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April 25, 2003/Nisan 23 5763, Vol. 55, No. 35
Businessman returns to school
JESSICA BARBER
Staff Writer
Scott Jacobson began his career with a master's degree in English literature, spent most of his working years becoming familiar with leadership skills needed to make organizations run smoothly, and now serves as the executive director of Valley Leadership in Phoenix. On April 16, Jacobson crossed another boundary into the world of education by serving as a "Principal for a Day," sponsored by the City of Phoenix.
"I was at Granada Elementary School and spent many hours with the principal there and I was just blown away," says Jacobson. "It was an amazing experience."
The program, held in the Valley since 1991, is intended to keep the business community in touch with the needs of the education community, according to a press release from the City of Phoenix. The goal is to foster long-term mentoring, workplace readiness and leadership development relationships between corporate Arizona and the educational system. More than 100 local business leaders participated in this year's program.
"The program is trying to educate non-education people as to what it's like to run a school and how difficult it can be," says Jacobson.
Throughout the day, Jacobson visited 43 classrooms in a school of about 1,150 students in grades kindergarten through third.
"I was amazed at the diversity, variety and the amount of engaged students," he says. "I didn't see one student without a smile on his or her face and that didn't relate to the principal and teachers in a healthy, positive way."
Jacobson has participated in the "Principal for a Day" program twice before, and believes that it is successful in building strong relationships between corporations and educational systems.
"I think a lot of the schools are benefiting simply from resources," he says. "If you connect with a corporation that engages you, then you can provide a lot of the resources that a lot of the school districts are unable to provide."
Jacobson's company, Valley Leadership, provides a similar program to business leaders called "Education Day." The yearly program, explains Jacobson, is also meant to foster relationships between schools and corporations.
"It's a great experience," he says. "I think it just reconfirms the idea that people need to get into the schools and see what it's like - learn about it first-hand instead of just reading about it."
Jacobson began his stint as executive director of the organization last summer after several years of consulting with organizations about what makes a corporation advance and examining leadership styles.
"I was looking to spend more time in the Valley, and this opportunity (with Valley Leadership) came up and I'm having a great time with it," he says.
Valley Leadership, located at 4105 N. 20th St. in Phoenix, has offered leadership classes to adults and teens for the past 25 years. Jacobson was a participant in the adult class about 17 years ago.
"The classes are meant to enhance the abilities of individuals to serve the community better," he explains. "We want to get people engaged in the community in a variety of ways such as nonprofits, volunteerism and trying to instill a sense of civic engagement."
Jacobson plans to continue his work at Valley Leadership and to expand his understanding of the educational systems in the Valley.
"They are both great programs and I highly recommend that people get involved," he says.
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