Community members will serve as principals for a day

FUTURE LEADERS: The Santa Barbara Foundation recently honored its 2010-2011 class of Katherine Harvey Fellows at a reception in Santa Barbara. The Katherine Harvey Fellows Program is an 18-month leadership development course that serves the community and local nonprofits by educating future community leaders about philanthropy, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. This year’s fellows include (front row, from left) Julie Sorenson; Dianne Duva; Maria Garcia-Cacique; Patricia Madrigal; Fahim Farag; and Victoria Juarez; and (back row, from left) Christopher Pizzinat; Austin Herlihy; Judy Taggart; Sabina Netto; Daniel Zia; Susan Salcido; Kaye Palomarez; and Jaime Valdez. Not pictured: Charles Osiris. Credit: PHOTO COURTESY THE SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION

Ever wonder as a child what it would be like to be principal for a day? On March 10, 40 local business and community leaders will make that daydream a reality at public and private school campuses throughout the Santa Maria Valley.

The Principal For a Day event allows community members to spend the morning at a school site to learn more about the challenges facing educators. The event is co-sponsored by the Santa Maria Valley Industry Education Council and the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors and Convention Bureau.

After participants complete their duties as principals, they’ll attend a luncheon event featuring a presentation of new computer packages to students as part of the Computer Connections program. A joint effort between the Industry Education Council and Chamber of Commerce, the program offers new computers to students who are unable to afford them. Since its inception in 2002, the program has given computers to almost 150 students. Recipients are selected by their schools based on merit and need.

For more information, call SMVIEC liaison Peggy Greer at 349-0443.

This article appears in Mar 4-11, 2010.