Community Leaders Serve As Principal For A Day in Roswell

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Beginning Monday, nearly 70 schools across Fulton County are helping community leaders learn firsthand what it takes to lead a school when they become “Principal for a Day.”

Now in its eighth year, the program is held annually during American Education Week, which falls this year during Nov. 16-20.

Fulton’s Principal for a Day program is a partnership between the Fulton County School System, the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, South Fulton Chamber of Commerce, Sandy Springs/Perimeter Chamber of Commerce, Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce and the Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce.

It aims to build relationships between schools and business and community leaders while also educating them on the rigors of successfully managing a school.

During the week-long event, business and community leaders will tackle many of the regular duties that school leaders face every day, and will learn how rewarding – and demanding – it is to be an educator. Activities range from staff meetings, parent conferences, classroom observations, lunchroom and carpool duty, as well as the many unexpected events that occur every day.

To share what they learn during the week, guest principals are encouraged to post their experiences on social media using #PrincipalForaDay.

Serving as honorary principals this week in north Fulton County schools are:

• Dunwoody Springs Elementary: John Paulson, city of Sandy Springs
• Heards Ferry Elementary: Jeremy Cohen, Hartman, Simons & Wood, LLP
• High Point Elementary: Greg Fife, Publix @ The Prado
• Ison Springs Elementary: Darin Vanlandingham, BBVA Compass
• Lake Forest Elementary: Taylor Burton, A Classical Affair
• Spalding Drive Elementary: Keisha Duck, Manheim North America
• Woodland Elementary: Bret Giles, Southern Company
• Ridgeview Charter School: Chad Hite, BBVA Compass
• Sandy Springs Middle School: Sharon Kraun, city of Sandy Springs
• North Springs High School: Mark Rosenthal, Northside Hospital
• Riverwood High School: Jayne Maser, JAS Management Worldwide
• Abbotts Hill Elementary: Vijay Purugulla, FCS – Superintendent’s Office
• Dolvin Elementary: Susan Grissom, Grissom Law, LLC
• Esther Jackson Elementary: Kenneth Davis, Renasant Bank
• Northwood Elementary: Mariah Lindsey, Gwinnett Technical College
• Ocee Elementary: Shawn LaFave, North Georgia Promotions
• River Eves Elementary: Kelsey Geist, Custom Human Resource Solutions
• River Trail Elementary: Francella Perryman, Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church
• State Bridge Crossing Elementary: Lindsay Quandt, Miss Atlanta Organization
• Wilson Creek Elementary: Michelle Hanchey, 8ight
• Autrey Mill Middle School: Patrick Burke, FCS – deputy superintendent of operations
• Holcomb Bridge Middle School: Susan Anderson, New York Life Insurance
• Taylor Road Middle School: Samantha Michaels, First Citizens Bank
• Centennial High School: Rich Dippolito, city of Roswell
• Chattahoochee High School: Roger Wise Jr., Rotary ambassador
• Johns Creek High School: Freda Hardage, Northside Hospital
• Northview High School: Gordon Rolle Jr., Velaire Washington Enterprise Inc.
• Alpharetta Elementary: Susie Duke, Transamerica
• Crabapple Crossing Elementary: Staci Hutto, Troy University
• Hembree Springs Elementary: Jason Howard, Stonecreek Church
• Mimosa Elementary: Andrea Kearns, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
• Mountain Park Elementary: John Albers, Georgia Senator – District 56
• New Prospect Elementary: Noelle Kim, Transamerica Financial Advisors
• Roswell Elementary: Margaret Michaels DeCan, The HoneyBaked Ham
• Roswell North Elementary: Morris Cowan, United Way of Greater Atlanta
• Sweet Apple Elementary: Lisa Martin, Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta
• Elkins Pointe Middle School: Chris Nelson, Chattahoochee Nature Center
• Webb Bridge Middle School: Bethany Usry, Progress Partners of North Fulton
• Alpharetta High School: Katie Reeves, Fulton County School Board member
• Cambridge High School: Dawn Gerth, self employed
• Independence High School: Noelle Kim, Transamerica Financial Advisors
• Milton High School: Ehren Bingaman, HNTB

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