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Teacher of the Year

River Valley instructor named Mohave County’s top educator by Arizona Rural School Association

By RODD CAYTON/The Daily News
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 1:19 AM

Doug Nicolai is going out a winner.

River Valley High School teacher Doug Nicolai describes an upcoming assignment to his psychology/sociology class Tuesday. Nicolai, who is retiring at the end of the school year, was recently named Mohave County Teacher of the Year by the Arizona Rural School Association.

The River Valley High School teacher said Tuesday that he’s honored to have been chosen as Mohave County Teacher of the Year by the Arizona Rural School Association.

“It’s pretty nice,” Nicolai said, “because it’s my last year and it kind of validates me.”

Nicolai has been at RVHS since the school’s 1992 opening, having come over from Mohave High School, where he started in 1972.

He teaches psychology, sociology, U.S. government and economics, all dual enrollment courses with Mohave Community College. He has also spent time as student council adviser at both campuses, including 16 years at RVHS, until he relinquished those duties a few years back.

He said he’s stayed at River Valley so long because it quickly became apparent that that’s where he belonged. “Right from the start, there’s been a real family feeling,” he said. “It’s a real positive place with a lot of freedom.

” The sense of familiarity is deepened by his getting students after having taught their older siblings or in some cases, their parents, from his MHS days.
 
“I feel extremely fortunate to count Mr. Nicolai as a friend and colleague,” said Riley Frei, superintendent of the Colorado River Union High School District. “He has dedicated the majority of his life to the youth of this area, and I can’t think of anybody more deserving of this award.”

Nicolai teaches, one imagines, the way he’d like to be taught, were he at one of the smaller desks.

“I try to make the course interesting and exciting,” he said. “I try to learn new stuff myself, so I keep it fresh. I think it comes through to the students that I care about them and about the subject.”

It certainly comes through to senior Kyle Raker.

“He explains (things) in a way that most teachers don’t,” Raker said. “He takes time for any question. It’s actually really sad that he’s leaving.”

Nicolai is retiring at the end of the school year; he said he’ll stay in the area, near family.

Junior Jenna Carey, who is in a psychology/sociology class with Raker, said that Nicolai is entertaining during class and works hard to keep the students engaged.

“He’s just a really good teacher,” she said.

Nicolai, a Minnesota native and educator’s son who graduated from Mankato State University (Now Minnesota State University, Mankato) and earned a master’s degree from Arizona State University, said he always wanted to be a teacher.
 
“I always loved history,” he said. “I always loved knowing odd little facts and making a difference. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”