Elgin High lets two play principal for day

Elgin business owner Kevin Echevarria and Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon normally have very different jobs, but on Thursday both got a taste of what it's like to run Elgin High School.

For example, the principal never knows when a troublesome student will be handed yet another suspension, or when a student's family shows up unannounced to have a serious meeting. That's what happened to Elgin High School Principal Jerry Cook, whose plans for hosting Echevarria and McMahon during Elgin Area School District U-46's fourth annual “Principal for a Day” were slightly derailed by both occurrences.

Altogether, 74 people — including business owners, college instructors, police officers, local and state elected officials, and even journalists — were invited to participate in the fourth annual event held in elementary, middle and high schools throughout the district.

Echeverria and McMahon started their day by having breakfast with students, followed by going on a building tour, attending a staff meeting, and visiting with Assistant Principal Josie Melendez and Associate Principal Alan Flota.

“It's just like I remember it, but it's also improved a lot,” said Echevarria, a 2005 graduate of Elgin High who co-owns Delicia Tropical Cafe. He unsuccessfully ran for a spot on the U-46 school board in 2009.

“It seems like they have more systems in place to deal with students who need help, they don't just do it individually,” he added, referring to a conversation during the staff meeting about how to balance the needs of students with different reading levels in the same classroom.

McMahon, who graduated from St. Edward Central Catholic High School in 1985, said he was impressed by the array of vocational opportunities students are offered at Elgin High, including training in nursing and various trades. “College isn't for everyone, and we have to make sure we offer students what they need,” he said.

He also applauded school officials for being dedicated to helping all students, including troublesome ones, achieve their highest potential. “It would be easy to pass on the problem (to another school), but then it becomes a downward spiral,” he said.

The guest principals stopped by a couple of classes in the morning, and wrapped up their day with a visit to a senior English class where students were learning about poetry month. Student Dominique Maybank explained that when she writes poetry, she try to pushes the boundaries of her own experience. “Sometimes (my writing) is not just about my experience. You got to challenge yourself,” she said.