Once again, West High has proven itself excellent. Just five years after his promotion to West High’s principal, Mitch Gross was nominated for 2025 Iowa Principal of the Year. 

Interviews were conducted by committees of Iowa educators to find nominees for categories such as Superintendent of the Year and Principal of the Year. Gross was one of four finalists for this honor, although the final award went to Rock Valley High School’s Nicole Roder.

Gross was honored to receive this award, especially within his first five years as principal. Although he has already won this honor, he doesn’t plan on relaxing now. “My goal is to narrow the achievement gap among our students and continue working tirelessly to ensure that every student at West has the support and opportunities they need to reach their full potential,” Gross said. 

Initially a history teacher, Gross became principal five years ago during the pandemic, adding unique challenges to the role. “The term ‘baptism by fire’ definitely applies here,” Gross said. “Stepping into the role of West Principal in the summer of 2020 was an intense and transformative experience. Many of my colleagues across the state remarked that I essentially experienced a full career’s worth of challenges within my first two years.” 

Although he was previously serving as Coralville’s Mayor Pro Tem, after becoming principal, Gross retired his goals of politics to focus on bettering West High. His hard work has not gone unnoticed. For the last three years, West High has been named the top high school in Iowa by the U.S. News and World Report. His methods include open communication, a focus on diversity and education as a path to betterment.