Fort Dodge principal named best in Iowa

A longtime educator from Fort Dodge is named Iowa’s Principal of the Year. Linda Whiting has been principal of Feelhaver Elementary School for 19 years after starting as a teacher in Fort Dodge in 1966. Whiting says she likes students to think making a trip to the principal’s office is a fun experience, not a time for being scolded.Every year, Iowa’s 15 Area Education Agencies nominate one person for the award and the winner is chosen by a committee of Iowa educators after interviewing three finalists. Whiting talks about why she may’ve been set aside from the state’s other top principals. Whiting has kids come to her office “for the good things they do,” she helps serve food every day in the lunchroom and has developed good relationships with most of the 230 students at the K-through-four school. As part of the award, Whiting won a trip to Washington D-C for a national awards ceremony.