Welcome to Sunnyside Elementary School! My name is Mike Pagel, and I'm excited to be serving Sunnyside as principal. Originally from Rochester, MN, I've been an educator for over 25 years, first in California and, since 2007, in Red Wing. After years as a classroom teacher at Burnside, I stepped into an administrative role here at Sunnyside in 2015 as Student Support Coordinator, and moved into the Principal's seat in 2017. I have been married to my wonderful wife for 25 years, and we have been lucky to raise our three children here in Red Wing.

At Sunnyside, our motto is "Let the learning begin..." Our goal is to provide an exceptional educational environment in which kindergarten and first grade students thrive and grow. As a K-1 grade level center, we are equipped to focus on the unique developmental stages of our learners, and we target teaching and learning that addresses the academic, social, emotional and physical needs of our young scholars. We believe in working collaboratively with our families and our community, and we encourage and expect academic, social-emotional and behavioral growth for all students.

As principal of Sunnyside Elementary School, I encourage families and our community to be as involved as possible in our students' education. Ask questions, attend events, connect with staff, and volunteer! Together, we can all assure that building foundations for success starts here at Sunnyside!

Mike Pagel
mjpagel@rwps.org