Name: Caleb Bonjour

Title: Superintendent

Organisation: Gladbrook-Reinbeck CSD

Here’s an expanded bio that includes personal elements and emphasizes your leadership and speaking qualities:

Caleb Bonjour is a passionate, resourceful educational leader and dynamic speaker who is dedicated to fostering environments where students, teachers, and communities can thrive. As the superintendent of a small, rural school district in Iowa, Caleb brings a deep commitment to developing and monitoring practices and policies that support safe, inclusive, and growth-oriented learning environments.

Known for his ability to create a school culture that encourages constant improvement, Caleb prioritizes collaboration and open communication with all stakeholders, believing that the best outcomes emerge when every voice is heard and valued. He mentors educators in designing effective instruction, crafting lesson plans, driving student achievement, and pursuing professional growth, with a focus on building capacity for long-term success.

As a leader, Caleb is driven by the belief that strong relationships and shared purpose are the foundation for transformational change. He emphasizes the importance of legacy, both personal and collective, and works to inspire those around him to create lasting, positive impacts on their schools and communities.

Caleb is also a sought-after speaker, engaging audiences with relatable stories, actionable insights, and a blend of humor and heart. He speaks on topics ranging from educational leadership and culture-building to leveraging technology and AI for smarter school management.

Outside of work, Caleb is a devoted husband and father of three, a lifelong learner, and an advocate for mental health awareness. His personal experiences with anxiety and ADHD have shaped his leadership style, fostering a sense of empathy, resilience, and authenticity in all he does. Caleb enjoys the outdoors, creating meaningful connections, and sharing stories that bring communities closer together.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Educational Leadership!

I hope Caleb's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as an Educational Leader?

Time management and keeping the goals at the forefront of focus and removing the noise of all the other components and needs of leading a small rural school.

2. How did you become an Educational Leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

My dad was an elementary principal, and I witnessed first hand the impact that strong and authentic leaders can have on students, staff, parents, and communities. This inspired me to go into education and to do all I can to make the places I am working and leading the best that I can through collaboration!

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

Poorly :) I have ADHD and have worked hard to develop better habits to keep myself from topic and activity jumping. I really work and strive to keep the big rock items at the forefront of my work and then address the fires that are brewing before they become a blaze.

4. What's a recent lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of as an Educational Leader?

We cannot lose sight of what we are accomplishing, even when the to-do list seems to never end or be added to. We also need to celebrate the wins along the way!

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your journey as an Educational Leader so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted you?

Outliers and David and Goliath by Malcom Gladwell - These have pushed my thinking of help me see that there are always new perspectives to consider, more information to gather, and that when we are working to solve problems, sometimes we have to dig a deeper that what is at the surface to determine root cause or alternative options that may be outside of the box compared to popular thoughts and solutions.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young educator who aspires to be an Educational Leader, what would you say to them?

Take care of yourself! It is overused and cliche at times, but that's because it is one of the most authentic examples - If there was a problem on an airplane and the oxygen masks dropped, you should always put yours on first before helping others, because without doing this, you are risking your ability to help others.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as an Educational Leader, so far?

The story of the perseverance of one of my students and how just being there and supporting her dreams when others didn't see it being possible for her has led to her accomplishing so much and surpassing and proving wrong so many who labeled her early on.