Dr. Valerie Ivy has been named High School Principal of the Year for the region, the first recipient representing Poplar Bluff High School in recent memory, officials of the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals confirmed. 

The selection committee seeks an educator who demonstrates creativity and has a positive impact on the school system; ensures the school climate reflects high morale; is willing to take risks to improve student learning; moves actively to implement the building's objectives; works collaboratively; anticipates emerging problems; and engages the community.

“She works tirelessly to support students, teachers and families in our school district,” wrote Ivy’s nominator Dr. Stephanie Kuper, PBHS assistant principal. “…She works collaboratively with other administrators at the High School and across the district to improve the education program offerings through Project Lead the Way and other new initiatives.”

Southeast Region officers surprised Ivy with the award alongside the superintendent cabinet and members of the principal’s family on Tuesday, April 22, during a schoolwide assembly for spring sports in the gymnasium. Ivy will be recognized again in September during the organization's conference in Columbia.

Additionally, she has the opportunity to advance as the state’s Teacher of the Year, which would further be rarefied air for Poplar Bluff dating back to the establishment of the award program during the 1986/87 academic year, according to the MoASSP website. Four years ago, Missouri had a Fulton principal in Beth Houf who continued on to be named national Principal of the Year.

Ivy has served as an administrator at PBHS since 2017/18, spending the last three years in her current role after having worked her way up from assistant principal. After a decade of teaching at the former 5^th & 6^th Grade Center beginning in 2004, she accepted a position as one of the district’s first instructional technology facilitators with colleague Candace Warren, now the Junior High principal.

A graduate of the High School she now leads, Ivy earned her doctorate in education leadership in 2022 from William Woods University in Fulton, where she previously earned a specialist degree in administration, as well as her master’s in teaching and technology.

“She is very deserving and just a great person,” stated Dr. John Boyd, a member of the Board of Directors for the MoASSP Southeast Region. The professional development and advocacy organization is celebrating its centennial this year.

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Cutline: Dr. Valerie Ivy, PBHS principal, is surprised with a regional award by (from left) Dr. Ryan Long, MoASSP Southeast president; Dr. John Boyd, Jr., board member; and John Cundiff, president-elect, during a schoolwide assembly on Tuesday, April 22.