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Penn State.

"Tom Dodd believes deeply that student equity is the true path to schoolwide success, and he lives that belief in his priorities and decisions," said NASSP Executive Director JoAnn Bartoletti. "His passion for personalizing the school and meeting the needs of each student—a key element of the Professional Standards for School Administrators 2015—marks his leadership throughout his tenure at Lesher, and NASSP is proud to recognize him as a model for school leaders."

"We are grateful to have such an exceptional person in leadership in our district,” Poudre Schools Superintendent Dr. Sandra Smyser said. “Tom’s upbeat, engaging leadership style resonates with staff and students alike. He has positively impacted thousands of lives during his time at Lesher.”

The search for the 2017 national principal of the year started in early 2016 as each state principals association selected its state principals of the year. From this pool of state winners, a panel of judges selected three finalists. A separate panel then interviewed and rigorously reviewed the finalists’ applications to select the national winner. As the National Principal of the Year, Dodd will represent the principalship in high-level education policy discussions and will be enrolled in the highly regarded McKinsey Management Program for School Leaders.

Dodd is the second Colorado principal to be named National Principal of the Year, following Jay Engeln who received the honor in 2000 as principal of Palmer High School in Colorado Springs. Frank DeAngelis of Columbine High School was named a finalist for the award in 2014.

For more information about the NASSP Principal of the Year program, please visit www.nassp.org/poy.

Featured

  • Image credit: O

    Strategic Campus Assessment: Moving Beyond Reactive Maintenance in Educational Facilities

    While campuses may appear stable on the surface, building systems naturally evolve over time, and proactive assessment can identify developing issues before they become expensive emergencies. The question isn't whether aging educational facilities need attention. It's how institutions can transition from costly reactive maintenance to strategic asset management in a way that protects both budgets and communities.

  • Pittsburgh High School Upgrades Athletics Facilities’ Technology

    Plum Senior High School in Pittsburgh, Penn., recently partnered with South-Dakota-based Daktronics through the We’re All Mustangs Here Foundation to upgrade the technology in its athletics facilities, according to a news release. Daktronics designed, built, and installed new LED video displays and finished the project in time for the beginning of the 2025 high-school football season.

  • Creating Long-Term Sustainability on College Campuses Through Fair Student Housing

    The quality of student housing can have a significant impact on an individual’s college experience. Today’s higher education institutions face mounting challenges, including declining enrollment, low retention rates between the first and second years, and a rise in student mental health concerns. Thoughtfully designed living spaces can help address these issues by creating environments that promote both academic focus and personal well-being.

  • KI Launches K–12 Classroom Furniture Giveaway

    Contract furniture company KI recently announced the launch of its fourth-annual Classroom Furniture Giveaway, which awards $50,000 each to four K–12 educators across the U.S., according to a news release. The goal is to address decreasing student engagement and increasing teacher burnout numbers by updating learning spaces to accommodate modern needs.

Digital Edition