Some days turn out better than you ever imagined. October 3, 2006 was one of those days. I woke up excited, ready to start my assignment as "Principal for a Day" at Highland Elementary, shadowing Ms. Tena Petix, Principal of the school. Because I spend very little time with children and was an A student growing up who rarely saw the principal, I didn't fully comprehend the role and responsibilities of "principalship". I went on the Internet several days before to read about the school and the job I would be assuming and thought "I can do this".

The day started out like any other and I ended up lost in my own town, with my Mapquest directions offering me no assistance whatsoever. I assumed that the bridge I vaguely remembered that had closed a long time ago had re-opened because Mapquest suggested I use it. After following detour signs galore and driving for 45 minutes (the school is 4.3 miles from my house), I finally reached Highland Elementary, where dozens of cars were slowly pulling up to the front of the building and children were exiting and running inside. I asked the authority person I saw that I was to meet with Ms. Petix and asked where I could park. She directed me to "Diane", a woman wearing a safety vest who looked like she knew what she doing. She pointed me in the right direction and, while I'm embarrased to admit I was 10 minutes late, the real adventure began.

Ms. Tena Petix was standing outside the office, speaking to one of the parents. She introduced herself, immediately knowing who I was, a stranger in her land, and sent me inside. Wearing a bold Chico's red jacket and black long skirt, she had a commanding presence about her and I could sense she was well respected. As I walked to her office, there were two young boys outside her door and two waiting in her office. They had that "busted" look on their faces. All I know is that it wasn't even quarter to 9! When Ms. Petix joined me, she explained that she had already been at the park with the police in the morning, dealing with an incident and that the two in her office were sent in for fighting. She sat and counseled the two boys in a way that had me spellbound. With more emotional intelligence than I see displayed by corporate executives, she delved into accountability and responsibility, doling it out simply enough that I was dying to take notes.

The whole day was like this. I followed her around campus for hours. Ms. Petix knew all of the students names (and I mean hundreds and hundreds of students). She shared insights into the past, present and future of education, discussing Measure B improvements (including $$$ for special non-toxic dirt at the library in progress), REEF grants (most recently, an upcoming garden project for the Special Education program) , PRIDE and the latest and greatest technology. I saw it used in a 6th grade writing class on a poetry assignment. Truly amazing! (The same 6th grade teacher purchased 4 of the computers and built a computer lab which he donated to the school.)

Every minute was meaningful and everyone I met seemed to have the same enthusiasm for the school. I met high school mentors, retired teachers and a 6th grader serving as a reading "coach" to younger classmates. Between the homophones and student id's, there were stories of real kids struggling to succeed. Some of them come to school hungry or without proper clothes. There was a little boy with a brain tumor and a memorial for a little girl who died of cancer. Struggling with child care issues, Ms. Petix recently found out that there was a little girl left in the park, unsupervised, for three hours every day. I met Daisy, a fabulous young woman, who shared how she used the computer to advance in reading. And, the pledge of allegiance said proudly that I was teary-eyed.

When we went back to her office, she stressed how her job was all about relationships. She had mentored several teachers who had gone on to be principals. She shared her experiences at another school and how she needed to connect with neighborhood gang members. Ms. Petix shared the importance of empowing others to speak up. She not only spoke of ethics and accountability, she walked her talk. Her daily example gives her students life skills worth modeling.

I believe that everything rises and falls on leadership. Because of the direction of Ms. Petix, I witnessed excellence in action today. She likened her job to being a social worker who was also responsible for teaching kids how to read. I laughed. If it were only that simple. Her vision, values and voice make the world a better place to be. And I left exhausted.