As the nation's eleventh largest school district, Dallas Independent School District serves more than 160,000 students who come from homes where 58 different languages are spoken. Operating with a $1 billion dollar budget, DISD employs 18,613 employees including 10,000 teachers in 220 schools.
12 Jan 2001
Local business and community leaders will set aside their regular jobs for a day to take the reigns of a Dallas Public School. More than 140 volunteers have accepted an invitation to become Principal for a Day Thursday, January 18.
The event hopes to raise awareness and understanding among private sector individuals of public schools' strengths and challenges. The day's agenda may include meetings with the principal and faculty. Participants also may choose to teach a class, read to students or address an assembly. Principals for a Day are encouraged to share ideas and learn about the operations of a school.
Some of this semester's participants include—Dallas Police Chief Terrell Bolton at T. W. Browne Middle School; City of Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Mary Poss at Lakewood Elementary; Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce President Jan Hart Black at Quintanilla Middle School; Parkland Foundation President Barbara Lord Watkins at Pershing Elementary; Community Activist Luis Sepulveda at Arcadia Park Elementary; and U. S. Department of Education representative Trini Garza at Nolan Estes Alternative School.
After the event, Principal for a Day participants will meet in the DISD Administration Building, 3700 Ross Ave., from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. to share impressions.