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Principal for a Day invites community business and civic leaders to spend a morning with a school principal to better understand their complex role and get perspective on the school system from within.
Sponsored by the Pasadena Educational Foundation, Pasadena Unified Principal for a Day is a catalyst for relationships between local businesses and schools that bring volunteers, resources, and motivation to our students and enrich our community.
Principal for a Day has now involved more than 450 community members and helped build lasting relationships between the schools, businesses, and the wider community. Participants spend a morning on campus shadowing a PUSD school principal, giving them a rare and valuable perspective of running a public school.
Take a look at our amazing 2022 Principals for a Day:
Altadena Arts Magnet: Danny Feldman
Danny Feldman is the executive/artistic director of the Pasadena Playhouse. He joins the California theatre from his current position as executive director at Labyrinth Theater Company in New York, where…(read more)
Blair IB Magnet: Karina Montilla Edmonds
Karina Montilla Edmonds is a globally recognized visionary leader in the field of innovation, technology transfer, and commercialization. She currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Global Head of…(read more)
CIS Academy: Linda Morales
Linda Morales is a graduate of PHS, U.C. Berkeley, and Pacific Oaks College. She has worked as a school based counselor for Monrovia and Rosemead schools. She has also served…(read more)
Don Benito Fundamental: Rick Kidd
Rick Kidd, a second generation local, attended Pasadena Unified schools before graduation from Pasadena High School in 1964. The only time Rick has lived outside of the area was during…(read more)
Eliot Arts Magnet: Margaret Starbuck
Margaret Starbuck is a theatre director and arts administrator currently based in Los Angeles on Tongva land. Margaret uses she/they pronouns and identifies as mixed-race (Japanese-American and European-American). She is…(read more)
Field Elementary: Del Lile
Based in Pasadena, Del has distinguished himself with client-centric service and an impressive sales record that have garnered awards as well as a loyal community of repeat and referral buyers…(read more)
Field Elementary: Jennie Vanacore
With a reputation for integrity and native’s familiarity with the San Gabriel Valley, Jennie Vanacore treats each of her clients with confidentiality and care. During her real estate career, she…(read more)
Focus Point Academy: Niki Elliott
Dr. Niki Elliott is a speaker, retreat facilitator, and curriculum developer who is a staunch advocate for equity, inclusivity, and well-being in K-16 education. She serves as director of the…(read more)
Hamilton Elementary: Michelle Garrett
Michelle Garrett has worked for the City of Pasadena for the past 19 years and was recently promoted to the role of Special Assistant to the City Manager. Michelle has…(read more)
Jackson STEM Dual Language Magnet: Kaya Plansker
Kaya Plansker is the Executive Director of Leadership Pasadena. Before jumping into the nonprofit world, Kaya spent 15+ years working as a brand and business director within advertising agencies such…(read more)
Longfellow Elementary: Jennifer Torres
As Director of Strategy and Community Engagement with Caltech’s Office of Strategic Communications, Jennifer Torres helps to communicate the Institute’s worldwide impact on science, engineering, and education. Through public events…(read more)
Madison Elementary: Victor M. Gordo
Born in Zacatecas, Mexico, Victor immigrated to the United States with his parents as a young child. The oldest of six, Victor grew up in Pasadena and is a proud…(read more)
Marshall Fundamental: Jennifer Miyake-Trapp
Dr. Miyake-Trapp has over a decade of experience in K-12 public schools. She has taught middle school and continuation high school in both urban and suburban settings, coached new teachers,…(read more)
McKinley School: Pablo Miralles
Pablo has over 30 years experience in the visual communications field, including serving as Production Coordinator on Cedar Grove Productions’ Academy Award-winning short film Visas and Virtue and Co-Producer on…(read more)
Muir Early College Magnet: Amy Wainscott
The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Board of Directors has confirmed Amy Wainscott as President and Chairman of the Board for the 2023 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, providing leadership for…(read more)
Muir Early College Magnet: Kristen Haggins
Kristen Haggins has spent her over 25 year career in service to her community, from private consulting to nonprofit, philanthropic and local government clients, to leadership at the statewide level.…(read more)
Norma Coombs Elementary: Karen Gilyard
Karen Gilyard represents California school districts, charter schools, special education local plan areas (“SELPAs”), and county offices of education/county superintendents of schools in education law and discrimination law. Ms. Gilyard…(read more)
Octavia E. Butler Magnet: Karen Burgess
Karen Burgess was born and raised in Pasadena, Karen is a proud PUSD alumna – having attended Allendale, Jackson, McKinley, and John Muir. She went on to earn a BA…(read more)
Pasadena High: Christianne Kerns
Ms. Kerns is Hahn & Hahn’s Managing Partner and a member of the firm’s business practice group. She is the firm’s first female Managing Partner and has emphasized diversity, equity…(read more)
Rose City High: Alma Stokes
On a recent summer evening in the Historic City Hall Courtyard, the Pasadena Educational Foundation celebrated its founding five decades ago and awarded long-time teacher and mentor, engaged activist and…(read more)
San Rafael Elementary” Ann Snow
Marguerite Ann Snow, Ph.D. is Professor at California State University, Los Angeles where she teaches in the TESOL M.A. program. She is co-author/co-editor of 11 books, including her most recent…(read more)
Sierra Madre Elementary: Steven Miller
Steven R. Miller, Ed.D. began his career over 34 years ago in the Los Angeles Unified School District as a teacher of mathematics. He later moved to the Antelope Valley…(read more)
Sierra Madre Middle: Mabell Garcia Paine
Mabell Garcia Paine is the President of Viridis Consulting, a Pasadena-based clean energy consultancy certified as a Minority Woman-Owned (MWBE) and Small Business (SBE) firm. Her expertise is in program…(read more)
Washington Elementary: Jeannine Bogaard
Jeannine has a long career in education and has recently returned to Pasadena after a prestigious career abroad. After graduating from University of California, San Diego, she went to Spain…(read more)
Webster Elementary: Patrick Zarifian
Patrick Zarifian is the Chief Experience Officer at the $4.2 Billion California Credit Union located in Glendale CA. Patrick is a 24-year veteran of the financial services industry and was…(read more)
Take a look at our previous classes of Principals for a Day:
Principal for a Day 2019
Principal for a Day 2018
Principal for a Day 2017
What’s New
Inspiring the Future with Zero WasteA Zero Waste event, this was a first for us. If you [More]
Rise Up performed by PHS Advanced Dance ClassPasadena Educational Foundation commissioned this [More]
Into Our Woods: A Student Vision in CostumesHear from the Muir Design Lab student costumers about [More]
Bolton Insurance Services, LLC Hosts “I Make A Difference Day” with PEFBolton Insurance Services, LLC, a leading independent [More]
INTERESTED IN BEING A PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY?
Contact us at connect@pasedfoundation.org
Support Your Community Schools
Principal for a Day is one of the many ways the Pasadena Educational Foundation helps connect the resources of our community with our public schools.
