IPA Participates in the Principal For A Day Program

Recently, IPA participated as an official partner of the annual ‘Chicago Principal for a Day’ program at Nathan S. Davis Elementary School.

IPA representatives Valerie Brown, human resources representative, and Terrence Perkins, assistant director of business coordination, joined hundreds of business and civic leaders to visit Chicago’s public schools as a part of Mayor Richard M. Daley’s Principal for a Day program.

Following their day of speaking to nearly each classroom, Brown and Perkins, PFADs, presented the Davis Elementary School principal with a $10,000 donation on behalf of IPA Charities. Under the new principal’s direction, the school plans to update their security cameras with the donation. Three cameras will be installed outside of the school building and one block away to monitor activities.

With the 2006 IPA donation of $10,000, the principal reported that $6,000 of the donation will be used to support their after school sports program to help fund team uniforms, referees and transportation for students to the away games. Prior to the donation, the after school program was completely unfunded. The remaining $4,000 was put toward their academic needs by providing books, binders and other school supplies. In addition to the monetary donation, IPA also provided 14 complete computer systems that created their first-ever computer room. IPA employees donated more than 3,000 books to add to the school’s library collection. Employees also donated another 2,000 books by soliciting local libraries.

"Like cities across America, Chicago is ever-changing, adjusting to new generations and doing what we can to empower our future leaders –the children," said Mayor Richard M. Daley. "I thank each and every one of you for giving your time and support to improve our city and our schools. Some of you give time, some of you give money and others special mentoring services. I, school administrators and the students of Chicago thank you."

The Principal for a Day (PFAD) participants receive a packet of information regarding their assigned schools. The activities at each school include opportunities to talk with faculty, shadow the principal, and/or work with a few students in reading or math or another subject. Participants are also encouraged to speak with a class or a larger group of students regarding work and the activities that most engage your time. Other activities include the following: meet with your principal to brainstorm how you and your business can stay involved in the school; meet with school staff and LSC members; deliver morning announcements over the P.A.; tour the school; visit classrooms and participate in class discussions; watch a student performance or presentation; read books to students; bring vocabulary words that relate to your occupation; and speak at an assembly regarding career paths.

The goal of Principal for a Day is that all PFADs will continue to engage themselves, their companies, organizations or associations in continued involvement and support throughout the year at their school. In addition to the lasting partnerships that have been built between schools and city organizations through the program, students at several schools have an opportunity to meet celebrities and hear inspirational speakers.

Mayor Daley began Principal for a Day in 1998 in an effort to encourage the civic and corporate community of the Chicago area to adopt and support individual schools by doing such things as sponsoring book clubs, organizing field trips, supplying computers, building science labs and awarding college scholarships. Many organizations and individuals have established long-term partnerships with schools that stem from Principal for a Day. Since it’s establishment, the number of Principal for a Day participants has grown from 677 to more than 1,600 this year. Chicago Public Schools is the third-largest school district in the nation. It includes more than 600 schools and serves about 425,900 students.