Louisa County Public Schools

LOUISA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT

NAMED VIRGINIA SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR

The Virginia Association of School Superintendents (VASS) and Louisa County Public Schools (LCPS) are proud to jointly announce that Louisa County Public Schools division superintendent J. Douglas “Doug” Straley II has been selected as the 2024 Virginia Superintendent of the Year. The annual award is given to a superintendent who consistently displays excellence and leadership throughout their role as a public school division leader.

Mr. Straley was presented with the award during the VASS Awards Luncheon on Monday, April 22, in Roanoke. VASS officers and presidents of several major state education organizations participated in the selection process.

“I am beyond humbled by this honor,” Mr. Straley said. “And as I accept this award, I accept it on behalf of our entire team and community in Louisa County. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to give back to the community that raised me, and this award is a reflection of the support the community has given me over the years.”

“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.”

The announcement is the latest in a series of honors for Mr. Straley. Earlier this year, the educational publication K-12 Dive named Mr. Straley to its national “Top 5 Superintendents to Watch” list. Mr. Straley was also named Region V Superintendent of the Year in both 2020 and 2024. In 2018, he was named the Most Spirited Superintendent by Varsity Brands.

Mr. Straley, a lifelong native of Louisa County, is now in his eighth year as superintendent and has worked for Louisa County Public Schools for the past 29 years. He served in a multitude of roles before his time as superintendent, including as a classroom teacher, coach, principal, athletics director, and assistant superintendent. At each stop, Mr. Straley has brought a unique blend of positivity and professionalism to the task at hand.

“On behalf of the entire Louisa County School Board, we are so proud of Mr. Straley for being named the Virginia Superintendent of the Year,” said Louisa County School Board chairman Greg Strickland. “We are pleased that his tireless efforts and the commitment of everyone at Louisa County Public Schools are being recognized at the state level. We always strive to help students reach their full potential, and that goal is reflected in awards like this.”

As a lifelong native of Louisa County, Mr. Straley is distinctly known for the pride he has for his hometown, and during his tenure, he has created a positive, team-centered culture throughout Louisa County Public Schools and the 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. In November 2023, LCPS received the Virginia Governor’s Volunteerism in Community Service Award, the only educational organization to be honored. 

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.

“We call ourselves ‘TeamLCPS’ here in Louisa County because we believe in teamwork and we believe in each other,” Mr. Straley said. “I think we have the best students, the best educators, and the best community in the world right here in Louisa County because we believe that by working together and taking care of one another, we can make the world around us a better place.” 

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. He earned his B.S. in Education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and his M.A. in K-12 Educational Leadership from Regent University.