By Lou Ponsi
A physician. A restaurant owner. An Orange County sheriff’s deputy. Several mayors and business executives.
On Friday, these and dozens of other professionals who serve their communities in a variety of ways spent a few hours as a “Principal for a Day” in elementary, middle, and high schools within the Capistrano Unified School District.
Editor’s Note: A complete list of participants is provided at the end of this article.
Then they shared their experiences at a luncheon held at district headquarters.
Photo by Stephen Carr
The luncheon was catered by San Clemente High School culinary arts students. The culinary arts program is one of 28 career and technical education pathways offered in partnership with College and Career Advantage.
Photo by Stephen Carr
Many of the “principals” were amazed by the welcome they received from the staff and the students and how well the teachers and administrators interact with each other and the students.
Photo by Stephen Carr
They were pleasantly surprised by the individual nature of the instruction, which is tailored to the needs of each student.
Photo by Stephen Carr
“It was really, really impressive for me to see the programs, the creativity that is spawned and encouraged there at Capo in the theater arts program, the computer labs, and all the different things that they do,” said Mission Viejo Mayor Brian Goodell, who spent Friday morning at Capistrano Valley High School.
Photo by Stephen Carr
Ricardo Beas, owner of Ricardo’s Place, a Mexican restaurant in San Juan Capistrano, served as principal at Kinoshita Elementary School under the guidance of principal Jose Pedraza.
Photo by Stephen Carr
Being on the campus of an elementary school was like going back in time, said Beas, who came to the United States at age 12 and attended school in San Juan Capistrano.
Photo by Stephen Carr
“It was great because it brought me to my childhood … my love for school here,” Beas said. “It was just incredible to have Mr. Pedraza here. He’s so nurturing with the kids that there was so much love. I was very impressed with the organization and teamwork that they had. It’s a great organization. A big happy family working together.”
San Juan Capistrano Mayor Troy Bourne spent the morning at San Juan Elementary School, where he also received a warm welcome.
Photo by Stephen Carr
“I absolutely love that school,” Bourne said. “The other thing that was the most (telling) was walking through the classrooms, and how many kids would come up and embrace us. I think it speaks to how comfortable these kids are and the authenticity and love that they are accustomed to feeling from the administrators.”
Photo by Stephen Carr
The district stages Principal for a Day events to reflect the partnership between the schools and every facet of the community, said Ryan Burris, chief communications officer for the district, which provides instruction to roughly 47,000 students on 63 campuses, encompassing 200 square miles.
Photo by Stephen Carr
“There are so many ways that all of them intersect and it’s important for all of us to explain to our community members where the different pieces are and how we are working together to solve problems,” Burris said.
Dr. Afif El-Hasan, a pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente, was a guest principal at Marco Forster Middle School in San Juan Capistrano.
Photo by Stephen Carr
Hasan was inspired by the “collegiality” among the staff and the individuality of the instruction.
“A couple of things that were very impressive for me and I enjoyed seeing … One was a tutorial half hour that was given to the students where they can go and get their personalized instruction and needs taken care of,” El-Hasan said. “I felt that was a very effective innovation in school. I was also very impressed how everyone’s different needs were actually being met in one way or another. In one room there was a student with special needs. In another room there were children who needed bilingual help and they were getting that help with sciences and other things. It was just a peaceful, well-run school.”
Orange County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Davida Tidwell of Dana Point Police Services spent her day at Las Flores Middle School in Rancho Santa Margarita and said serving as principal “was by far the best day I’ve ever had in this career.”
Photo by Stephen Carr
Parents were saying hello and the students were engaged, the deputy said.
“I had kids running up to me asking to take selfies with me,” Tidwell said. “It was the best experience ever. I just can’t thank Capistrano Unified enough for allowing this opportunity for a sheriff’s deputy to come into a school. The principal and staff are working as team to bring these children together, which is going to impact our future here in Orange County.”
More about the 2020 Principal for the Day event:
Photo by Stephen Carr
Photo by Stephen Carr
Jim Miller, owner of Coffee Importers speaks during the Principal for a day luncheon at the Capistrano Unified School District office. Friday, February 28, 2020.
Photo by Stephen Carr
Photo by Stephen Carr
Photo by Stephen Carr
Photo by Stephen Carr
Photo by Stephen Carr
Photo by Stephen Carr
Photo by Stephen Carr
Thank you to Plant Depot for donating centerpieces for the event!
