Dr. Tom Dodd is in his 20th year as a middle or high school principal, and 1st at Aspen Middle School, an IB World School. He previously served as Aspen High School vice principal from 2001-03. Under his leadership his previous schools have been recognized as a CAMLE School to Watch, CHAMP School of Character, NASSP Breakthrough School, USDE Green Ribbon School, the only Colorado school recognized as a Gold Level Bike Friendly Business, and won individual and team CHSAA State Championships. He was honored as the 2018 CO SHAPE Administrator of the Year, 2017 NASSP Principal of the Year, 2016 CASSP Principal of the Year, elected to a 3-year term as CASE President 2017-20, served on the CAMLE and CASSP Board of Directors, and in the IB Educator Network (IBEN) as a consultant, site visitor, and workshop leader. He has presented or participated in various conferences: TED 2017, IB Global, IB Academy, IB Heads International Conference, National Parent Teacher Assoc., Blue Ribbon Schools, Assoc. of Middle Level Education, National Assoc. of Secondary School Principals and Elementary School Principals, The School Superintendents Assoc., Colorado Assoc. of School Boards, Colorado Assoc. of School Executives, Colorado Dept. of Education, Art and Craft of the Principalship Summer Institute at Harvard University’s Principals Center, and the Leadership Institute for School Change at Teachers College Columbia University, and is a Solution Tree Assessment Associate. He speaks conversational Spanish, helped build a LifeTouch Memory Mission school in Constanza, Dominican Republic, toured schools in Finland, attended the EF Tours Global Leadership Summit in the Netherlands, and taught English as a Second Language to middle schoolers in Yucatan, Mexico with the Univ. of Colorado’s Bueno Center for Multicultural Education.

He earned a PhD in Educational Leadership, Superintendent Certification, and the Donald J. Willower Outstanding Dissertation Award from Penn State University while working as asst. editor of the American Journal of Education and certification officer for the Education Policy Studies Dept., a Principal License from Colorado State University, and 2 MA degrees in Secondary Education/Social Studies and Health, Physical Education, and Recreation from Adams State University where he taught exercise physiology/leisure science and coached all-American NCAA DII wrestlers. His undergraduate degree is from Susquehanna University where he was all-conference twice and co-captain of its nationally ranked NCAA DIII wrestling team.

A former adjunct cohort instructor in the Ritchie Program for School Leaders: Executive Leadership for Successful Schools (Ritchie Scholars) with University of Denver’s Morgridge College of Education, he completed the School Superintendents Assoc. (AASA) Aspiring Superintendents Academy.

Dr. Dodd loves spending time with his wife and daughters at their academic, athletic, and artistic activities, is a college sports fan, Denver Bronco season ticket holder, whitewater kayaker, skier/snowboarder, runner, bike commuter, and volunteer with the Knights of Columbus and his Catholic church.