Tom Dodd, PhD

Athlete, Christian, Concerned citizen, Connector, Consultant, Doctor, Educator/Teacher, Environmentalist, Idea generator, Parent, Producer, Promoter, Public servant

The 2017 NASSP National Secondary Principal of the Year and 2016 CASSP Colorado Middle Level and Secondary Principal of the Year, Dr. Tom Dodd is in his 12th year as principal of Lesher Middle School, an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School in Fort Collins, CO serving 770 students grades 6 – 8. Lesher receives more school choice applications than any neighborhood secondary school in the 30,000-student Poudre School District. Its students matriculate from 20+ different elementary schools. Approximately 42% of Lesher students qualify for free/reduced lunch support, 37% identify with a minority population, 28% have a gifted and talented identification, 22% are English language learners, and 7% receive special education services. Lesher’s belief in excellence and equity through high expectations with high support is evident in its commitment to academic vigor, the arts, health and wellness, Spanish/English immersion, climate and culture, sustainability, athletics and activities, service, and the whole child. Lesher was redesignated as a 2017-2020 National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform/CAMLE School to Watch after being initially recognized from 2014-17, a 2016 CHAMP School of Character, 2016 SafeRoutes to School National Partnership Hubsmith Award Nominee, 2014 USDE Green Ribbon School, and 2012 MetLife/NASSP Breakthrough School. Tom is currently serving a 3-year term as the Region 2a Director with the CASSP Board representing the school districts in Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Jefferson, and Larimer counties. He presented at the 2017 AASA National Conference on Education in New Orleans, LA, 2016 Blue Ribbon Schools Ceremony in Washington, DC, 2015 IB Conference of the Americas in Chicago, IL, 2014 and 2013 NASSP National Conferences in Dallas, TX and Washington, DC, and is a trained IB consultant, site visitor, and workshop leader. He attended the IB Academy (San Juan, Puerto Rico), IB Heads International Conference (San Francisco, CA), Art & Craft of the Principalship Summer Institute at Harvard University’s Principals Center (Cambridge, MA), University of Northern Colorado’s Tointon Institute for Educational Change Principal Leadership Academy (Greeley, CO), Leadership Institute for School Change: A Developmental Approach to Effective Feedback at Teachers College Columbia University (New York, NY), and taught English as a Second Language to middle schoolers in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico with the University of Colorado’s Bueno Center for Multicultural Education. Tom maintains professional memberships with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE/CASSP), Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE), American Educational Research Association (AERA), National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), and was honored by former students in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Tom’s research interests include influences on principal decision making, historical perspectives on school reform, school choice and parental decision making, educator effectiveness, the master schedule/organization of time in schools, and school success indicators/ranking methodologies. Tom served as vice principal of Aspen (CO) High School from 2001-03, and as associate principal, teacher, wrestling (69-29, 43 state qualifiers, 16 state place winners, 4 state runner ups, 2 state champions), and football coach (1996 & 1997 2A state playoff qualifiers, 1997 2A Western Slope League Champions) at Eagle Valley High School (Gypsum, CO) from 1995-2001. He earned his PhD in Educational Leadership and the Donald J. Willower Outstanding Dissertation Award in 2015 and Superintendent License in 2005 from Penn State University (University Park, PA) while working as an asst. editor of the American Journal of Education and certification officer for the Education Policy Studies Dept. from 2003-05. He received his Principal License in 1999 from Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO), and two MA degrees in Secondary Education/Social Studies and Health, Physical Education, and Recreation in 1995 from Adams State University (Alamosa, CO) while serving as an instructor of exercise physiology and leisure science and asst. wrestling coach (1994 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and West Region Champions, 8th place 1994 NCAA Division II National Championships with 6 national qualifiers and 4 All-Americans & 10th place 1995 NCAA Division II National Championships with 4 national qualifiers and 4 All-Americans). He received his BA degree in History/Secondary Education in 1992 from Susquehanna University (Selinsgrove, PA) while captaining the wrestling team (four varsity letters, 4th place 1992 Middle Atlantic Conference Hwt. & 5th place 1993 Middle Atlantic Conference 190 lbs.). Tom enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, whitewater kayaking, skiing/snowboarding, running, bicycling, fishing, motorcycling, and is an avid college wrestling and football fan.

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great public schools are the answer.

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