Banker becomes Principal for a Day

CHRISTOPHER KING
The Kathryn Phelan School, P.S. 11, of Woodside was treated to a unique day of leadership on Thursday, October 19. Instead of their normal principal, the students at P.S. 11 were led by Dina Foukas, Vice President/Area Manager of Sovereign Bank, as part of the &#8220Principal for a Day” program.
&#8220I'm enjoying it,” said Foukas. &#8220I've met teachers and they've showed me what they do and the different programs for the children. I find it very fascinating.”
The program, which is run by Public Education Needs Civic Involvement in Learning (PENCIL), is intended to allow business leaders from across the city to witness first hand the challenges and accomplishments of the public school system. The participants then translate their Principal for a Day experience into a long-term relationship with the school.
&#8220I am doing this because I believe that we need to be more involved as parents and business leaders in our children's education,” Foukas said. &#8220Our children will one day be the leaders and it's important that we show them that education matters and that people care.”
During their visit, the guest principal attends to an agenda much like that of the real principal. Under the guidance of the actual principal, Foukas met with students and staff and was shown the daily life of being the leader of a school.
&#8220We feel the community should be more involved with children's education because these same children will be working for their business in the future,” said P.S. 11 principal Anna Efkarpides. &#8220It's a wonderful project.”
Efkarpides, who has been at P.S. 11 for 20 years, said that the Principal for a Day program has been going on for over 10 years at the school, and that they're fortunate to be involved with it.
She noted that in addition to the Principal for a Day program, the school is also involved in career days and other community oriented activities. &#8220We try to become aware of any programs or grants that become available and take advantage of them,” Efkarpides said.
Foukas made it clear that the Principal for a Day was not only intended to benefit the schools, but the business leaders themselves.
&#8220I think that it's important as a parent and as a business leader to know what the education system is about, and it's important to give back,” Efkarpides said. &#8220Our children are what matters.”