Mission, Texas- On Tuesday, October 13, the number of campus principals in Mission CISD (Consolidated Independent School District) doubled; but only for one day, and it didn’t cost the district any additional money for salaries. On October 13, each Mission CISD school had a business or community leader experience the life of a principal by becoming a Principal for a Day.
These Principals for a Day reported to their respective schools at 7:30 a.m. and then shadowed the real campus principal through their regular duties. The Principals for a Day had a shortened work schedule that ended with a luncheon at the Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce. The real campus principals then reported back to their schools to complete their work days.
Mission CISD first started the Principal for a Day program in 2006 as a way to help educate the local business and community leaders about the rewards and rigors of the principalship. Principal for a Day also gives the participants an unfiltered look into what goes on in a school on a regular day. It is also meant to help build relationships between the district and the communities its serves.
The list of participants for the tenth annual Principal for a Day program was quite varied. This year’s Principals for a Day were: Rudy Garza, public works director, City of Alton; Davis Rankin, on-air host, KURV-AM; Luis Suner, reporter, El manana; Jeff Prinkey, manager, Luby’s Cafeteria; Raquel Ramos, board member, Education Foundation of Mission CISD; Daniel Silva, chief operating officer, Mission Economic Development Corporation; Honorable Letty Lopez, judge, 389th District Court; Rene Lopez Jr., fire chief, City of Mission; Randy Perez, deputy city manager, City of Mission; Danya Perez-Hernandez, education reporter, The Monitor; Augie Lozano, public relations, Bert Ogden Dealers; Gus Martinez, board member, Education Foundation of Mission CISD; Steve Pena, CEO, Alton Development Corporation; Thelma Garza, president, United Way of South Texas; Samm Mercado, special projects coordinator, City of Alton; Ramon Rosales, municipal court judge, City of Mission; Gilbert Ramirez, branch manager, BBVA Compass; Ralph Cantu, former Mission CISD superintendent; Jennifer Garza, CEO, Edinburg Children’s Hospital/Edinburg Regional Medical Center; Dr. Theresa Maldonado, senior vice president for research/innovation/economic development, UTRGV; Dr. Jonikka Charlton, associate vice president for student academic success, UTRGV; Veronica Mendoza, member, Mission CISD Board of Trustees.
Pictured are Dr. Jonikka Charlton as she was getting her official Mission Collegiate High School Identification badge picture taken, and Randy Perez as he conducted classroom observations at Midkiff Elementary School.
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