BVU Alumnus Nigel Horton Named Iowa's 2026 Elementary Principal of the Year

Sixteen years after graduating from Buena Vista University, Nigel Horton has been recognized as Iowa's top elementary school principal. The School Administrators of Iowa named Horton its 2026 Elementary Principal of the Year, honoring the Griswold Elementary School principal for leadership that has demonstrably improved school culture and instructional outcomes across his building.

BVU announced the honor on March 27, with university officials noting that Horton embodies the school's emphasis on community-centered leadership and its long-standing mission to prepare educators for small-town and rural Iowa communities.

Horton, who has spent more than a decade in K-12 educational leadership since earning his BVU degree in 2010, tied the recognition to his school rather than treating it as a personal accolade. "The feeling of being named Elementary Principal of the Year is surreal," he said. "Griswold is a very special place to me. We have a real can-do attitude, which is also part of my story, I guess. I love that about being here."

SAI's selection process draws on criteria including commitment to students and staff alongside demonstrated progress in school culture and instructional quality. Horton's tenure at Griswold Elementary has centered on student engagement, staff development, and community partnership, all areas highlighted when the award was announced.

The recognition carries practical weight beyond prestige. A Principal of the Year designation gives district leaders a platform to strengthen community morale, bolster staff recruitment, and build cases for grant funding. For BVU, Horton's achievement connects the university's teacher-preparation programs to a tangible outcome in northwest Iowa school leadership.

As part of the recognition, Horton will be invited to participate in SAI events statewide. BVU is expected to feature him in alumni spotlights and education department programming, where his career arc from BVU graduate to statewide honoree offers current students a direct model of what the university's educator pipeline can produce.