New principal takes helm at Dayton High School

DAYTON - After serving as Dayton High School's assistant principal for three years, Tim Logan is stepping into the role of principal this year.

"It's a little overwhelming, but I'm definitely excited at the same time," he said Friday. "I have a good relationship with a lot of the kids and teachers, so it makes it easier stepping into this position."

Logan, 36, will be taking over for Wayne Workman, who left the position after five years to be human resources director for the Lyon County School District.

School in Lyon County resumes Monday.

Logan said Workman did a good job, and he wants to continue the legacy.

"I love Dayton High School," Logan said. "The culture, the atmosphere is perfect. I didn't want to lose that. I felt a responsibility to help retain that culture and atmosphere."

Logan grew up in Gardnerville, graduating from Douglas High School in 1993. After a year of engineering classes, he switched gears.

"I decided teaching might be the better place for me," he said. "I enjoy math and I enjoy teaching. Once I got into those classes, I never looked back. I love it."

After graduating from Brigham Young University, he taught for one year in Utah before coming to Dayton, where he taught math for eight years before becoming assistant principal three years ago. He also served as athletic director for a year.

He didn't set out to be an administrator.

"I thought I'd always be teaching calculus," he said.

But as opportunities became available, he took them. Logan said that although he misses the classroom, there are other benefits.

"I enjoy meeting more kids and having an influence on a larger amount of them," he said.

He said it can be overwhelming to think of 750 kids and about 100 staff members all looking for leadership and support. "It's daunting when you look at the big picture," he said. "I try not to look at the big picture the whole time. I keep my focus on that individual student or teacher."

His assistant principal, Steve Henderson, also will serve as the athletic director. Henderson came to Dayton High School this year from Cottonwood Elementary School in Fernley.

Logan said his plan is to maintain traditions in place at the school that have ensured adequate yearly progress every year and a graduation rate of 87.5 percent.

However, he said, he would be willing to make changes. "We always need to be making continual improvements," he said. "With education changing at the rate it is, we're going to have to change with it or be left behind."

Logan lives in Dayton with his wife, Julie, and four sons, ages 12, 10, 8 and 3.