Tune in to PBA30 tonight at 9 p.m. for the latest episode of “APS Today,” hosted by Nwandi Lawson. This month’s episode will focus on the exciting Principal for a Day program in which high-profile members of the community spend a day learning more about Atlanta Public Schools. While every school participates in the October program, the featured schools for this episode are Toomer Elementary (pictured), Springdale Park Elementary, and Coan Middle. (See the PFAD profile on Toomer here, and the Springdale Park profile here.)
PFAD
Principal for a Day: Toomer Elementary welcomes Valarie Acree, Anthony Jewett

Toomer Elementary Principal Nicole Evans Jones hosts Anthony Jewett and Valarie Acree.
Toomer Elementary‘s Principal for a Day featured a double-shot of community partners as Valarie Acree, Target Assets Protection Team Leader, and Anthony Jewett, Zeist Foundation Fellow, visited the school in their honarary role.
The Principals for a Day began their morning with an inspirational announcement to students, parents, faculty and staff. “I am so excited to be here, said Jewett.” “Principal for a Day really gave me a chance to come inside the walls of Atlanta Public Schools and see all the wonderful things that I so often hear about.”
New Toomer principal Nicole Evans Jones provided an overview of the Direct Instruction reading model and the Mandarin Chinese language program that also extends to Coan, the feeder middle school. A school tour followed with observations of reading, mathematics and foreign language instruction.
The PFADs were “assigned” to lunch duty where they interacted one-on-one with students and heard first-hand about instruction and activities at the school. “We are looking forward to continuing our partnership with Toomer in support of our commitment to public education,” said Acree. “There are wonderful things happening here at Toomer and inside of Atlanta Public Schools.”
