University of Iowa College of Education alumnus Mitch Gross was recently named 2026 Iowa High School Principal of the Year by School Administrators of Iowa (SAI).
Gross, who received an MA in the college’s Educational Leadership program, is principal at Iowa City West High School.
A recent article by SAI highlights this prestigious accolade. The following excerpt is from that article:
“Mitch Gross, principal of Iowa City West High School, has been selected as the 2026 Iowa High School Principal of the Year by School Administrators of Iowa (SAI).
‘Mitch was selected by a group of his peers due to his dedication to equity, instructional leadership, and creating a positive school culture which clearly demonstrates his exemplary contributions to Iowa City West High School. SAI applauds the committee’s work in selecting Mitch for this recognition,’ said SAI Executive Director Dr. Lisa Remy.
The selection committee, which included 2025 High School Principal of the Year recipient Nicole Roder, shared their reasoning for the choice.
‘Mitch was one of four excellent candidates for this award. He stood out for his outstanding contributions to the profession, his school, and his community. His passion for being a strong educational leader and mentor to his staff and students is very evident and he goes above and beyond to work to make Iowa City West a top-notch place to learn,’ Roder said.”