Relationships foundational for new NVHS principal

Logan Doty has experience as an educator in a large school and small school setting, but he is excited to form relationships that are much more feasible working in a small school like Nodaway Valley.

Doty, most recently the assistant principal of Fort Madison Elementary School in southeast Iowa, was hired in late April to become the new Nodaway Valley High School Principal. His contract began Aug. 1 and he is excited for the fast-approaching school year.

“My administrative background is in a large district in Fort Madison, but my first teaching job was in a small district,” Doty said. “My first school building I worked in was a 7-12 building that had about 210 kids. I also attended a small high school, so I know small schools.”

As a result of a building configuration change that put more than 900 elementary students in one building that he was a part of, Fort Madison became too large, and Doty said he missed knowing each student’s name.

“I couldn’t walk down the hall and know every kid’s name, and that really bothered me. I believe relationships are foundational to every student’s education,” Doty said. “I wanted to get back into a district where relationships were a focus and where I was going to have the availability to get out of my office and have those relationships with kids. I feel this is the perfect place for me to do that.”

Doty attended high school in northeast Missouri, where he was inspired to become an educator by the relationships he had with his own teachers. His first teaching job was at Scotland County R-1 Schools in Memphis, Missouri, the school year that was ended prematurely because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From Scotland County, where he said he gained some of the most valuable experiences of his career, Doty transitioned to teach at Fort Madison in 2022. He was appointed the following spring as the middle school dean of students, then later assistant principal of the elementary school under Dirk Troutman.

“He really took me under his wing and taught me how to lead with grace, perseverance and to not let the small things overwhelm and to focus on the bigger picture,” Doty said. “That’s morale, culture and student achievement.”

More specifically, Doty’s three areas of focus at Nodaway Valley will be climate and culture, academic achievement and community engagement.

The principal said students and staff have to enjoy being at school or nothing else is going to matter. He said the high school building should want higher student achievement than it experiences now. The community should also have ample opportunities to take part in learning that goes on within the high school. These are all things that he will work to improve in time with the help of the building’s leadership team and multiple community partners.

This is the first place Doty has not helped coach football. In his spare time, Doty, 29, enjoys cheering on the New Orleans Saints and the Boston Red Sox.

“I think this is a very welcoming, positive community,” Doty said. “People here want to do what’s best. I’m glad to be here and ready to get going. We have big things planned ahead.”