Every employee wonders what they would do differently if they were the boss, what changes they would make and how they might run things. Two lucky J.F. Tatem Elementary School students got just that chance on May 30.
The Principal for a Day program is one that has been a tradition at Tatem since before Principal Karen-Joy Schultz can remember.
“Two students are selected each year at the School Fair,” Schultz said. “It’s a big deal for the students because they get announced in front of the entire school.”
The winners of this year’s raffle were Riley Needham and Olivia Fazekas-Stivala, who got the chance to be principal for the day.
“It was a very fun day,” Needham said. “We got the chance to check in on the classes and we hosted the community meeting.”
The students also got the chance to meet with members of the Board of Education and toured their offices as well.
“The people from the Board of Education were really nice,” Fazekas-Stivala said. “The entire day was awesome. I wish I could be principal every day.”
The day served as a learning experience for the kids, giving them the chance to see the difficulties of running a school. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t have any fun.
“I gave my brother detention,” Needham said. “It’s not real detention, but it was fun doing it.”
And when asked what would be her first action if she were principal, Fazekas-Stivala answered, “I would add an extra hour to recess every day.”
“I think it went very well this year,” Schultz said. “The kids had a great time and we chose the perfect day with the community meeting, so they got to stand up in front of the entire school and speak.”
The day may have given the students a chance to experience what it would be like to be the principal for a day, but it will also give future students the chance to enjoy new technology.
Proceeds from the raffle sales will allow the PTA to purchase smart boards and iPads for the school.
“With this kind of technology in the school, we can really push the students,” Schultz said. “The PTA has done a wonderful job of giving us the tools we need to give these kids the best chance to learn.”
