By Aaron Wright
"I think after age 50, everybody ought to go back to elementary school," said Becky Switzer, a participant in Tuesday's Principal for a Day. After observing first-graders learning Chinese, young musicians playing in orchestra and teachers working on SMART boards, Switzer, from Switzer Talent Agency, decided everyone could learn from local schools.
Switzer accompanied Adam Cohen, from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, and Jennifer Griswold, from The Oklahoman, in shadowing Terry Hopper, principal of McKinley Elementary School.
These participants joined about 40 other community members and foundation board members who toured schools, made announcements and visited classrooms in order to get a glimpse of today's educational programs.
Most participants seemed to be surprised and intrigued by the same things at each site: student engagement and technological advances.
"It's a very authentic type of environment, very hands-on," said Suzanne McAuley, from First American Bank and a Norman Public School Foundation board member.
While at Lincoln Elementary, McAuley saw students engage in guided reading lessons, a SMART board math lesson and even a phonics dance.
"The children were dancing a 'w,' talking about an 'x.' They were one with the alphabet," McAuley said.
"It's different than when we were kids," Cohen said. He said he was intrigued by how teaching was integrated into the classroom.
The integrated learning environment even took former high school teacher and current first lady Kim Henry was surprise. In particular, she was pleased with the set up of many classrooms: row-by-row seating had been abolished and students' desks were placed in groups around the room. The extracurriculars also interested Henry.
"I was most impressed with the curriculum and vast elective opportunities students have now," said Henry, commenting on the media class offered at Norman High School, the site where she shadowed. Although she has visited many schools over the past several years, this is the first school district in which Henry has participated in as a principal for the day.
"I thought it would be fun," she said.
This is the second time for the Norman Public School Foundation to host the event. Karrie Thompson, foundation board member, said she thinks it's important for community to see what is going on in the education world, especially those who are partners in education. With so many other community events, making it a yearly program may not be possible. However, she hopes community members continue to be engaged in Norman's public schools.
Although Cohen, who is also a board member, had an educational day of observance, his favorite part was the reaction of his own children, who attend the site where he shadowed.
"They now think I'm a celebrity," he said.
