Louisa County Superintendent Named Virginia Superintendent of the Year

Nearly 400 attendees were present to celebrate the announcement of this year’s Virginia Superintendent of the Year, Mr. Doug Straley.

Mr. Straley, Superintendent of Louisa County Public Schools, was presented with the award during the Virginia Association of School Superintendents (VASS) Awards Luncheon today, Monday, April 22, in Roanoke. VASS officers and presidents of several major state education organizations participated in the selection process.

“Doug's recent honor as Virginia Superintendent of the Year truly reflects his outstanding leadership,” says VASS President and Brunswick County Superintendent Kristy Somerville-Midgette. “From my perspective, his innovative methods and genuine connection with the Louisa County Public Schools community have always been inspiring. Doug's relentless advocacy for every student's needs and his servant leadership have left a lasting impression on me and many others. His innovative approach has brought about positive changes across our state. Doug's commitment to improving our educational system is both admirable and deeply personal.”

Since 2016, Mr. Straley has been the proud superintendent of Louisa County Public Schools (LCPS), leading and serving over 900 staff members and 5,000 students.

Mr. Straley is a lifelong native of Louisa County, where he began his educational career as a teacher and served numerous leadership roles including high school principal, athletics director, assistant superintendent, and now superintendent. In total, Mr. Straley has dedicated 29 years of service to Louisa County Public Schools.

As superintendent, Mr. Straley has worked to create a positive, team-centered culture throughout Louisa County Public Schools and the entire Louisa County community.

Each Friday, Mr. Straley hosts his TeamLCPS MVP Awards video series, which recognizes a student, classified staff member, certified staff member, and community member for making a positive impact on the LCPS and Louisa County community. Mr. Straley also helped launch the #Kindness initiative, where students and staff regularly collaborate to perform acts of service throughout Louisa County.

Mr. Straley is a firm believer in supporting all students. In fact, the mission of LCPS is to provide a learning environment where every student is challenged to reach his or her maximum potential. This mission is fulfilled by providing innovative learning practices

and a steadfast dedication to the 5 Cs of Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Citizenship. During Mr. Straley’s tenure as Superintendent, LCHS has also developed one of the most comprehensive and state-of-the-art Career and Technical Education programs in the country with a priority of providing hands-on learning and workforce development. In fact, LCPS received the Best School Divisions in America Award from Niche.com in 2023.

Mr. Straley has also received national recognition in recent years. In 2018, he was named the Most Spirited Superintendent in America by Varsity Brands. He was also named the Region V Superintendent of the Year by VASS in 2020 and was included in K-12 Dive’s Top 5 Superintendents To Watch list for 2024.

Mr. Straley lives in Louisa with his wife, Kate, who is a teacher at Louisa County Middle School. Together, they have six children, all of whom graduated from or are currently attending Louisa County Public Schools.