School Leaders Reach Out
Principals for Day; Mentors Beyond

By HOWARD MEGDAL

More than 700 private-sector volunteers took part in the city's 12th annual "Principal for a Day" program last week, bringing leaders in the larger community into partnership with city Principals.

The Chief-Leader/Adrienne Haywood-James A DAY WITH LONG-TERM IMPACT: Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein tells a 'Principal for a Day' luncheon at Tavern on the Green Oct. 19 that the program is helpful in both drumming up support for the public schools and promoting civic awareness.

Program members served at 690 schools, more than half of the city total, greeting students, reading morning announcements and participating in classes and assemblies, while meeting and sharing ideas with city Principals.

Twin Goals

"There are two interrelated goals for the program," Chancellor Joel I. Klein said during a reception for participants held Oct. 19 at Tavern on the Green. "First, to provide support for the schools, mentoring for the Principals, and an example for the kids. Second, it gets people excited and promoting civic awareness."

The program is sponsored by the civic involvement group Public Education Needs Civic Involvement in Learning. PENCIL board member Charles Bendit joined in 1997, with an eye on giving back to a city that he said has been very good to him. "This was my chance to help prepare kids for the future - something that is also vital to the future well-being of the city," Mr. Bendit said. "A lot of the kids in school today will stay in the city - I thought this was the most important thing I could do."

He pointed out that Principal for a Day was, in fact, a year-long commitment, with the hope being that relationships continue beyond that point.

"I've been working for five years now with Truman High School in The Bronx," Mr. Bendit said. "All these people here today can be a strong advocate for their schools. We want to encourage sustained partnership in the private sector for these schools."

The Chancellor touched on what he views as "the solution to the two 'gap' crises facing our country's school system" in his remarks to the group.

"The first is a racial achievements gap," he said. "This is not only a moral shame, but also an economic shame. Second, we don't do as well as our economic competitors around the world."

He vowed that "we will change it if we get a civic commitment from the community like this, and change it ourselves."

Excitement on Both Sides

Those at Tavern on the Green, both Principals and PFADs alike, were ecstatic over their participation in the program. Master of ceremonies Pat Kiernan, an anchor for NY1, served as Principal at P.S. 321, the William Penn Elementary School in Brooklyn.

"My proudest moment was a conversation with a student, "Mr. Kiernan said. "She saw me and said, 'Hey, you're back!' We had a chance to meet last year, and she got to update me on what was going on in her life. It reminded me of just what value these relationships have."

Richard Diaz pinch-hit as Principal at Dreyfus I.S. 49 in Staten Island. He went in concerned that one day wouldn't be enough time for him.

"Soon enough, I realized I wasn't sure I could make it through a whole day!" As the laughter subsided, he added, "Chancellor Klein, your Teachers are underpaid," drawing more laughter and applause, while the Chancellor smiled.

Praise Real Thing

Many of the PFADs' remarks focused on the Principals' work ethic or accomplishments. Maria Thomson, executive director of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation, served at Franklin K. Lane High School in Brooklyn.

"I had been Principal for a Day there last year, too," Ms. Thomson said. "There was just so much improvement."

Mary McInerney, who has served as Principal for 18 years in a Staten Island District 75 school, was likened to Mother Theresa by her PFAD, Philip Waldheim. She said Mr. Waldheim's help had been invaluable, and urged her colleagues to stay in touch with their PFADs.

"It's like a first date," she said. "Call within a week and say thank you, and build that relationship."

The Chancellor said he is optimistic that the program will continue to produce more than fleeting results.

"I think you can divide the world into night-before and morning-after people," he said. "This is a room, I'll bet, full of morning-after people."