Derek Lahm was selected as the NSASSP Outstanding New Principal for 2015. Mr. Lahm has been in education since 2008 and has been the Principal at Lyons-Decatur Northeast Schools since 2014. Derek has been a member of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators (NCSA), the Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals (NSASSP), and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) for two years. He is also a member of the Nebraska Coaches Association (NCA), as well as a former member of Nebraska State Education Association (NSEA), and the National Education Association (NEA). Mr. Lahm also works with the local Booster Club and serves as a coordinator of Youth Boys’ Basketball known as “Cougar Cubs”.
During his brief tenure at Lyons-Decatur Northeast, Mr. Lahm has helped organize school-wide community service projects for the past two years and helped create a program known as “Empower Your Genius” which creates an enrichment/mentor program for students while offering professional development time for staff. Students are divided into groups of 10 to 12 and are paired with teachers and teacher assistants with the main goal of building positive relationships. Mr. Lahm also serves as the government teacher for the high school.
Fred Hansen, Superintendent of Lyons-Decatur Northeast Schools, praised Mr. Lahm, noting, “Derek is an excellent role model for our students. He treats everyone in our building with respect. Everyone loves Mr. Lahm and speaks highly of him. He cares for our students and in the classroom, Derek dignifies each student by acceptance of any answer they give while at the same time holding them to high expectations. This character quality has been carried over to his job as principal.”
Community member Caryn Anderson commented, “Under Mr. Lahm’s direction, students are learning how to take an idea from conception to completion and do so for the benefit of others. I can’t think of a better way to prepare these students for life beyond high school whether that means college or work. Wherever these students go, these lessons will follow and their communities will benefit. Lyons-Decatur Northeast is lucky to have Mr. Lahm as our principal. His management skills have allowed the students to have a safe and effective learning environment. Mr. Lahm promotes the success of our staff through his efficient use of in-service time and is adept at dealing with problems when they do arise.”
Patrice Sharp, a Teacher at Lyons-Decatur Northeast, states, “Mr. Lahm is young, but yet possesses a sense of professionalism that allows him to effectively work with all staff and students. It does not matter if you have been teaching for 20 years or for two, he makes you feel important and that your ideas merit listening to and the job you are doing for students is the most important job anyone can have. The mission statement for the students and staff of Lyons-Decatur is simply “Empower All Students to Achieve.” Mr. Lahm exemplifies that mission with his vision for the future of our students and of our school. He is very deserving of this honor.”
Derek is a 2003 graduate of Lutheran High Northeast in Norfolk. He received his Bachelor of Science in Education from Missouri Southern State University in 2008, and his Master of Art in Education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2013.
Congratulations to Derek Lahm for his outstanding start as a Secondary School Principal. We appreciate his early contributions to our profession and are proud to name him New Principal of the Year.
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