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The Foundation for Madison's Public School's fifth annual Principal for a Day is scheduled for Tuesday, October 21, 2008. Principal for a Day offers a unique hands-on opportunity to appreciate both the strengths and challenges of the Madison Metropolitan School District, and gives our schools the opportunity to forge relationships with community leaders. Since the future of our city, and indeed our country, depends upon effective and meaningful involvement in public education, we encourage a variety of community leaders to walk a mile in a school principal's shoes.
As Principals for a Day, participants visit a public school for the morning, observing and participating in activities that are preplanned jointly with the host principal. At 12:30, all school principals and Principals for a Day will meet at the Alliant Energy Center for lunch and a facilitated program.
We are honored that the CUNA Mutual Group Foundation is once again sponsoring this event. Their generous support enables the Foundation for Madison's Public Schools to develop partnerships between the schools, businesses and community groups throughout Madison.
Please contact Mary Bartzen, Principal for a Day Director at 232-7820 or mbartzen@fmps.org for additional information.
PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY HIGHLIGHTS
"I learned three things as Principal
for a Day. First, how tough it is to run a school. Second, how truly
gifted the next generation of young people are - and finally that our
schools need our support."
Donna E. Shalala
Principal for a Day is a program that was developed by PENCIL
(Public Education Needs Civic Involvement in Learning) in New York City
in 1994. Subsequently more than 8,400 people from all walks of life
have chosen to spend a day in the NYC public schools, forever changing
their understanding of the education of the 1.1 million children of
New York.
The Foundation for Madison's Public Schools recognized the potential
of hosting such an event in Madison and held the first Principal
for a Day on March 23, 2004. The second Principal for a Day took
place on April 12, 2005, the third on March 7, 2006, and our fourth on October 16, 2007.
The Principal for a Day event offers a unique hands-on opportunity
to a wide variety of community leaders to appreciate both the strengths
and challenges of the Madison Metropolitan School District, and affords
the opportunity to forge additional relationships between our schools
and the community. Because the future of our city, and indeed our country,
depends upon effective and meaningful involvement in public education,
we encourage community leaders to "walk a mile in a school principal's
shoes."
Principal for a Day provides community leaders with the opportunity
to visit each of our public schools for the morning, observing and participating
in activities that are preplanned jointly with the host principal.
Principals for a Day give the morning announcements, visit
a variety of classes, sit in on administration meetings, observe the
controlled chaos of the lunchroom and everything in between.
A luncheon and forum held at the Alliant Energy Center the same day
enables all the Principals for a Day and the host principals
to come together to discuss what they observed, what surprised them
most and what they felt were opportunities for improvement. The day concludes with presentations about
existing partnerships between the private sector and public schools.
We invite you to read the highlights from the luncheon discussion questions
as well as a sample of the feedback received from the participants following
the event. We look forward to hosting this event on an annual basis
and encourage you to contact us if you are interested in participating.
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