Educator of the Year: Doug Sickles

CRESCO - Crestwood Elementary principal and well known sports coach Doug Sickles has been named the Cresco Times Plain Dealer’s Educator of the Year!

Sickles started his career in education early in life, growing up in the Wapsi Valley school district. He was inspired by his coaches, lighting a spark in Sickles about pursuing a career in education.

He went to the University of Northern Iowa college to secure his teaching degree and began teaching middle school science in Algona, Iowa. He stayed there for around five years before moving to teach in the West Hancock school district in Britt, Iowa. At this time, he also studied and received his Masters in Counseling. He planned on staying with school district for some time initially, but after his father fell ill, he and his wife Marcia, his high school sweetheart, decided to move closer to home. 

Sickles began his career with the Howard-Winneshiek school district as an elementary counselor, earning his principal degree in the early 2000’s. He continued on with the school district, taking the job as a counselor with the junior high, and then finally as a principal for the elementary school. 

Throughout his time with the different schools, he coached several sports, including baseball, softball, basketball, track, and football. He led the Crestwood girls basketball team to victory in 2018, winning the state title. 

Sickles explained how honored he is for the award of Educator of the Year, but gives all the thanks to “the tremendous teaching staff and students” who not only made his career  enjoyable, but also fulfilling. He describes how fortunate he is for the students he gets to teach, acknowledging that without them, he “wouldn’t be where (he) (is) today”.  

In his free time, Doug Sickles enjoys spending time with his family and wife Marcia, with whom he shares three daughters. Marcia recently retired from her occupation as a emergency room nurse. Sickles will follow shortly after, announcing his retirement scheduled for the end of this year.

He looks forward to spending time hunting, fishing, and traveling, as well as visiting his children and grandchildren, with all five  of the grandchildren being under the age of three.