Troy Mach ’14 named Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals’ Middle School Principal of the Year

Troy Mach ’14 discovered Concordia University, Nebraska’s graduate program offerings while searching for an online program that would honor as many credits as possible from his master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. 

“Concordia was a great fit,” he said.  

Mach has a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Wayne State College and a master’s degree in educational administration (PK-12) from Concordia Nebraska. 

“As a 19-year teaching veteran at the conclusion of my time with Concordia, I already knew my purpose, but my instructors did prepare me well on the legal side of education,” he explained. “I learned many of the legalities of administration that I was not exposed to as a teacher.” 

After graduating from Concordia Nebraska, Mach taught middle school social studies, reading and math at Clarkson Public Schools in Clarkson, Nebraska. In 2015, he was hired as the new principal at Alliance Middle School in Alliance, Nebraska, where he has served for 11 years. 

“My typical day consists of walkthroughs and evaluations of my teachers, breaking down data from testing, ensuring the safety of my staff and students, making connections with students during passing times and lunch duty, answering more emails than I knew possible and meetings with staff, students, parents, and other administrators,” he said. 

“As a 19-year teaching veteran at the conclusion of my time with Concordia, I already knew my purpose, but my instructors did prepare me well on the legal side of education.”

Mach was recently recognized as the Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals’ Middle School Principal of the Year. 

“I have been a member of the Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals for several years and have served as the secretary/treasurer for the Region V group. Each year, the different regions nominate principals for the various awards. This year, Region V nominated me for Middle School Principal of the Year,” he explained. “After filling out the application and receiving recommendation letters from another administrator in my district, one of the teachers on my staff, a parent from our community and a student, I was notified that I had been selected as Nebraska's Middle School Principal of the Year due to our drop in chronic absenteeism and our jump in the AQuESTT school ratings from Needs Support to Improve to Great.” 

Mach and his wife Jaci have been married for 30 years and have three adult children and one grandchild. When he’s not working, you’ll find Mach fishing, hunting, golfing and playing card games. He also enjoys announcing the various levels of football games for the Alliance Bulldogs in the fall. 

“Working with the students has always been the most fulfilling experience throughout my teaching and administrative career. Every time a student succeeds at something feels like the first time I experienced it back in the late 1900's,” he said. “The Middle School Principal of the Year award is a testament to the hard work of my students, staff and the rest of the district. They made it happen.” 

Students in Concordia University, Nebraska’s Educational Administration graduate program gain the skills needed to positively impact the lives of young children. Students will be equipped with principles and techniques for organizing and leading a school and will discover effective methods for supervising instruction, developing great teachers, managing financial needs and school law matters and more. Students may choose a concentration that fits their passion for elementary or secondary education or a combination of both and will automatically receive a principal endorsement when they complete the 36-hour M.Ed. in Educational Administration.