What do Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, County Executive Kathleen Falk, Weather Central President Terry Kelly, Placon Corporation CEO Jan Acker, and St. Marys Hospital President Frank Byrne have in common? They were among 56 community leaders who were sent to the principal's office on Tuesday, March 7, 2006, to be "Principals for a Day."

"Principal for a Day gives community leaders an inside look at Madison's schools by spending a morning shadowing a principal - getting a feel for the many opportunities and challenges they face every hour," said Jodi Bender Sweeney, President of the Foundation for Madison's Public Schools, the program's sponsor.

Highlighting the day was the launch of the Foundation's new Adopt-A-School program. At a culminating luncheon, these leaders heard remarks from Adopt-A-School pioneers including Larry Zanoni, Executive Director of Group Health Cooperative that adopted Leopold Elementary and Cindy Sutherland of Heritage Credit Union that adopted Sherman Middle.

Adopt-A-School gives community partners a structured way to make a direct impact on Madison's children, by bringing a variety of resources into our schools. Adopt-A-School partnerships can start small, grow strategically over time, and vary from school to school and partner to partner. But all share the goal of improving student achievement.

Adopt-A-School grew out of the Foundation's drive to create an endowment fund for each Madison school. The Foundation's long-term goal is that every school have at least a $50,000 endowment and be adopted by a community partner.

Like all Foundation initiatives, Adopt-A-School and Principal for a Day emphasize the creation of enduring relationships between our schools and community members. If your school is interested in being adopted by a particular company or organization, or if there is an individual you would like to see serve as Principal for a Day at your school, please contact Mary Bartzen (232-7820, mbartzen@mailbag.com).

Darrell Stroud, US Bank, and Whitehorse Principal Anne Nolan chat with students in the hallway.

Cherokee Principal Karen Seno and Dr. David Bernhardt from UW Health — Cherokee's Principal for a Day — visit with students in the cafeteria.

Orchard Ridge Principal for a Day Patti Epstein, Inacom Information Systems, looks on as everyday principal Barbara Dorn helps a 2nd grade student.

Shabazz HS teacher Steve Stuckert speaks with Darcy Luoma from U.S. Senator Herb Kohl's office during her Principal for a Day visit to the school.

Other Related Links

• Foundation for Madison's Public Schools