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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.
INTERESTED IN BEING A PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY?
Contact us at connect@pasedfoundation.org
What’s New
The Places They’ll Go: PHS’s APP AcademyPasadena High School’s APP Academy students have seen [More]
PEF Participates in Greater Los Angeles Education SummitThe Pasadena Educational Foundation was proud to take part [More]
Celebrating PUSD’s Visionaries at the No Boundaries ReceptionThe Pasadena Educational Foundation hosted a reception at [More]
PEF Powers SMMS Robotics Field Trip to CaltechSierra Madre Middle School Robotics students attended the [More]
2018 Principal for a Day
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Altadena Arts Magnet: Kaitlyn Nader
ALTADENA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Kait Nader is the Director of Community Engagement at the GRAMMY Museum, having just transitioned from her role as the Director of…...More
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Andrew Jackson STEM Dual Languagle : Colleen Bates
Colleen Dunn Bates is the publisher of Prospect Park Books, one of the leading trade publishers in Southern California. Based in Altadena, Prospect Park publishes…...More
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Benjamin Franklin Elementary School : Raj Sidhu
When Raj Sidhu quit his job last May to seriously pursue a board game idea (now Code Monkey Island) teaching kids how to think…...More
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Blair IB Magnet School : Dr. Michael Than
Education: 2001 – BS, Clinical Laboratory Science, Loma Linda University 2005 – MD, Loma Linda University 2008 – Family Medicine Residency, Kaiser Permanente, Fontana 2008…...More
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Charles W. Eliot Arts Magnet : Rita Ryack
“HAUTE COUTURE MEETS LUNACY” Rita Ryack was born in Boston, MA in the 20th century. She earned a BFA cum laude at Brandeis University, studied…...More
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Cleveland Elementary School : Jill Girod
Jill was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, but her family moved to Sierra Madre in 1947 when she was three and they lived there until 1957…...More
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Daniel Webster Elementary School : John Leano
John Leano was born and raised in Pasadena, California and attended PUSD schools from K-12 (Don Benito, Washington, Wilson and Marshall Fundamental). He has a…...More
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Don Benito Fundamental School : Grant Hosford
Grant is an experienced entrepreneur who has spent the last 15 years building successful digital businesses in Seattle and Los Angeles. Grant has deep expertise…...More
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Focus Point Academy : Kathryn Meagher
Kathryn Meagher grew up in Iowa and attended State College of Iowa. She moved to Pasadena in 1968, where she went to work at Ingham,…...More
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Frances E. Willard Elementary School : Shelley Arakawa
A dedicated advocate and change agent, Shelley Arakawa’s work in both K-12 and college/university settings are evidence of her passion to promote efforts that strengthen…...More
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Hamilton Elementary School : Keith & Margaret Russell
Thank you to Keith and Margaret Russell for their generous endowment gift of $500,000 to the Pasadena Educational Foundation. Their gift is the largest endowment…...More
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Henry Longfellow Elementary School : James Howard
Born in Pasadena, I attended Cleveland Elementary, Washington Junior High and Pasadena High School. I attended U.C. Santa Barbara on both academic and athletic scholarships.…...More
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James Madison Elementary School : 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…...More
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Jefferson Elementary School : Hilda Hernandez
EXPERIENCE BERKHSIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES, PASADENA 07/2001 TO PRESENT Realtor associate, represent sellers & buyers with the sale/purchase of property. Associate manager, assist the office manager…...More
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John Marshall Fundamental School : Dr. Heather Brunold
Heather Heimerl Brunold has been a thought leader in education, specializing in adolescent development and family/school dynamics for more than two decades. After completing her…...More
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John Marshall Fundamental School : Dorothy Blyskal
Dorothy Blyskal is the rebellious daughter of two writer-parents who pleaded with her never to become a writer. Her big break came from her adaptation…...More
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John Muir High School : Dawn Marchand
Ms. Marchand is a seasoned business professional with over 15 years combined experience in Supplier Diversity, Sourcing & Procurement, Marketing, Auditing and Sustainability. She began…...More
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Norma Coombs Elementary School : Brandon Shamim
Brandon Shamim is an award-winning strategist, entrepreneur, coach and leadership lecturer. For over 20 years his career spans the globe- working with leading Fortune 500s,…...More
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Pasadena High School : Phil Hettema
Phil Hettema is the President and Creative Executive of The Hettema Group (THG). With a distinguished 30- year legacy in themed entertainment, Phil leads a…...More
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Pasadena High School : Ted Ross
Ted Ross is passionate about the use of technology to improve the lives of Los Angeles’ four million residents, 500,000 businesses, and 48 million annual…...More
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San Rafael Elementary School : Jason Lyon
D. Jason Lyon serves as Litigation Counsel to Pasadena’s oldest law firm, Hahn & Hahn LLP. His practice focuses on commercial, trust, and employment litigation.…...More
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Sierra Madre Elementary School : Richard von Ernst
After many successful years in the entertainment industry I decided to change the definition of “location” in my life from living on location to location,…...More
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Sierra Madre Middle School : Robyn Mizes
Robin Mizes comes from a family of teachers, going back to many generations. And, as a result, she feels very deeply about investing in and…...More
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Theodore Roosevelt Elementary : Lori Gangemi
Lori Gangemi has been Chief Executive Officer of AbilityFirst since 2004. In this role, she leads a staff of 275 employees and has ultimate responsibility…...More
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Washington Elementary STEM Magnet : Tim Hartley
Tim has been a full time real estate agent representing buyers and sellers in the Los Angeles area for over ten years. Tim has extensive…...More
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Washington STEAM Magnet Academy : Craig Dayman
Craig and Frances Dayman have lived in Sierra Madre/Pasadena for 30 years. They have one son Blake who attended PUSD schools since kindergarten at Don…...More
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Washington STEAM Magnet Academy : Frances Dayman
Craig and Frances Dayman have lived in Sierra Madre/Pasadena for 30 years. They have one son Blake who attended PUSD schools since kindergarten at Don…...More
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William McKinley School : Erikk Aldridge
Erikk Aldridge is a Director in the AEG external affairs department and serves as the Director of STAPLES Center Foundation. AEG is one of the…...More
Thank you Wells Fargo and the
Ann Peppers Foundation for supporting PEF and PUSD Principal for a Day!
“The children seemed so comfortable and happy. The school radiated positivity.
The Principal knew EVERYONE! It was an incredible experience.”
Principal for a Day 2017
2017 guest principals included:
Judge Paul Watford – U.S Court of Appeals for Ninth Circuit, Steve Schell – Co-founder and CEO New Matter, Jennifer Hall Lee – Filmmaker, Elizabeth Jones – Institute for Educational Advancement, Felicia Williams – City of Pasadena Planning Commissioner, David Eads – Executive Director and CEO Pasadena Tournament of Roses, and State Senator Anthony Portantino.
After the day on campus, the 2017 class of “Principal for a Day” graduates will gather for a luncheon and meet other principals and community leaders at Altadena Town & Country Club to share their experiences. Jason Roberts, co-founder and Executive Director of the Math Academy, served as this year’s keynote speaker. Other speakers include, Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek, Senator Anthony Portantino, and PUSD Superintendent Dr. Brian McDonald.
See our full list of 2017 Principals here.
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.
