Pasadena Educational Foundation Reaches Milestone:
Over 500 Have Participated in Principal for a Day
Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF) is proud to announce a major milestone in its longstanding Principal for a Day program. Since its inception in 2006, the program has welcomed more than 500 guest principals, offering an unparalleled opportunity for community members to immerse themselves in the vibrant campus life of the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD). This year’s guests included Kelly Kriebs, Sierra Madre Mayor; Sanford Williams, Deputy Chief of Staff at the FCC; Zach Mank, Director of Engineering at Honeybee Robotics; Chad Augustin, Chief of the Pasadena Fire Department; Mark Leavens, Executive Vice President of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association; award-winning actor Jane Kaczmarek; and many more.
The Principal for a Day program allows community leaders, professionals, and advocates to engage deeply with the district’s educational environments. Participants spend time with students and educators, observing the creativity, energy, and passion that define every classroom. This unique experience has not only inspired guest principals, but also strengthened their connection to supporting public education.
“The Principal for a Day program serves as a powerful bridge between the schools and the broader community,” said Patrick Conyers, Executive Director of PEF. “It allows participants to see the important work being done in the classrooms and to understand the value of investing in our schools.”
The program has built lasting partnerships that have supported PUSD’s initiatives. Guest principals often become long-term supporters, volunteers, and advocates, bringing valuable resources and ideas to help enhance learning experiences for students.
As the Pasadena Educational Foundation celebrates crossing the 500 guest principal milestone, the organization acknowledges the many community members who have taken part in this journey, supporting the students and educators who are shaping the future of Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre.
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List of Guest Principals:
Altadena Arts Magnet Principal
Erin Baker | Trustee/Volunteer Fitzberg Family Foundation
Blair IB Middle and High School
Mark Leavens | Executive Vice President Pasadena Tournament of Roses
CIS Academy
Gabe Jones | Vice President of Academic Affairs Pacific Oaks College
Don Benito Fundamental School
Miles Prince | Director San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District
Eliot Arts Magnet Academy
Victoria Knapp | Chair Altadena Town Council
Eugene Field Elementary School
Naz Sabripour | Executive Director Pasadena Convention Center
Hamilton Elementary School
Maggie Sabbag | Board Chair Pasadena Community Foundation
Jackson STEAM Multilingual Magnet Elementary
Kevin Caporicci | Section Manager, Acquisition Jet Propulsion Laboratory
John Marshall Fundamental School
James Chang | CEO Pasadena Federal Credit Union
John Muir Early College Magnet School
Jane Kaczmarek | Actor, Philanthropist
John Muir Early College Manget High School
Leigh Olivar | Graphics Business Owner and Trustee of Pasadena Bella Adorna
Longfellow Elementary School
Katie Poole | Co-chair The Pasadena Literary Alliance
Madison Elementary School
Vannia De La Cuba | Deputy to Mayor Victor M. Gordo City of Pasadena
Luisa Ortega | Executive Director Chicano/Latino Youth Leadership Project
McKinley School
Michael Osborn | Owner Pie ‘N Burger
Norma Coombs Elementary School
Chad Augustin | Fire Chief Pasadena Fire Department
Octavia E. Butler Magnet Academy
Sanford Williams | Deputy Chief of Staff at the FCC; Professor UCLA Law School
Pasadena High School
Kelly Kriebs | Mayor City of Sierra Madre
Rose City High School
Gabe Jones | Vice President of Academic Affairs Pacific Oaks College
San Rafael Elementary School
Louise Wannier | Board / Advisory Services True Roses Inc.
Sierra Madre Elementary School
Will Morris | Coordinator of Community Wellness/Head Coach Occidental College
Sierra Madre Middle School
Zach Mank | Director of Engineering Honeybee Robotics
Washington Elementary STEM Magnet
Tyron Hampton | City Councilmember The City of Pasadena
Webster Elementary School
Erica Tamblyn | Chair, Safe Haven Bridge to Housing Program All Saints Church
Willard Elementary School
Diana Peterson-More | President/CEO The Organizational Effectiveness Group, LLC
For more information about the Principal for a Day program or to get involved, please contact Tony Gordo tgordo@pased.org.
