Principal for a Day

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Join us for Principal for A Day 2023 and make a lasting impact on our community!

We are thrilled to invite partners like you to participate in Principal for A Day. This unique program brings professionals and Dallas ISD schools together to foster meaningful connections and drive positive change. By stepping into the shoes of a school principal for a day, you will have the opportunity to learn how to make a difference in the lives of students, teachers, and the wider community.

Principal for A Day is not just a one-day event; it is an experience that creates lasting
connections between businesses, organizations, and schools. By partnering with us, you will gain valuable insights into the education system while providing students with real-world perspectives and inspiration for their future endeavors.

Participating in Principal for A Day is a chance to showcase your organization's commitment to community engagement and social responsibility. By supporting education, you can play an active role in shaping the future of our society and empowering the next generation.

What is Principal for a Day?

PFAD is a project of the Dallas Independent School District, in partnership with the Dallas Regional Chamber and Capital One, that brings community leaders into schools across the district. The program is designed to:

Increase awareness and understanding among individuals in the private sector of the strengths and challenges of schools in the Dallas ISD
Demonstrate the private sector's commitment to ensuring a quality public education for all students, and
Form ongoing partnerships between individuals/businesses and Dallas ISD.

Who Can Participate?

Business and civic leaders who wish to share their knowledge with school staff while learning more about our public schools can experience a normal school day in a Dallas school.

Previous participants in Dallas' Principal for a Day include Texas Senator Royce West; U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions; fashion designer Anthony Mark Hankins; and television personalities Clarice Tinsley, Gloria Campos, and Rene Syler. Program participants in other cities have included David Dinkins, Michael Douglas, the late John F. Kennedy Jr., Ed Koch, and former Secretary of Education Richard Riley.

To apply click here to start your application!

How Does Principal for a Day Work?

Principals for a Day are assigned to schools based on their interest and the desires expressed by a school. Principals for a Day should discuss their interests, expectations, and the day's agenda with the schools principal. By communicating and coordinating a plan and schedule prior to the day of the program, the principal and his or her Principal for a Day ensure that the experience will be a good one for all.

On the day of the visit, the Principal for a Day spends time with the principal, faculty, and students sharing ideas and learning about the school's day-to-day operations. The guest principal might teach a class, meet with the student council, attend student performances, read to students, address a class assembly, or participate in other activities of choice.

At the end of the day, all guest principals convene with the superintendent of schools and discuss their experiences and potential commitments and plans for future involvement with their host school.