Mr. Matt Grendell, class of 2008, returns to IHS this year as Dean of Students.
When asked about being back in the building, Grendell stated, “I am so happy to be back at Independence. It truly means a lot to be fully invested in our great community. I hope that I can help support our students to have the same great experience that I had as an Independence student.”
While in high school, Grendell played basketball and enjoyed hanging out with his friends. He worked as a special education teacher at Riverside High School for 12 years, teaching six years at the middle school and six at the high school.
Grendell attended Lake Erie College for his undergrad and earned his bachelor’s degree in mild to moderate special education. He then got his master’s degree in Educational Leadership at Cleveland State University. He didn’t always want to do educational leadership; he wanted to do accounting. Grendell commented, “My mom was a special education teacher, and that influenced me. I also knew that I wanted to be a high school basketball coach.”
He and his wife have been married since 2017 and have two kids, Otto and Eli, and have a dog, Tabbie. In his free time, Grendell said he enjoys, “spending time with my family. We like to be outside. My boys keep me busy. We also like to travel.”
He also enjoys working out, watching movies, and watching sports. Grendell’s biggest pet peeve is tardiness! He is excited to be back in the building with all the students, and he says, “Be involved at school and make the most of the opportunities they have while in high school” as his biggest piece of advice to us.
Welcome back to Independence, Mr. Grendell!
