Approximately 60 Santa Clarita Valley business and community leaders had the opportunity to learn about the inner workings of local schools on Friday morning through the Principal for a Day program.

Photo by Heather Harbin.

The program, put on by the Santa Clarita Valley Education Foundation, gives attendees a behind-the-scenes look at education, including day-to-day operations, the challenges teachers, administrators and principals face, as well as rewards of being an educator.

This year was the 24th year for the Principal for a Day program, themed “Connecting the Community,” said Mike Gollom, a board member with the SCV Education Foundation.

“It’s really about making relationships,” Gollom said. “By parents, community members or business people going to the school, they really learn to make relationships, they find out what the schools need, which then allows them to help the school.”

Photo by Heather Harbin.

The Principal for a Day program is also a major fundraiser for the SCV Education Foundation as well, bringing in approximately $20,000 each year. Those funds go back to the five school districts in the Santa Clarita Valley.

“The SCV Education Foundation strives to connect all aspects of the community together to achieve a common goal: To provide support, programs and leadership to public schools in Santa Clarita,” according to officials with the SCV Education Foundation.

Over 50 elementary schools, middle schools and high schools across the Santa Clarita Valley participated in the program, said Gollom.

About the SCV Education Foundation

The SCV Education Foundation was founded in 1995 to foster relationships between businesses, schools, educators and youth, to enrich education and promote appreciation for public school education in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Other annual programs include a Student Enrichment program, directed to teachers for use in the classroom, Teacher Tribute, Read with Me, scholarships to graduating high school students and Santa Clarita’s Literacy & Arts Festival.

For more information, click here or call 661-678-0429.

Photo by Heather Harbin.

Councilwoman Marsha McLean and Pico Canyon Elementary School Principal Laura Banda taking a tour of the elementary school. Photo by Heather Harbin.

Photo by Heather Harbin.