Stockland regional manager Anton Pound, right, takes over the job of Lyndhurst Secondary College principal Steve Phillips for a day.By Sarah Schwager
LYNDHURST Secondary College scored a new principal for a day last week.
Stockland regional manager Anton Pound learnt the ropes from principal Steve Phillips last Friday in the annual Principal for a Day program.
Mr Pound joined other community leaders around the state in giving up their day job to become principal and help celebrate state education.
“It’s a really great way of sharing ideas and reconnecting with students and the education system,” Mr Pound said.
“I only finished school within the last 20 years but it is amazing how much it has changed.
“There is a real sense of interactive learning. The classrooms are open plan, with the teachers roaming around.
“It is a lot like new office planning which is open and integrated, rather that contained in a four wall structure. The students seem far more engaged.”
Mr Phillips said the day aimed to give businesses an idea of how schools operate and help establish important connections between students and the business world in which they would soon be entering.
“It has been a good opportunity to look at the commonalities in how a school is run compared to running businesses,” he said.
“There are a lot of similarities in response to strategic planning and staff development. I was surprised at the level of commonalities.”
Mr Pound said he would love to have a greater role with the Cranbourne North school, such as with its career nights and mock interview programs.
Mr Phillips said he hoped the favour would be reciprocated and he would be asked to participate in the Executive for a Day program.