Thank you to the following community leaders, business owners, and elected officials who participated in the Capistrano Unified School District “Principal for a Day” event:
| Alex Rodriguez, Branch Manager, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union |
| Alex Serna, Executive Director, Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano |
| Amie Sugarman, Vice President of Education & Strategic Partnerships, Discovery Science Foundation |
| Anthony Small Music, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Preserves Foundation |
| Arron Searcy, Assistant Director, Community Education, Saddleback College |
| Audie Sturla, Coordinator, AARP Tax Assistance Program, South Orange County District |
| Beth Apodaca, Director, Dorothy Visser Senior Center |
| Brad McGirr, Mayor, City of Ranch Santa Margarita |
| Brian Goodell, Mayor, City of Mission Viejo |
| Christine Laehle, Program Specialist, Orange County Department of Education |
| Daniel Clem, Director, TELACU Construction Management |
| David Kinard, Director of Learning and Development, Monarch Beach Resort |
| Denise Chapman, Director of Marketing, Monarch Beach Resort |
| Deputy Davida Tidwell, Orange County Sheriff’s Department |
| Deputy Joseph McCormick, Orange County Sheriff’s Department |
| Deputy Tony Papsis, Orange County Sheriff’s Department |
| Diana Linn Community, Manager of Community Behavioral Health, Health Enrichment Collaborative (CHEC) Family Resource Center |
| Dot Leach, Interfaith Leader, Women Driver’s Interfaith Group |
| Dr. Afif El-Hasan, Physician-In-Charge, Dept. of Pediatrics, Kaiser Permanente |
| Dr. Jeff Badrtalei, President, Mission Viejo Kiwanis Club |
| Gene James, Council Member, City of San Clemente |
| George Peppas, President/CEO, San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce |
| Heather Redd, Vice Chair, Ladera Ranch Civic Council |
| Heidi Stoops, Aliso Viejo Realtor |
| Jesse Ben-Ron, Director of Workforce and Economic Development, Orange County Business Council |
| Jim Miller, Owner, Coffee Importers |
| Joe Brenneman, Chair, Ladera Ranch Civic Council |
| John Rovie, Director of Sales and Marketing, Monarch Beach Resort |
| Lance Larson, Ph.D., Co-Director, Grad Program in Homeland Security + Coordinator, Cyber Security Program Office, San Diego State University |
| Laura Schmidl, Director of Education, Discovery Science Foundation |
| Laurie Davies, Mayor, City of Laguna Niguel |
| Lieutenant Brent Benson, Orange County Sheriff’s Department |
| Marci Mednick, Community Development Specialist, Mission Hospital |
| Mark Denny, City Manager, City of Dana Point |
| Matt Loevenguth, Regional Real Estate Manager, In-N-Out Burger |
| Michelle Endo, Owner, Good Choice Sushi |
| Mike Balsamo, Senior Vice President of Governmental Relations, Rancho Mission Viejo |
| Mike Pouraryan, Writer/Editor, Daily Outsider |
| Omar Dadabhoy, Community Development Director, City of Aliso Viejo |
| Ricardo Beas, Owner, Ricardo’s Place |
| Richard Hurt, Owner, R&C Strategies |
| Ronald Ruef, Former MV Community Services Commissioner, City of Mission Viejo |
| Ross Chun, Council Member, City of Aliso Viejo |
| Salvatore Giuliano, Executive Chef, Laguna Cliff’s Resort |
| Scott Alevy, President & CEO, Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce |
| Sergeant Darren Braham, Orange County Sheriff’s Department |
| Sue McNair, President, Capistrano Unified Council of PTSA’s |
| Susie Lantz, Membership Director, San Clemente Chamber of Commerce |
| Tamara (Tammy) Letourneau, City Manager, City of Laguna Niguel |
| Terry VanHorne, OC Lead District Representative, Congressman Mike Levin (CA-49) |
| Trish Kelley, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Mission Viejo |
| Troy Bourne, Mayor, City of San Juan Capistrano |
| Veronica Hoggatt, Chair, Capistrano Unified School District Special Education Community Advisory Committee |
| Yarib Dheming, Outreach Manager, Inside the Outdoors |