Paul Gebel Named 2025 Middle School Principal of the Year

Paul Gebel, Denver Community School District middle school principal, has been named the 2024-25 Iowa Middle School Principal of the Year by School Administrators of Iowa (SAI).

“Paul exemplifies the heart of leadership in education. His unwavering dedication to fostering a supportive and dynamic learning environment at Denver Middle School has profoundly impacted students and staff. His commitment to collaboration, innovation, and student success makes him truly deserving of the Iowa Middle Level Principal of the Year recognition,” said SAI Executive Director Dr. Lisa Remy.

Gebel has served as middle school principal for 21 years with Denver Community School District. Prior to that, he was a principal with Albert City-Truesdale Community School District for a year. He began his career as a business teacher and coach, first for Diagonal Community School District and then Emmetsburg Community School District.

A University of Northern Iowa graduate, Gebel received a bachelor’s degree in business education. He then earned both a master’s degree in education/effective teaching and his administrative endorsement from Drake University.

Denison Middle School Principal Patti Ryan was part of the selection committee and shared her perspective on Gebel. “Paul's leadership has helped earn the High Performing Performance Profile status at Denver Middle School. He is well deserving of this honor, and our committee was impressed with his dedication to his staff and students,” she said.

One reference letter described Gebel as the cornerstone of their administrative team. “His experience as an administrator, and his tenure at our school, are valuable and are a great resource when making decisions. He has the amazing ability to make a comparison to a previous experience when making an important decision. He also has an outstanding understanding of how a decision will be received within the community.”

Reflecting on the recognition, Gebel said, “I am deeply honored to be selected as the 2025 Iowa Middle School Principal of the Year by SAI. This award is a testament to the amazing educators, administrators, school board, students, and families that I have the privilege of working with every day. It’s their passion, dedication, and support that make Denver Middle School a place where students thrive and prepare for success in the 21st century. Together, we have fostered an environment where students are encouraged to reach for their full potential, and I am grateful to be part of this journey.”

Iowa’s Administrator of the Year award recipients will be honored at SAI’s 50th Annual Conference in August 2025.