Blake Wendt is living out his dream through his new role as High School Principal at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn. “I decided early on that I wanted to help others reach their maximum potential the way my teachers, parents, and grandparents had for countless others before me,” he said.
Wendt, who graduated as the Le Mars Community valedictorian for the Class of 2013, grew up in a family of educators. “Three of my four grandparents were in education,” he noted. “My mother and father were also both longtime school administrators in Northwest Iowa. When I was growing up, I loved being around school with my parents. I also was fortunate to have some great teachers growing up that reaffirmed my belief in the power of a quality education and the difference a good teacher can make.”
The new Principal helped prepare himself by earning a BS degree in 7-12 Mathematics at the University of South Dakota. He then went on to teach both middle school and high school math, first at Chamberlain, SD and then for the last three years in the Okoboji School District.
Getting into the administration aspect of education was far from a spur of the moment decision for Wendt. “I always was interested in becoming an administrator,” he shared. “One of my favorite memories from being a kid was checking roads with my dad when it was snowy. As I began my career in education, I was focused on being the best teacher I could be. However, as my career progressed, I decided that I wanted to be able to impact more than just the students in my math classes. This awakened my desire to be an administrator again and I decided it was time to move on to this next phase of my career in education.”
Wendt found the high school Principal opening at HMS to be an attractive one. “Being a teacher in Okoboji, I was aware of the great reputation that HMS has,” he explained. Also, I wanted to be in a small to medium sized school in Northwest Iowa. HMS was a perfect fit for these two criteria. As a bonus, it is only about an hour from my parents’ house in Le Mars. When I came for my interview, I immediately was impressed with the staff, administration, and board members I interviewed with, and I knew I wanted to be part of the HMS team.”
The new Principal obtained his Master of Science in Education – Leadership and Administration from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD with a 4.0 GPA. His relevant coursework included Supervision and Mentoring, Leadership in Education, Data Driven Decision Making, School Finance, School and Community Partnerships and Psychology of Learning.
“I am very situational in my leadership style,” remarked Wendt. “I believe in the power of fostering positive relationships with those you are leading. Once you know the people you are leading, you can meet them where they are at and provide the assistance they need when they need it. If you look at many of the great leaders of the past, they were all known for their ability to relate with those they were leading and then set a collective vision to work toward. They also were typically the type to lead from the front. I think this mentality is important for any leader to have. Anything you would ask from those you are leading; you must be willing to do yourself as well. I believe this style will fit HMS well, as many of the teachers I have met practice this type of leadership in their classrooms day in and day out.
In fact, meeting people has filled the majority of his time since he assumed his new position on July 1. That and getting things ready for the beginning of the year. “It has been a great experience so far and everyone I have met has been amazing!” revealed Wendt.
The new principal shared a few more of his early impressions of the HMS District. “HMS has a lot of really great things going for it,” stated Wendt. “The community cares about the school and provides a level of support that harkens back to the belief in the power of a quality education that Iowa and Iowans are traditionally known for. The board and administration have done a great job at keeping HMS competitive in the changing world of education. We offer many opportunities that students would not find at schools much larger than ours while still maintaining the charm and personal nature that makes smaller schools special and effective.”
As he begins his tenure as the new high school Principal, Wendt feels his familiarity with Northwest Iowa has its benefits. “We are so fortunate to live in this area of the country,” he remarked. “While all places have their issues, I feel that the people in Northwest Iowa still know what it means to be a good citizen. We have a district full of really great people who want the best for the future members of our society, even if they no longer have kids in the school district. That selflessness is what makes our area of the country such a special place to live. Being from here, I feel I am able to acknowledge and appreciate this quality more than someone from a different part of the country would.”
While his position at HMS carries with it a myriad of responsibilities, it does leave Wendt with time for other pursuits. “In my free time, I love to hunt, fish, and spend time with my family,” he reported. “Days spent in the field with my dog or on the lake with my family are what help me to relax and recharge.”
The new Principal has bought a house in the district and is looking forward to the opportunity to meet the people in the communities he will be serving. Those people will be meeting a Principal who has a clear view of what he wants the high school to be. “My vision for HMS High School is that we provide a safe, welcoming atmosphere that encourages our students to want to be at school and fosters a love for learning,” shared Wendt. “I hope to couple this zeal for education and for our school with a world-class education that will serve our students well in whatever they pursue after high school. I want our graduates to be able to look back five years down the road and be proud to tell people they graduated from Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn.”