Principal for a Day Program

To help with the planning process for your visit, first review the objectives of hosting a lawmaker in the school:

• See first-hand learning in action.
• Learn more about your school, both its successes and challenges.
• Better understand the multi-faceted role of the principal in leading a school, supporting staff, engaging with families, and increasing student performance.
• Appreciate the Encourage officials to witness the impact federal, state and local education policies have in practice.
• Influence future education policy votes and decisions.

In addition, you may want to consider any additional local objectives: Is a shadowing visit going to boost awareness in your community about your school’s accomplishments? Will it inform business leaders about partnership opportunities?

Next, select a date in October that works with your calendar.

Draft a list of potential guests to invite—first, we recommend asking your superintendent for input and approval, if needed, to host a visit. Additional guests to accompany the elected official could include their staff. Sometimes elected officials won’t be able to attend themselves and will instead offer to have a member of their staff visit. These visits are still very valuable, as staff are often the key people informing lawmakers’ decisions on policy.

Provide visitors with detailed logistical information regarding where they should park, where to enter the building and check in, when lunch is served, what you plan on showing them, and whether they can take pictures, video, and share on social media. Give guests a general schedule for the day.

Give your staff notice about the event, but don’t ask them to deviate from their typical schedule.

Consider the things that are most important to show the elected official and make sure you have enough time. Many officials may only be able to visit for a short time.

Resources

• Sample Schedule
• Talking Points (coming soon)

Ideas for the Legislative Visit

• Shadow the principal during day-to-day activities and duties
• Read the school announcements and lead the school in the Pledge of Allegiance
• Host a student “Town Hall Meeting”
• Serve on a panel of elected officials (city council, school board, mayor, etc.)
• Read a book to students
• Serve students at lunch
• Discuss the role of a legislator, how a bill becomes a law, or other governmental functions
• Meet with a group of teachers and/or parents
• Attend an after-school activity (band concert, science fair, tutoring, Girls on the Run, etc.)
• Attend an all-school assembly
• Participate in a one-on-one or administrative team call.
• Include local legislators as guest speakers in remote or hybrid classrooms.
• Share orientation or back-to-school welcome videos with legislators.
• Ask legislators to record a daily/weekly announcement or a back-to-school message.

Once the planning is complete, the actual visit is straightforward. Allow the official to see you in action—let them join you in meetings and participate in talking with students and working with teachers. If any situations arise that demand privacy (for instance, if a parent wants to discuss a sensitive issue with you), designate one of your colleagues to take over your shadow day temporarily (such as your assistant principal, technology director, or counselor).

Do:

• Be open, honest, and authentic. Share your personal experiences, challenges, and successes.
  Ask a lot of questions and be prepared to answer a lot of questions.
• Bring your shadow on all routine formal and informal responsibilities, including: morning lineup, building rounds/walk-throughs, leadership/cabinet meetings, and grade-level meetings.
• Allow your shadow to speak to and interact with teachers, students, and families, when possible.
• Allow your shadow to read student work.
• Schedule time at the end of the day to debrief and answer questions, share thoughts, and make connections.
• Within reasonable limits, have your shadow by your side throughout the day.
• Look for opportunities to tie what they are seeing in the school into the need for their support on key policy priorities.

Don’t:

• Don’t worry that you’ll be judged.
• Don’t feel the need to plan a special event for the shadow. The visit should focus on real education practice in the school and how it is impacted by public policy.

At the end of the visit, debrief with your visitor. Review your goals for the event and make sure to describe any activities that you didn’t have time to show them during the visit.

Follow up with a written correspondence, email, or phone call after your event to thank them for attending and offer to be an ongoing resource on education issues. Consider inviting your shadow to future special events, such as your school science fairs, fundraisers, community events, volunteer projects, and graduations.

Finally, don’t forget to thank your staff after the visit. Inviting visitors into your school sends your team the message that you’re proud of the work they do each day. Highlight the visit on your website, in your parent newsletter, or on social media.