Steve Zimmerman
Steve Zimmerman, associate principal at Ottumwa High School, was selected as a finalist for the 2017 Iowa Assistant Secondary Principal of the Year award sponsored by the School Administrators of Iowa.
"Steve is known for his fairness and his willingness to go the extra mile for staff and students, in addition to his outstanding work with staff professional learning and student programming," emphasized Roark Horn, SAI executive director.
He was nominated by his peers for this award and will be recognized at SAI's awards reception next August in Des Moines, along with recipient Jeff Schneekloth of Cedar Rapids.
Zimmerman has been instrumental in establishing student access to Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) curriculum through Project Lead The Way in elementary, middle and high school. Under Zimmerman’s leadership as administrator of the Ninth Grade Academy, he helped to establish a 90 percent average of students earning the required credits to stay on track to graduate on time. The Ninth Grade Academy is one of many programs at Ottumwa High School that generated an increase in the annual graduation rate to an all-time high of 89.4 in 2014.
Associate principal at Ottumwa High School since 2013, he was previously a dean of students at OHS beginning in 2006. He began his career as an eighth grade science teacher in the district. Zimmerman has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Coe College in Cedar Rapids and his master’s in education administration from Drake University in Des Moines.
SAI, a statewide organization founded in 1987, represents more than 1,800 Iowa educational administrators. SAI's mission is to support, encourage and develop Iowa’s educational leaders and learners.
