Principal for a Day Returns for Second Year, Connecting Business Leaders with Plano ISD Campuses
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: LaChaya Terry
Phone: 972-424-7547, ext. 224
Email: lachayat@planochamber.org
Principal for a Day Returns for Second Year, Connecting Business Leaders with Plano ISD Campuses
PLANO, TX – June 1, 2026 – The Plano Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Plano Works Leadership Foundation, the PISD Education Foundation, and Plano Independent School District (Plano ISD), is excited to announce the return of Principal for a Day for its second year on Thursday, October 1, 2026.
Following a successful inaugural program, Principal for a Day will once again provide business and community leaders with a unique opportunity to experience public education through the eyes of a campus principal. Participants will spend several hours—or the full school day—shadowing a Plano ISD principal, gaining firsthand insight into the responsibilities, challenges, and rewards of leading a school community.
The program is designed to strengthen relationships between the business community and public education while increasing awareness of the critical role schools play in developing the future workforce.
“Principal for a Day is about creating meaningful connections between business and education,” said Kelle Marsalis, President & CEO of the Plano Chamber. “By giving community leaders a firsthand look at the realities of school leadership, we can build stronger partnerships that support student success and strengthen our community for years to come.”
The initiative aims to:
Increase community awareness of Plano ISD’s strengths and opportunities
Demonstrate the business community’s commitment to supporting public education
Identify opportunities for collaboration between business leaders and local schools
Ideal participants include C-suite executives, senior-level managers, business owners, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders with decision-making authority within their organizations.
The Plano Chamber is proud to recognize Children’s Health as the Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 Principal for a Day program. Additional support is provided by VLK Architects as the Gold Sponsor and Cortica Whole Child Autism Center as the After Class Reception Sponsor. Their investment helps create meaningful opportunities for business and education leaders to connect and collaborate in support of student success.
Applications open May 1, 2026, and close July 31, 2026. Selected participants will be announced during the week of September 1, 2026.
A virtual kickoff meeting will be held one to two weeks prior to the event. Following the campus experience, participants are invited to attend the optional After Class Reception on October 1 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Robinson Fine Arts Center, where participants, principals, and community partners can connect and reflect on the day’s experience.
Participation is application-based and subject to approval. A portion of program proceeds will be donated back to Plano ISD campuses.
Important Dates:
Applications Open: May 1, 2026
Application Deadline: July 31, 2026
Participant Announcements: Week of September 1, 2026
Virtual Kickoff: Held 1–2 weeks prior to the event
Principal for a Day
Thursday, October 1, 2026
7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
(Flexible participation encouraged)
After Class Reception
Thursday, October 1, 2026
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Robinson Fine Arts Center
For more information about the program, contact Leah White, Foundation & Retention Director, at leahw@planochamber.org or 214-384-2199.
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Jenny Avis, Director of Investor Relations, at jennya@planochamber.org or 469-955-4195.
For additional information and applications, visit https://www.planochamber.org/programs/principalforaday/
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About the Plano Chamber of Commerce: Established in 1946, the Plano Chamber represents over 800 businesses and community organizations in Plano and the surrounding area. Accredited as a 5-Star Chamber by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and awarded 2018 Chamber of the Year, the Plano Chamber of Commerce is committed to maximizing business development and economic growth of the community through advocacy, education, innovation, and collaboration.
