by David Chapman
Staff Writer
More than 30 business and community leaders went back to school Wednesday to learn — not from the books, but about the many challenges principals face on a daily basis as part of the Duval County Public Schools “Principal for a Day” program.
“I think this is one of the best programs they’ve (Duval County Public Schools) come up with,” said Sharwonda Peek, principal of James Weldon Johnson Middle School.
Peek and students of the college preparatory school in West Jacksonville were led by Judge James Ruth, who put down his gavel and picked up a bullhorn for the day.
“I only had to use it a couple times,” joked Ruth. “Just for telling kids in the hall to stop running and get to class.”
Ruth’s family has strong bloodlines in education and he has a daughter who attends James Weldon, but said he participated for another reason.
“It was the least I could do,” he said. “The people in the educational community are able to do a wonderful job for our children, even in light of budget shortfalls ... I wish I had the authority to give all the employees raises.”
At Englewood High School, principal Dr. Alvin Brennan stepped aside for Barry Allred, president and CEO of Elkins Construction — though Brennan had trouble keeping Allred in the principal’s chair.
“I have to keep reminding him it’s his,” joked Brennan.
The two attended several mentoring and instructional meetings in the morning, sat in on physics, algebra and an advanced placement world geography class and toured the school’s construction academy.
The entire day as principal helped Allred come to several conclusions.
“I had no idea how big the school was,” he said. “It’s like a medium sized corporation that has to running efficiently all the time and constantly deal with mechanical and relationship issues.”
Brennan said the “Principal for a Day” program served as a way to show the volunteers how schools operate, prepare children for life in the working world and are a part of the community.
“We’re doing what we can to assist businesses,” said Brennan. “We constantly ask ‘Are we doing what we need to do to help you?’”
Three Council members, including Art Graham, participated in the event. Graham took over the reins at Twin Lakes Academy Elementary School near Southside and said it was an impressive experience.
“It was interesting to see,” said Graham. “I was a little surprised by how well behaved the children were and how the teachers kept order.”
Graham filled in for and shadowed Principal Denise Robertson and fulfilled some of her daily duties, including the morning practice of greeting the children in the school’s lobby as they arrived.
In the classroom was a mix of shadowing and hands-on experience, said Graham, who read to children in the afternoon.
Robertson said the day “went very well” and allowed Graham to experience some of the schools challenges such as classroom size and space as well as parking and time for evaluation and observation.
For Graham, getting a firsthand account of the inner workings of a school was something he hoped to see more people experience.
“It’s just an unbelievable experience,” he said. “I would like to see more events like this where parents and leaders become involved.”
Back to school
Here’s the list of the business and community leaders who filled in as principals Wednesday for Duval County Public Schools “Principal for a Day” program.
356-2466