The Wendt Way: Principal Talks

In Episode 19 of The Wendt Way: Principal Talks, Brandi and Cameron sit down with Todd Whitaker—author, speaker, and one of the most influential voices in educational leadership. Todd shares practical wisdom from decades as a teacher, coach, and principal, and unpacks what great leaders truly do differently. This conversation dives into leadership mindset, school culture, supporting teachers, addr...

In Episode 18 of The Wendt Way: Principal Talks, Brandi and Cameron sit down with Dr. Jared Smith, Superintendent of the Waterloo Community School District. Dr. Smith shares his leadership journey—from educator to district leader—and offers insight into leading one of Iowa’s largest and most diverse school systems. Together, they discuss district culture, equity-driven leadership, supporting princ...

In this episode of The Wendt Way: Principal Talks, Brandi and Cameron sit down with Ryan Woods, Principal at Johnston High School, to talk about leading one of the largest and most dynamic schools in Iowa. Ryan shares how he builds trust in a big system, supports teachers through change, and helps students find their voice and purpose in a fast-paced environment. From culture and communication to...

In Episode 15 of The Wendt Way: Principal Talks, Brandi and Cameron sit down with Dr. Lisa Remy, Executive Director of the School Administrators of Iowa (SAI) — a leader whose impact reaches every corner of the state. After decades of service in Iowa education, Dr. Remy recently announced her plans to retire at the end of SAI’s fiscal year next August. In this heartfelt conversation, she reflects...

In Episode 14 of The Wendt Way: Principal Talks, Brandi and Cameron sit down with Dr. Trent Grundmeyer, owner of Grundmeyer Leader Services, to talk about what it really takes to find and grow great leaders in Iowa’s schools. From his experiences as a principal, professor, and consultant, Trent shares what districts are looking for in strong candidates, what separates the good from the great in in...

In Episode 13 of The Wendt Way: Principal Talks, Brandi and Cameron sit down with sAl Neppl, Associate Professional Learning Director for the School Administrators of Iowa (SAI).  Al shares his journey through education and how his current work supports leaders across the state. Together, we dive into what meaningful professional learning looks like, how leaders can stay grounded while continuing...

In this episode of The Wendt Way: Principal Talks, Brandi and Cameron sit down with Laura Skeel, Principal of Perry Elementary in Perry, Iowa. Laura shares her journey into leadership, her approach to creating a positive and resilient school culture, and how she supports staff, students, and families through both the everyday challenges of education and extraordinary moments of adversity. From bui...

In this episode, we sit down with our nephew, Conner Williams, a brand-new Simpson College freshman who just graduated high school in May. Conner shares his perspective on the big transition from high school to college, why it’s okay not to have everything figured out, and how changing your mind is part of the journey. From pressures seniors face to the funniest parts of dorm life, this episode is...

Episode 10 marks a milestone for The Wendt Way: Principal Talks! Brandi and Cameron take a pause to reflect on what they’ve learned from their first five guests: Matt Blackmore, Wade Grinhaug, Shane Christensen, Adam Busch, and Mitch Kuhnert. From leadership priorities and professional learning to culture, advice for new administrators, and even some unforgettable stories (yes, suspensions handled...

In this episode of The Wendt Way: Principal Talks, we sit down with Adam Busch, Director of Student Services for Johnston Community School District. Adam shares what it’s like to prepare for a new school year at the district level—balancing big-picture systems with the individual needs of students and families. He talks about urgent priorities in student services, strategies for communication acro...

In this episode of The Wendt Way: Principal Talks, we sit down with Mitch Kuhnert, principal of Stilwell Junior High School, to talk about the unique challenges and opportunities of leading a junior high. We cover: The biggest priorities before the first day of school How to design professional development that’s meaningful for staff A strategy for setting positive school culture from day one Advi...

Episode 7 – Starting Strong: A Superintendent’s First 90 Days with Wade Grinhaug In this episode of The Wendt Way: Principal Talks, we sit down with Wade Grinhaug, who began his first role as superintendent on July 1st. Wade shares his biggest priorities heading into year one, what he’s learned during the summer transition period, and how he’s working to build relationships and set a positive dist...

We sit down with Shane Christensen, principal of Valley High School, to talk back-to-school leadership, PD that works, and building culture. Plus, Cameron’s connection to Shane at Indian Hills, hype songs, and spirit week fun. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-wendt-way-principal-talks--6672919/support .

In our first guest episode, we welcome Matt Blackmore, principal of DCG High School, to share his insights on preparing for a successful school year. Matt talks about his biggest back-to-school priorities, how he designs professional development that staff actually find useful, and his go-to strategy for building a positive school culture from day one. He also offers valuable advice for brand-new...

In this episode, Brandi and Cameron share how they’re planning meaningful professional development before students return on August 25th. They discuss strategies for making PD energizing instead of monotonous, the importance of building culture early, and the behind-the-scenes work that sets the tone for the year. They also give a peek into life at home as a three-district household and share a fu...

Episode 3 – “Mic Check, One Two: Prepping for Back-to-School & Podcast Growing Pains” In this episode of The Wendt Way: Principal Talks, Brandi and Cameron get real about what summer looks like for school leaders—because the work doesn’t start in August. From creating master schedules and planning PD to navigating leadership transitions and setting the tone for the year, they share what’s happ...

Episode 2 of The Wendt Way: Principal Talks is LIVE! 🙌 This week, Cameron shares what the first 90 days as a brand-new principal look like—his entry plan, key priorities, surprises, and how he’s building trust from day one. 👨‍🏫 Listening first 🤝 Building relationships ✅ Setting clear expectations Plus, we talk about what it’s like running three school districts under one roof 🏫🏡👨‍👩‍👧‍👦...

n this debut episode of The Wendt Way: Principal Talks , Brandi and Cameron kick things off with a big announcement—Cameron is stepping into his first role as a lead principal after 10 years as an assistant principal! With July 1st right around the corner, the two reflect on the transition, the excitement (and nerves) that come with it, and what it means to take the lead in a new building. They al...