Principal for the Day at Gibbs School

First grader Kevin Tsao was recently principal for the day at B. F. Gibbs Elementary School.  

Tsao's parents won the job for him at the Gibbs PTO Adult Night fundraiser back in March. "Principal for a Day" was among several prizes that parents bid on during the tricky tray portion of the event.  

Tsao said he had been looking forward to his chance to be principal and started things off by helping with the morning announcements.  He then helped Principal Scott Davies host the end-of-year pep rally.  

This annual event featured nearly 30 students, parents and teachers getting their hair cut so that wigs could be made for economically disadvantaged children.  

Tsao cued the audience to start the program, which also featured celebrations of student achievement, as well as prizes for children who had been "caught being good" by their teacher.   "Mr. Tsao" picked names out of the gold slip box, as students were called up to select a prize.

Next, Tsao and Davies conducted classroom observations of teachers and students.  Tsao provided each teacher that he visited with an Observation Report, with indicators of good teaching strategies and an individual comment.  

He also got a behind-the-scenes look at how fire drills are conducted, as he called for and led one of the monthly evacuation drills.  Tsao even joined Davies on a screening committee, as candidates were being interviewed for positions available for next school year.    

Tsao was brought in to ask one question: "What do you like most about teaching?" After each candidate's response, he offered his input to the committee members.   Tsao wanted to continue as principal for the rest of the week, but he worried that he did not have enough ties to wear a different one each day like Davies.  

Tsao said when he grows up, he wants to be a teacher, and maybe a principal.