| SAN DIEGO – It’s back to school for | | | | luncheon at the Paradise Point Resort & Spa |
| over 170 San Diego area business executives, as | | | | together with all participants to hear from San Diego |
| they are matched with San Diego Unified School | | | | Unified Superintendent Carl A. Cohn about how the |
| District principals to become “Principal for a | | | | local business community can form lasting |
| Day” on October 19. The program is | | | | partnerships with schools in order to enrich the quality |
| sponsored by Merrill Lynch, supported by San Diego | | | | of education in San Diego. |
| Regional Chamber of Commerce and the San Diego | | | | “First-time participants are usually very |
| Padres and coordinated by San Diego Unified. The | | | | surprised at just how busy a principal’s day |
| Principal for a Day program joins business executives | | | | can be,” said Cohn. “It’s always |
| with school principals to foster a new spirit of civic | | | | an eye-opener, and we appreciate that |
| involvement and commitment to San Diego public | | | | they’re taking time out of their full schedules |
| schools. Locally, Principal for a Day was launched in | | | | to learn about San Diego’s schools.” |
| the early 90’s in an effort to keep the | | | | “Principal for a Day provides us with an |
| business community in touch with educational needs. | | | | opportunity to experience first-hand the challenges |
| "San Diego's public schools have done an | | | | and rewards that many of our principals and |
| outstanding job forging a strong partnership with the | | | | educational leaders face daily,” said Joseph |
| region's business and civic communities," said | | | | Campano, Honorary Co-Chair, Director, Merrill Lynch, |
| Mayor Jerry Sanders. "The 'Principal for a Day' | | | | San Diego Complex. “Merrill Lynch looks |
| program recognizes that preparing today's students | | | | forward to translating this one-day experience into |
| for tomorrow's workforce is a vital investment in San | | | | long-term relationships that will help our future |
| Diego's future." | | | | workforce.” |
| Each year, volunteers contribute more than 990,000 | | | | Students have the opportunity to interact with |
| hours. Their time is valued at nearly $19 million. For | | | | business leaders in their capacity as principal for a day |
| many guest principals, it will be years since they have | | | | and learn about executives’ professional |
| set foot on a school site – for some, it will be | | | | responsibilities and how to best prepare for the |
| their first visit to a San Diego Unified campus. | | | | workplace setting. Teachers will also share their |
| “Merrill Lynch is pleased to participate in the | | | | experiences, challenges and ideas with executives. |
| Principal for a Day program, both in San Diego and | | | | The program helps educators reshape classroom |
| nationally, because it provides our employees with a | | | | instruction to meet the needs of today’s |
| unique opportunity to interact and connect with | | | | demanding workforce. |
| children and professionals of the community, said | | | | “This program aligns with the Padres |
| Eddy Bayardelle, president of the Merrill Lynch | | | | Community Relations mantra – LIVE, LEARN |
| Foundation. “Together, we are forming strong | | | | and PLAY – and we are honored to be a part |
| partnerships between business people and | | | | of it,” said Richard Freeman, Honorary |
| educators.” | | | | Co-Chair, President & COO, San Diego Padres. |
| The program allows business executives and civic | | | | “For one day, members of the business world |
| leaders to spend a half day working on campus with | | | | get to learn from these fine educators, as well the |
| school principals and later gathering at a debriefing | | | | students. |