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Profile: DOUG STRALEY

A decade ago, superintendent Doug Straley created a list of 鈥渘on-negotiables鈥� to build a team-centered culture of excellence 鈥� one that involves the community as much as students, faculty and parents. On his list: support, high expectations, accountability, consistency, positivity and grit.

鈥淚f we can get our entire team to focus on these six things, we鈥檙e going to be unstoppable,鈥� says Straley, who leads the 5,300-student Louisa County Public Schools in Mineral, Va. 鈥淥ur mission is to create a world-class, forward-thinking school division that鈥檚 going to be the model for school divisions of the future, and we all need to be on the same page, working together, to make that happen.鈥�

That deliberate, forward-thinking mindset earned Straley two Region V Superintendent of the Year awards and the 2024 Virginia Superintendent of the Year award from the Virginia Association of School Superintendents.

One way he involves the tight-knit, rural community is by personally handing out #TeamLCPS MVP awards. Each week, more than 400 nominations are collected from inside and outside the school system to honor individuals who put the district鈥檚 core commitments into action.

Every nominee is mailed a personalized congratulatory card from Straley, and on Fridays he hand-delivers awards to a certified staff member, a classified staff member, a student and a community partner. His deliveries are recorded, sent via e-mail to families and staff, and shared on social media.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not just saying, 鈥楬ey, we need to do these six things,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about recognizing individuals who are making a positive impact and striving for greatness.鈥�

Justin Grigg, the district鈥檚 assistant superintendent for instruction, has witnessed Straley鈥檚 far-sighted nature for more than a decade.

鈥淲henever a challenge pops up, his mindset is never to sit back and see what happens,鈥� Grigg says. 鈥淗is mindset is to lead the way. That鈥檚 the mark of a good leader: a person who is willing to step to the front of the line, take chances and do what鈥檚 right.鈥�

Louisa County Public Schools ranked 41st in state Standards of Learning achievement scores when Straley took over as superintendent in 2016. After steadily rising every year since, the district ranked 7th statewide for the 2024-25 school year while improving chronic absenteeism rates significantly.

Gina Patterson, executive director of the Virginia School Boards Association, says Straley leads 鈥渨ith a clear and unwavering belief that every child matters 鈥� and that no two students are the same.鈥�

Under Straley鈥檚 leadership, students of all abilities and interests have increased access to pathways beyond traditional academics. More than 150 businesses now offer students internships and apprenticeships in a variety of fields.

Meanwhile, the district is building a 56,000-square-foot Career and Technical Education Center to amplify hands-on workforce development opportunities. The center, opening in fall 2027, will have an entire wing devoted to the Little Lions Learning Lab, a preschool program created in 2019 to provide childcare for district employees, while giving students interested in teaching an opportunity to work with young children. The lab has won innovation and excellence awards from the Virginia Department of Education.

Straley knows well the climate of his community northwest of Richmond, as a native and having spent the entirety of his 32-year career there, beginning in middle school teaching. He describes his tenacity to aim high as the 鈥�212 mentality.鈥� At 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees, it boils. Boiling water produces steam, which can power an engine.

鈥淎ll these amazing things can happen with one extra degree,鈥� he says. 鈥淓veryone has to give that 212 effort if we want to make sure our students are equipped and prepared to lead the way. Low expectations are not acceptable.鈥�

Robin Flanigan is a freelance education writer in Rochester, N.Y.