Superintendent Message

A MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

Coldwater Exempted Village Schools

“Although my journey has taken me around the world, Coldwater has always been home.”

Welcome to Coldwater Exempted Village Schools.

It is an incredible honor to serve as Superintendent of the school district and community where my own story began. I was born and raised in Coldwater and graduated from Coldwater High School in 1980. Although my life and career have taken me in many directions and around the world, Coldwater has always been home.

After high school, I proudly served our country in the United States Air Force. I later worked in business, entered education, returned to the business world for a period of time, and ultimately found my way back to education for good. As I enter my 36th year in education, I am grateful for every chapter of that journey. My experiences in the military, business, and schools have shaped my leadership, broadened my perspective, and strengthened my belief that service, discipline, teamwork, relationships, and long-range planning are essential to building successful organizations. 

My career has also provided opportunities to live and travel throughout the world and to learn from people, cultures, and educational systems far beyond Ohio. One of the greatest privileges of my professional life was helping establish Colina International School in Colina Nouă, a developing community outside the city of Cluj, Romania. I continue to serve as Chairman of the Board and am fortunate to travel to Romania several times each year to support professional development at Colina International School and in other areas of the country.

Those international experiences have introduced me to innovative ideas and different approaches to teaching and learning. More importantly, they have confirmed a truth that I have seen repeatedly throughout my career: regardless of the country, language, culture, or school system, the greatest influence on student achievement, confidence, self-worth, and future success is the quality of the relationships formed within the school.

Relationships Are Our Highest Priority

At Coldwater, relationship building is not an initiative or a program. It is our highest priority and the foundation of everything we do. We want every student to feel known, valued, respected, supported, and challenged. When young people know that the adults around them genuinely care, they are more willing to take risks, work through difficulty, accept responsibility, and believe in what they can become.

Our entire student body reflects what can happen when a school places people and relationships at the center of its work. Our students are remarkable. They are hardworking, respectful, kind, responsible, and well-behaved. Visitors regularly comment on the positive atmosphere in our buildings and the way our students represent their school and community. That culture is not created by protocols and policies alone. It grows from trust, high expectations, consistency, and meaningful relationships.

Policies, procedures, and accountability certainly matter, but they should support people rather than replace human judgment and connection. At Coldwater, we strive to know our students well, understand what they need, and respond in ways that help them grow academically, socially, and personally.

Our Strategic Plan and Core Values

DISTRICT CORE VALUES

The core values developed through our strategic-planning process are more than words displayed on a wall or website. They are commitments that guide our decisions, shape our culture, and define how we serve students, families, staff, and the community. They give us a shared language and a clear standard for the type of district we want to be.

Our staff understands our vision and embraces these values. More than 45% of our staff members are Coldwater alumni. Many chose to return for the same reason I did: to give back to the community that helped shape them and to invest in the next generation. Their dedication, professionalism, work ethic, and genuine care for students are among the district's greatest strengths.

A Culture That Reflects Our Community

Coldwater has a proud tradition, an extraordinary work ethic, and a deep sense of pride. Our school culture is a direct reflection of the community we serve. The values visible throughout Coldwater - hard work, humility, respect, responsibility, kindness, service, and pride - are the same qualities we see in our students and staff each day.

We are proud of our academic accomplishments, extracurricular programs, athletic success, fine arts, career opportunities, and the many ways our students serve others. However, what makes Coldwater truly special cannot be measured only through test scores, trophies, awards, or rankings. It is found in the way people support one another, the way generations remain connected to the schools, and the shared belief that our young people deserve our very best.

We are not simply a school system. We are a family. Families celebrate together, support one another through challenges, hold each other accountable, and remain committed to something larger than themselves. That sense of belonging is one of Coldwater's greatest strengths.

Returning Home to Give Back

After more than 30 years in education, I made the decision to return to my hometown when I accepted the position of Superintendent. I did not return because Coldwater needed to become something completely different. I returned because I wanted to give back and help enhance the strong foundation that generations of students, staff members, families, board members, and community leaders had already built.

My responsibility is to honor what has made Coldwater successful while helping the district prepare thoughtfully for what comes next. Leadership is not about preserving everything exactly as it has always been, nor is it about changing things simply for the sake of change. It is about listening, learning, protecting what works, addressing what needs attention, and making responsible decisions that will serve students now and for generations to come.

Planning for Future Generations

One of my most important goals as Superintendent is to ensure that Coldwater has a comprehensive long-range plan. We must look beyond the immediate school year and prepare our district for the next decade and beyond. That includes keeping our infrastructure and facilities safe, functional, efficient, and sustainable; maintaining a rigorous, relevant, and aligned curriculum; investing wisely in technology; and ensuring that our staffing levels and structures meet the changing needs of students.

These areas cannot be addressed independently or only when a crisis occurs. Infrastructure, curriculum, technology, finances, and staffing must be part of one coordinated vision. Thoughtful planning allows us to anticipate needs, use taxpayer resources responsibly, avoid unnecessary emergencies, and provide stability for future leaders and future generations of Cavaliers.

Every improvement we make today should strengthen the district not only for the students currently in our classrooms, but also for the children and grandchildren who will enter these schools years from now. We have been entrusted with something very special, and we have a responsibility to leave it stronger than we found it.

Moving Forward Together

Whether you are a current family, a staff member, a graduate, a community member, a prospective resident, or a visitor learning about our district, I hope you quickly recognize what makes Coldwater Exempted Village Schools unique. We are a district built on relationships, strengthened by tradition, driven by hard work, and united by pride in our students and community.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve the community where I was born and raised. I remain committed to listening, being present, communicating openly, planning responsibly, and working alongside our Board of Education, staff, students, families, alumni, and community partners to build upon Coldwater's tradition of excellence.

Together, we will honor our past, serve our students today, and prepare Coldwater Exempted Village Schools for an even stronger future.

Go Cavaliers!

Doug Mader
Superintendent, 
Coldwater Exempted Village Schools