If you have ever traversed the English hallway at UMA Riverdale, you may have heard a large, booming voice echoing down the corridor. This frightening sound comes from the bellowing, bombastic, bold, and big-hearted man known as Mr. Nathan Dockter, the junior and senior English teacher.
This is Mr. Dockter’s sixth year at UMA. In that short period of time, he has taught ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade English. Currently he teaches Language Arts 11 and 12. College English 1010, AP English Language and Composition, Yearbook, and Journalism. It is clear to the cadets in his class that he is passionate about his work.
“The moment you enter his classroom, Mr. Dockter’s charged teaching fills the air and all your attention goes to him. Mr. Dockter has a passion for teaching and I recognize that depth. He is an awesome teacher who all students should be ready for,” says Alex Pierson.
Mr. Dockter graduated with a passion for English from Napoleon High School, located in Napoleon, Ohio. In school, his English teacher encouraged Dockter to write.
“Mrs. Wagner encouraged me to write throughout my high school career. When I was a senior, I had several short stories published in the school’s literary magazine.”
Mr. Dockter was also a part of the high school swimming and waterpolo teams.
“I know I don’t look like it now, but I was a pretty good swimmer and water polo player.”
He was good enough to receive a swimming scholarship from Cleveland State University in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. There he swam for four years as a varsity swimmer and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. After two years at college, he had to declare a major. “I really didn’t know what I wanted to do after college. I remembered my experiences in high school and decided to pick English with a minor in education.
“I remember an advisor saying to me, ‘You should start doing things that will lead to a career. Start building your resume.’ So, I went out and secured a swim coaching job. That lead to a high school coaching position and then a teaching job.”
Dockter first started teaching at North Ridgeville Junior High and High School. “I spent two periods in the junior high building, then went to the high school for three periods.” He taught at that school for two years, but was laid off due to budget cuts.
He then went to Midview High School for six years. He continued to coach swimming at different locations, which led to a interesting little anecdote.
Midview High School was the alma mater of the cartoonist, Tom Batiuk. His strip, “Funky Winkerbean” was a staple of the Sunday comics and featured the life of student, Funky Winkerbean at fictional Westview High School. “
Batiuk sometimes came to Midview to substitute for the art teacher. Midview did not have a swim teamat the time, and some of the students found out that I was a swim coach. They tried to recruit me to coach. Soon after, the characters in the comic were discussing how sad it was that the swim team had to practice swimming on the gym floor because they didn’t have a swimming pool. I don’t know if those students inspired that comic, but it was pretty funny.”
During his tenure at Midview, Mr. Dockter was asked to help take over the drama program. He stopped coaching swimming and directed the spring musicals for three years: “Lil Abner,” “Guys and Dolls,” and “Annie Get Your Gun.”
Then he moved back to Napoleon High School, where he was hired to run the drama program. He also helped his former coach by coaching diving and water polo. Later, he took over the yearbook program as well.
“Yeah, those were some busy times. We did seven shows a year for seven years, and I had about three hundred kids in the drama program. I was the head coach of the diving team and eventually took on the head water polo coaching responsibilities. I also finished my Master’s degree in Administration at the same time.”
Mr. Dockter credits the students who he worked with. “I had some remarkable students who helped me accomplish some incredible things during that time, from phenomenal theatrical performances to successes in athletic competitions. Their commitment paved the way for those achievements.”
Soon after receiving the Master’s degree, he was hired by a local district to be the principal of the middle school/high school. After two years there, he became a principal at Clark-Shawnee High School in Springfield, Ohio. He was principal there for 15 years.
“We had a lot of varied successes at Shawnee. We had a great teaching staff that provided high level instruction, and we were able to do well on state standardized tests. We had an extensive concurrent enrollment program. We were able to provide quite a few college credits to our students. Some seniors graduated with a high school diploma and an associate’s degree. We had a lot of success in athletics as well.”
After thirty-two years of education, he moved from Ohio to Utah in late June of 2019. He was hoping to retire permanently; however, his wife disagreed with him. When he started looking at the end of July, UMA was the only place that had a job opening. Considering school started in a few weeks. Mr. Dockter applied and got the job!
“I was very fortunate to get this job. I am glad the adminstration took a chance on me.”
Just like cadets, Dockter knew there were some obstacles with working at a military academy.
“I didn’t know anyone, and I was a little apprehensive about the uniforms and the environment. But I immediately began to like the cadets and the school atmosphere.”
Some teachers look towards great accomplishments and great achievements. Not Mr. Dockter though.
“I like to celebrate the little things like skill progression. For example, the yearbooks, and the yearbook and journalism staffs have really improved. I am also proud of the cadet’s progression on standardized tests. I like to measure success in small things. I’ve been fortunate to have quite a few successes in education.”
His favorite lesson to teach is basic writing formulas. “If you can write well, you can make your way through anything.” Cadet Alexus Workman can agree. “He is the reason I have an inspiration for journalism as a career.”
Mr. Dockter has tips for all cadets as they progress through life.
“You have to find motivation in yourself. Many people don’t like the classes they’re in or the things that they are required to do.You have to create your own personal drive and motivations. You may not like it, but you’re going to have to go through it; make it enjoyable.”
Dockter may grumpy all the time, but he cares. He strives to help those cadets overlook obstacles even when they feel they can’t overcome them. They have to gain motivation.
“You are only limited by the expectations of yourself.”
When Dockter is not at school, he enjoys video games, D&D, woodworking, building furniture, and playing the piano.
“I can play Billy Joel, 70’s soft rock, Wizard of Oz, and Disney songs. However, I’m not very good.”
Some students provide a word of caution when taking Mr. Dockter’s classes.
“The way that Mr. Dockter teaches is very engaging, as long as you’re willing to learn. Assignments in his class can be grueling to complete, but if you engage with them, you will learn a lot. I myself have learned more from Mr. Dockter’s class than any other,” explains Severin Glenn.
Overall, Mr. Dockter isn’t as scary as most think. Never be afraid of him, if you have questions. In the words of Alexus Workman, “He’s a darn good man.”
