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Principal-For-a-Day in Daphne
“I really had no idea just how instrumental the principal’s role is in the success of a school,” said Cathy Barnette, a Daphne City Council member who recently served as “Principal for a Day” at W.J. Carroll Intermediate School.
“I see now that a principal’s job is endless,” added Tom Byrne, superintendent of Riviera Utilities.
Such observations by community leaders were typical as a result of their “start-to-finish” job shadowing experience on Monday, Oct. 22.
“Principal-For-a-Day in Daphne” was sponsored by SEEDS, in conjunction with the TEAM Up for Daphne Character Coalition, as a community-wide observance of national Character Counts Week.
The project was designed to give Daphne civic leaders an opportunity to:
- Experience firsthand the challenges of being a school principal today;
- Observe close-up the impact of unprecedented growth on local classrooms and school facilities – and to learn how the issue is being addressed;
- Get an inside look at the diverse ways in which the Daphne schools are integrating character education into every aspect of school life – from classroom instruction to student conduct to instructional climate.
Representatives from various civic organizations and the local print media who signed on for the project included:
- Tom Byrne; superintendent, Riviera Utilities; (Daphne-Spanish Fort Rotary Club);
- Cathy Barnette, Daphne City Council member; (Olde Towne Daphne Association);
- Joe Cleveland, president, Joseph Cleveland Architects; (Daphne-Spanish Fort Kiwanis Club);
- Helen Callaway, retiree and community volunteer; (Daphne Women’s Study Club); Josh Bean, staff reporter (The Baldwin Press-Register);
- Jessica Overstreet, staff reporter (The Daphne Bulletin).
In addition to follow-up stories by the newspaper reporters who took part, the event attracted attention from all three television affiliates and will provide the basis for subsequent panel discussions at upcoming meetings of participating civic organizations.
In 2006, SEEDS facilitated the establishment of the TEAM Up for Daphne Character Coalition in response to the Daphne principals’ request for more citizen involvement in encouraging students to do and be their best at school and in the community. Citizens who have signed on to support the effort have pledged to Teach, Enforce, Advocate and Model good character.