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High-fiving, fist-bumping principal named ‘most inspiring’

Valley View’s Jeremy Karel recognized by Grand Rapids Kids

Rockford — With the costumes he sports, the high-fives he hands out, and the infectious, booming laugh that rings through the hallway when he’s on the move, Valley View Elementary Principal Jeremy Karel makes quite an impression on students.

Clearly that impression stretches well beyond the school walls, because Karel was named the most inspiring principal in Grand Rapids Kids’ 2025 Best of GR list

Karel sees the award as more of a testament to the Valley View community than an acknowledgment of any achievement of his own.

Karel gives one of his famous fistbumps to second-grader Eliza DeRyke

“As much as I’m spotlighted in this, it’s more about just the culture we’ve created here,” he said. “We just have a great school — a great school community — and that includes our students, our teachers, our support staff, our parents. … Here at Valley View, we try to create just a positive environment, and I think together we’ve done that.”

But Valley View’s students think Karel is plenty inspiring, and more than deserving of the award. 

A Reassuring Presence

Third-grader Sebastian Phillips said the mere fact that Karel sought a career in education is enough to warrant some recognition.

“He’s one of the many people on the planet that decided to be a principal, and I feel like that’s very inspiring,” said Sebastian, adding that it must take a “bucket of confidence” to lead an elementary school.

Sebastian said Karel’s method of greeting all Valley View students is a standout trait. 

“In the morning, he walks out of the front door and passes out high-fives. That’s, like, an every-morning thing,” Sebastian said. “It’s good to know that you have a principal that’s everyone’s friend.” 

Karel’s salutations are a hit with the rest of Valley View’s student body, including fifth-grader Natalie Grove. 

“He gives everybody fist bumps or high-fives in the halls,” said Natalie. “It makes me feel good because I know that he’s, like, there for anybody. And he’s always very kind, so it’s easier to interact with him.”

Second-grader Eliza DeRyke said Karel’s presence and individual attention have been a big help to her. When she’s feeling glum, or dreading a test, Karel’s presence is reassuring.

GRKids’ inspiring principals

Here are the area’s most inspiring principals of 2025, as determined by GRKids voters:
First place: Jeremy Karel, Valley View Elementary School
Second place: Joe Oosterheert, Jenison Christian School
Third place: Molly Burnett, Murray Lake Elementary
Finalists: Kevin Varner, Our Lady of Consolation Catholic School; Domenic Franconi, Assumption Catholic School; Christina Mendoza, Orchard View Elementary; Heather Lalonde, Jenison Early Childhood Center; Kathleen Pool, Godfrey-Lee Public Schools Early Childhood Center; Pat Kalahar, Holy Spirit Catholic School; and Johana Rodriguez, Godfrey Elementary.

“It always makes me feel like I’m going to do good at school,” said Eliza.

She noted that Karel is “very nice, very funny, and always doing good things for the school,” like dressing up in costumes to dance along with music selections at student concerts, or boosting morale by spending a night on the school’s roof, dressed as a Minion from the “Despicable Me” movies to reward students’ fundraising efforts.

Who’s the Minion on the Valley View roof? It’s Principal Jeremy Karel (courtesy)

All of this, Karel said, he does to give students a sense of belonging and community.

“Those small moments matter so much. … It’s really important to me that (students) feel seen, heard, valued,” he said. “Hopefully they can look back on their career here at Valley View and remember those moments and the fun they had while learning at the same time. And hopefully I can be a small part of that.”

Karel said students have been supportive and congratulatory about his award.

“I’ve had kids just constantly come up to me and say, ‘Congrats, Mr. Karel, you’re so deserving of this!’” he said. “Six- or 7-year-old kids come up and say this, which speaks volumes about the community we have here. 

“I’m looking out for them, and they’re looking out for me too.”

Read more from Rockford: 
Student-organized course gets high-schoolers CPR certified
MDE reps see ‘great things’ during district walk-through

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Riley Kelley
Riley Kelley
Riley Kelley is a reporter covering Cedar Springs, Grand Rapids, East Grand Rapids, Rockford and Sparta school districts. An award-winning journalist, Riley spent eight years with the Ludington Daily News, reporting, copy editing, paginating and acting as editor for its weekly entertainment section. He also contributed to LDN’s sister publications, Oceana’s Herald-Journal and the White Lake Beacon. His reporting on issues in education and government has earned accolades from the Michigan Press Association and Michigan Associated Press Media Editors.

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