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While “Principal for a Day” designee Marilyn Randall watches, Arellanes Junior High student Luis Lua hands Principal Carl Sousa the remains of his pizza that he said was missing its cheese topping. It was determined that Lua's friends had made off with the topping during the morning snack session. //Ed Souza/Staff
With walkie talkie glued to his ear, Carl Sousa puts out fires all day. Marilyn Randall experienced that first-hand when she shadowed the Arellanes Junior High School principal Wednesday.
The pair took part in Principal for a Day, a time for people from the community to hold the top spot at elementary, junior high and high schools for the morning.
Randall, of Mid-State Bank & Trust, toured classrooms, sat in on a parent conference with administrators and saw parts of the newly constructed campus.
“It's nice to know where some of our taxpayer money goes,” she said. “I think it's really positive, that businesses get out and see what schools are doing so they can be more supportive and help get students ready for the business world.”
In its 13th year, the program paired up 33 business leaders and community members with principals of public and private schools to find out about a day in the life of a principal.
One of the program's goals is to show the successes as well as the problems faced by educators.
Sousa tries to show participants “the challenges that we face every day,” he said, including a clientele who is different from what today's adults experienced when they were students.
Principals relay to their human shadows what schools need to continue their accomplishments and overcome obstacles, and the leaders offer suggestions and sometimes help to make it happen.
While donating money is a common method of supporting schools, businesses and community members use various methods - hosting field trips; donating awards and incentives to encourage student achievements; volunteering in the classroom; spending time at school activities like class presentations, career days and reading time; and donating excess or outdated materials for students.
For example, since Randall is in banking, one of Arellanes's teachers asked her Wednesday to come back and discuss finances with students.
In another example, MotionZ in the Santa Maria Town Center offers free laser tag games to students with straight A or B-average report cards or those picked by their teachers for showing improvement.
“It's great recognition for those kids who excel, but we also need to recognize students who really work hard but may never be honor roll students,” said George Majoue, co-owner of MotionZ, who followed Principal Mark Muller at El Camino Junior High School.
Seeing the leaders tour schools, talking to teachers and students also shows youth that the business community cares about schools and student success, educators say.
Other examples of alliances between schools and community leaders include:
n A $1,000 donation from Mid-State Bank & Trust to a special education class at Kunst Junior High School for the purchase of an LCD projector and software programs that allow students with severe disabilities to participate in school projects.
n Santa Barbara County Probation and Peace Officers Association adopting each kindergarten class at Sanchez School. The $3,000 donation provided learning materials and books for classroom libraries and home reading. The association plans to provide financial support to the current kindergarten students each school year through the completion of sixth-grade.
n Alvin School receiving volunteer support from Crosspoint Community Church during kindergarten orientation and carnival. Approximately 35 church volunteers helped school staff members register children, translate and monitor carnival games. They also donated more than 100 sets of undergarments to the students.
n Tim Ritchie and Home Motors donating $3,500 to purchase paint supplies and materials to paint the interior of the Harold Black Sports Pavilion at Orcutt Junior High School.
n Mike Osumi, owner of Omega Wholesale Nursery, donating plants and trees to decorate the graduation stage for Arellanes, El Camino and Fesler junior high school graduations.
n Boomers giving the graduating class of 2005 free, unlimited-attraction wristbands.
n Feed the Children and Office Depot donating 20 tons of school supplies to be used at all five housing complexes owned by Peoples' Self-Help Housing in Santa Barbara County.
n Santa Maria Country Club donating two used golf carts to Righetti High School.
n Kathy Simas donating surplus computer equipment to FitzGerald Community School students who do not already have access to technology at home.
Michelle Hatfield can be reached at 739-2216 or
mhatfield@santamariatimes.com.
March 9, 2006
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