Fort Wayne Community Schools welcomes more than 50 community members into its schools to serve as guest principals for the annual Principal for a Day event.
Fort Wayne Community Schools news release:
FWCS opens doors to community leaders for Principal for a Day
Fort Wayne, Indiana (October 7, 2026) – Fort Wayne Community Schools welcomes more than 50 community members into its schools to serve as guest principals for the annual Principal for a Day event. Guest principals, including community partners, state lawmakers, business leaders and pastors will visit their assigned schools the morning of Thursday, Oct. 8.
The guest principals will start their day greeting students and then spend the rest of the morning experiencing what a principal goes through in a day. They will also learn about Fort Wayne Community Schools’ Schools of Success initiative, which prepares students in pre-K through 12th grade to thrive after graduation in college, the military, entrepreneurship or the workforce by connecting core academics to real-world, career-focused experiences. Guest principals will learn about the Guaranteed Experiences afforded to all students in elementary, middle and high school and witness how Junior Achievement’s 3DE model brings businesses into the classroom at the high school level.
At noon, the principals and their guests will gather at the Wendy Y. Robinson
Family & Community Engagement Center for a lunch prepared and served by
FWCS Career Academy Culinary Arts students.The following is a list of the schools participating and their guest principals:
- Abbett Elementary School
Nathan Gage
Human Resources Recruiter, FWCS- Adams Elementary School
Angie Sturm
The Barrel House and Event Center- Amp Lab at Electric Works
Kelly Rentschler
Community and Workforce Development Manager, Google- Arlington Elementary School
Marna Renteria
Board Member, Fort Wayne Engineers’ Club- Blackhawk Middle School
Rena Shown
Executive Director, FWCS Foundation- Bloomingdale Elementary School
Tim Harrigan
Owner, Bittersweet, Penny Drip and Executive Barbershop- Brentwood Elementary School
Brian Miller
Anchor, WFFT- Bunche Montessori Early Childhood Center
Dr. Anthony Kline
President, Trine University- CAS-Nebraska Elementary School
Carla Patnoude
Service Department Administrator, MacAllister Machinery Co.- CAS-Bill C. Anthis Career Center
Ralph Anderson
Anderson Heating and Air Conditioning- Croninger Elementary School
Noah Smith
President, FWCS Board of School Trustees- Croninger Elementary School
Ozzie Mitson Director of Government Affairs, IU Health Fort Wayne- Fairfield Elementary School
Andreas Allcock
Site Superintendent, Hamilton Hunter Builders- Forest Park Elementary School
Michael Cochran
Cochran AI- Fort Wayne Virtual Academy
Antonette Payne Secretary, FWCS Board of School Trustees- Franke Park Elementary School
Craig James
Operations Product Line Director, BAE- FWCS Career Academy at Anthis
Heidi Fowler
Vice Chancellor, Ivy Tech- Glenwood Park Elementary School
Dane Hurni
Project Manager, Hagerman Construction- Haley Elementary School
Dr. Ben Clinkenbeard
Dentist, Bowser Family Dentistry- Harris Elementary School
Sierra Tufts
Morning Anchor, WANE 15- Harrison Hill Elementary School
Dawn Clopton
Vice President and Regional Community Development Officer, WesBanco- Holland Elementary School
Joel Moore
FWCS Transportation Operations Manager- Indian Village Elementary School
Ciera Balkenbusch
Fort Wayne Metals Senior Engineering Manager- Indian Village Elementary School
Jennifer Mathias
FWCS Board of School Trustees- Irwin Elementary School
Rev. Geoff King
Love Fort Wayne CEO- Jefferson Middle School
Kassie Taksey
Fort Wayne Football Club Chief Revenue Officer- Kekionga Middle School
Zach Harl
South Side High School Principal- Lakeside Middle School
Kyle Miller
Indiana State Representative, District 82- Lane Middle School
Demarkus Muhammad
NFL Agent/Attorney- Lincoln Elementary School
Jordan Geist
Sales Manager and Retired Professional Basketball Player- Lindley Elementary School
Lou Cucinelli
Director of Marketing & Membership, YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne- Maplewood Elementary School
Amy Todia
Love Fort Wayne – Love Our Schools Director- Memorial Park Middle School
Brent Parsons
Dupont Hospital CEO- Miami Middle School
Andrew Gritzmaker
YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne President and CEO- North Side High School
Eric Boston
3Rivers FCU Youth and College Coordinator- Northcrest Elementary School
Rob Haslett
First Assembly of God Lead Pastor- Northrop High School
Willie Burton
FWCS Board of School Trustees member- Northwood Middle School
Matt Baumgartner
Tri City Automotive Account Executive- Portage Middle School
Rebecca Nichols
Costco- Price Elementary School
Troy Hershberger
Allen County Sheriff- Levan Scott Academy
Aaron Lane
Courageous Healing, Licensed Therapist- Shambaugh Elementary School
Alexiz Gil
Fort Wayne Community Schools Student Recruiter- Shawnee Middle School
Jordan Latham
School Connect Cafe, School Champion and Major Gift Officer, The Rescue Mission- Snider High School
Brian Miller
Regional Lead Philanthropy Officer, IU Health Foundation- South Side High School
Tony Booker
Career Coach and Industry Liaison, Trine University- St. Joseph Central Elementary School
Brett Gauger
Director of Marketing, Fort Wayne Community Schools- Study Elementary School
Joe Jordan
President and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne- Towles Montessori Intermediate School
Steve Corona
Member, FWCS Board of School Trustees- Washington Elementary School
Eric Shilling
Estimating Supervisor, Nucor- Washington Center Elementary School
Shae Henn
Service Advisor, Sweet Aviation- Wayne High School
Amber Stine
Captain of Life Safety and Public Education, Fort Wayne Fire Department- New Tech Academy at Wayne High School
David Kuhn
Owner, Indiana Physical Therapy- Waynedale Elementary School
Holly Hullinger
Clinical Associate Professor of Elementary Education, Purdue Fort Wayne- Weisser Park Elementary School
Nikki Quintana
General Counsel, Fort Wayne Community Schools- Whitney Young Elementary Early Childhood Center
Dr. Scott Deetz
Director & Lecturer for the Experiential Program for Preparing School Principals, Butler University
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