Brenda Duvel
The Dubuque Community School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Brenda Duvel as the district’s next executive director of special education. Duvel will assume this position after serving as principal of Kennedy Elementary School during the 2018-2019 school year.
In this role, Duvel will be responsible for the overall management and coordination of the district’s special education program, while also serving as a liaison between the district, the Area Education Agency, parents and the various community agencies.
“As our search progressed, it became increasingly clear that Brenda possesses the right special education expertise, leadership experience and interpersonal skills to lead this critical area of the district into the future,” said Stan Rheingans, superintendent of schools. “We are pleased to welcome her to our executive leadership team.”
Duvel is an experienced administrator with deep teaching and leadership experience in special education. Prior to serving as principal at Kennedy during the last school year, Duvel served as an assistant principal at Roosevelt Middle School. In her leadership experience, she has overseen staff hiring and development, worked with coaching teachers, planning and providing professional development, increased family connections and managed budgeting.
Prior to Roosevelt Middle School, Duvel served for five years as a district-level special education coordinator and extended school year facilitator. She was previously a special education department chair at Roosevelt Middle School and a special education teacher at Lincoln Elementary School. She has also served as an adjunct instructor at Loras College. She joined the Dubuque Community School District in 1995.
A Dubuque Senior High School graduate, Duvel holds a bachelor of arts degree in special education (behavior disorders) and a master of arts degree in special education from Loras College and a PreK-12 principal/special education supervisor certification from Morningside College.