University administrators become principals for a day at local elementary schools

February 12, 2010

Two College of Education administrators will play principal for the day at local elementary schools on Tuesday, Feb. 16.

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Katy Heyning, dean of the College of Education and Tom Ganser, director of field experiences, have been invited to shadow a principal at one of the five Whitewater schools. Joining Heyning and Ganser are local leaders Kevin Brunner, Whitewater city manager, Jim Caldwell, president of First Citizens State Bank, and Vicki Fiedler, a local business owner.

The Whitewater Unified School District will hold its first-ever Principal for the Day event on Tuesday, Feb. 16. This new program, which has local leaders shadow a Whitewater school principal for the day, hopes to increase awareness of the accomplishments and challenges that exist daily in primary schools.

Heyning will shadow Washington Elementary School Principal Tom Grosinske.

"I choose an elementary school because I enjoy working with young kids and I haven’t been in the elementary setting in awhile," she said. "Washington Elementary was my first choice because the school has a new principal who I don't know well."

Ganser will shadow Lincoln Elementary School Principal Jo Bernhardt.

"I wanted to visit an elementary school because I have taught high school and my wife teaches middle school but elementary school is a bit unknown to me," he said. "I have great respect for elementary teachers, they are the fundamental portals to higher education."

Both Ganser and Heyning hope this new experience will strengthen the relationship between Whitewater schools and the college.

"It will be interesting to see what all goes on in a day," Heyning said.