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Business and community leaders build partnerships with schools

Posted on:Thursday, 20th August 2009

MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release 20 August 2009
Business and community leaders build partnerships with schools

This year’s Principal for a Day program will help to develop partnerships between businesses, the wider community and government schools. Victoria’s event is to be held on 25 August.

One hundred primary, secondary and special schools in metropolitan and regional Victoria will be matched with business and community leaders who will become their ‘Principal for a Day’.

The Principals for a Day in this year’s program include Minister for Education Bronwyn Pike, Minister for Regional and Rural Development Jacinta Allan, Melbourne Football Club CEO Cameron Schwab, former Olympic basketballer Michelle Timms, “Dr Feelgood” Sally Cockburn and Deputy Editor of The Age Gay Alcorn.

By becoming a ‘Principal for a Day’, business and community leaders get a first-hand behind-the-scenes view of a normal school day, including in-depth management discussions with the principal, taking classes with students, talking with parents and staff, or even doing canteen or yard duty.

The program, which is delivered by the ACER Leadership Centre in partnership with the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, provides an opportunity to showcase the successes of state education, and opens doors for principals into business and community networks. For business and community leaders, the program provides insight into and better understanding of the young people who represent the future of Victoria.

ACER CEO Professor Geoff Masters said, “The benefits of a relationship between business, education and the wider community are becoming more recognised.”

“The Principal for a Day program helps to build these relationships. Leaders from business and education can learn from each other and form long-lasting professional networks,” he says.

The Principal for a Day key event will be followed two weeks later by forums on 8 September (metropolitan) and 15 September (regional), in which guest panellists will discuss the issues arising from the Principal for a Day program, around the theme “Schools connecting with business and communities”.

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