Getting to know East Valley High School’s new principal

By LINDSEY REMMERDEN
EAST VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Freshmen weren’t the only new ones roaming the halls when school started in the fall.
East Valley High School welcomed another member to its close-knit community: Principal Dottie Say.
The 56-year-old says she believes being a high school principal “keeps you young at heart.” And that belief — as well as her positive outlook on life — help her maintain her youthfulness.
Ever the optimist, Say — now halfway through her first school year at East Valley — often walks through the halls wearing a happy smile — and a stylish pair of shoes.
Her favorite motto: “Life’s short. Buy the shoes!”
When walking down the halls or into a classroom, Say says she wishes to see students anxious to get to their next class, engaged in learning and eager to be in school. She also says she noticed early on “everyone has been welcoming and friendly” at East Valley.

In all, Say has 16 years’ experience serving as a principal or assistant principal. And if you add in her teaching background, she has an impressive 34-year career in education.
In her field, she says, it’s “easy to be a life-long learner.” She also says there’s “never a dull moment.” Education is always changing.
For two years prior to coming to East Valley, Say worked as an instructional improvement facilitator for Washington state. She did consulting for the Grandview School District in that role, helping with the School Improvement Plan.
Before that, she was worked at Hillsboro High School in Oregon, where she also served as principal. Steve Drake, the 51-year-old athletic director there, describes Say as a leader who’s always “extremely concerned” about students well-being. He also says he misses Say’s bubbly and caring personality.
Say grew up in San Francisco, earning a bachelor’s degree in business education and a master’s degree in education at Oregon State University.
In her first few months at East Valley, she stayed busy learning about the district and getting to know people and the community. She doesn’t hesitate to admit she’s been enjoying herself.
Assistant principal Allen Andringa, 46, says he’s impressed with Say’s ability to jump into the school’s traditions. He uses a coaching metaphor to describe her leadership style and team-oriented, open-door policy. By being able to coach her staff, Andringa says, Say challenges them and works with their strengths for the best results.
Students seem impressed, too. For example, 17-year-old senior Tayler Moench, the Associated Student Body secretary, worked with Say on a school assembly and liked her school spirit.
She “opens the door for good things to come,” Moench says.
ASB treasurer and fellow senior Isabel Zarate, 18, agrees, commenting Say is energetic and has strong work ethic.
Some of Say’s goals include maintaining the academic progress, continuing to improve and pushing people to achieve higher and higher, herself included.
Her main priority now, however, is to learn all that she can about the school. Say’s first few months were “busy and fun.” And although it’s an adjustment to come to a new school, Say says she loves the size of East Valley, the smallest school of her career.
“Each school has its own distinct personality,” East Valley’s new principal says. “EVHS is one of the top schools I’ve worked at, without a doubt. I’m very lucky, very fortunate to have this opportunity.”

— Lindsey Remmerden is a senior at East Valley High School and a member of the Herald-Republic’s Unleashed journalism program for students.