‘Principal TODAY’ to Continue Annual Tradition with Virtual Visits

Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ (M-DCPS) 27th annual Principal TODAY kicks off today, continuing the powerful tradition of engaging business/community leaders to serve as school principals for a day. This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, partners are connecting virtually. This year's event will provide flexibility for principals to participate and to select a day during the week of December 7-11 to host their Principal TODAY guest. As is the case every year, school principals may choose to identify their partner or be paired with a community leader by the M-DCPS Office of Community Engagement. More than 200 schools have signed up to participate in this year’s event.

Among the individuals who will serve as Principal TODAY partners this year are Miami Dolphins Community Relations Director Twan Russell; Miami-Dade County Commissioner Joe A. Martinez; Chelsea Wilkerson, CEO at Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida, Inc.; and Jono De Leon, COO of Guitars Over Guns.

Community members will be connecting with principals across the District to watch them in action; get a better understanding of all it takes to run a school every day; and will provide their expertise and support to the school.

Some of the ways community leaders can connect virtually with M-DCPS schools for Principal TODAY include the following:

·       Visit and/or co-teach a class

·       Take a virtual tour of the campus with student guides

·       Give morning announcements

·       Meet online with student council or other student-leaders groups

·       Zoom into an activity class (physical education, band, shop, etc.)

·       Read aloud to students

The goal of the program is for participants to build relationships and translate their experience of the day into a long-term partnership that enhances the learning environment and supports student achievement. Principals and partners can discuss their long-term goals and ideas that the partner may be able to collaborate or assist.

For the most up-to-date information, please download the Dadeschools mobile app to your iPhone or Android device. Follow us on Twitter @mdcps and @miamisup, on Instagram @miamischools and @miamisup, and on Facebook at MiamiSchools and AlbertoCarvalho