On the morning of Tuesday, Dec. 19, it was made public that interim principal Paul Paetzel had been appointed as the new permanent principal of Edina High School. The announcement came from Edina Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Stacey Stanley in the form of a district-wide email.
On July 13, Paetzel was announced as EHS’s interim principal, filling the position of former principal Andy Beaton. Beaton stepped down at the end of last year after accepting a director position at the district office to oversee district projects. Paetzel’s job as interim principal was initially a one-year role.
The search for a permanent principal included surveying 800 members of the community. “Many stakeholders provided unsolicited feedback about interim Principal Paetzel, listed him as an example of who they wanted to be the next EHS principal, and asked if the district would consider asking Paul to stay,” the email stated.
Paetzel has 36 years of educational experience, 28 of those in an administrative role. He described his new role as EHS’s permanent principal as “a quest to fulfill a passion rather than take a job.”
“Over the past six months, I’ve realized what an opportunity this job is,” Paetzel said. He notes how Edina’s foundation as a school district has impacted him. “There are few places that have such a strong environment and commitment to excellence.”
Senior Jaden Young, president of the student senate, has been impressed with Paetzel’s ability to connect with others. “He has a very individual focus. He doesn’t view students as a speck in a larger student body. He views them as an individual person,” Young said.
His ability to connect and communicate is what English teacher Tess Bademen attributes to an overall improved culture in the building. “I think it’s largely due to Principal Patzel’s efforts to listen and connect,” Bademan said.
Paetzel expressed a desire to be ambitious, outline goals, and accomplish new things at EHS during his time as principal. “Edina High School is a place that, collectively, represents excellence. However, individually I want to make sure that everybody feels connected to Edina High School. It’s students, and also the staff. Combining Edina’s foundation of excellence and the opportunity to improve and take things to new levels is the perfect formula,” Paetzel said.
