Entertainment Industry Foundation sponsors special event to promote involvement in and support for public schools

MEMBERS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY and business and community leaders will get a hands-on lesson in public education this spring as participants in Principal for a Day, a special event designed to promote civic involvement in and support for public schools.

Set for April 30th 1999, Principal for a Day is a project of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) and the Los Angeles Educational Partnership (LAEP) in conjunction with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Entertainment executives, entertainers, business leaders, heads of foundations, owners of small business and others will fan out to schools across the Los Angeles Unified School District to spend the day (or a least a good part of it) in the shoes of a school principal. The "principals" will visit classrooms, meet with teachers, students, and parents, handle administrative and management duties, and take on other tasks in the daily operations of a public school.

"We want to give members of the Los Angeles Community a realistic view not only of the challenges facing public schools, but of the progress they are making. We think that they will be excited about what they see and we hope they will want to get involved in efforts to support public schools," says Peggy Funkhouser, president of the Los Angeles Educational Partnership.

This year’s Principal for a Day activities are sponsored by The Entertainment Industry Foundation. EIF is also leading the effort to recruit members of the Entertainment Industry as participants. "There’s a lot of talent in public schools and a lot of talent in the entertainment industry. We think Principal for a Day can help to build new bridges between our communities in ways that will benefit public education," says Lisa Paulsen, president of The Entertainment Industry Foundation. We're tremendously excited about the possibilities."

For more information about Principal for a Day contact Diane Glinos at LAEP at (213) 622-5237 or via email at dglinos@lalc.k12.ca.us.