EVERETT — On Winter Mathison’s first day as principal, he greeted students, reviewed plans for a new elementary school and even critiqued a few teachers.
Not a bad day’s work for a 10-year-old.
The fourth-grader at View Ridge Elementary School won the chance to serve as principal for a day. His mom entered his name in a school raffle.
When the boy learned he’d get to rule the school for a day, he was part nervous, part excited.
“I thought I’d panic until I passed out,” he said.
Winter is the son of Tippi and Rob Mathison of Everett.
Mom described her son as shy and caring, the kind of big brother who comforts his 6-year-old sister when she’s upset.
He’s a Cub Scout who enjoys playing war games with neighborhood boys and bouncing on the family’s super-sized trampoline.
Given the chance to be principal, some kids might be tempted to use the school phone to order 400 pizzas or sound the dismissal bell early.
Winter isn’t that kind of kid. He showed up Wednesday as professional as the real principal of View Ridge, Kert Lenseigne.
The fourth-grader wore a paisley necktie — his first — and a blue dress shirt neatly tucked into his jeans. A notepad and pen at the ready poked out of his shirt pocket. A special photo ID card on a View Ridge Vikings lanyard hung around his neck, just like that of the real principal.
Lenseigne packed the day with activities for his protege. They greeted students as they streamed from buses, sent an email to View Ridge staff and observed teachers in their classrooms.
One of his first stops was in his little sister’s kindergarten class. He left her teacher, Mrs. Aubrey Brock, a note: “You have on task students!”
A custodian let Winter peek inside all the secret closets, electrical rooms and staircases kids normally don’t get to see. He was even given a set of keys, which he clipped onto a loop of his jeans where they jangled importantly the rest of the day.
The music teacher brought both principals cookies.
In the hallway, students ran up to hug Lenseigne, calling him “Mr. L.” Teachers passed by, calling out, “Good morning, Mr. L” and then to Winter, “Good morning, Mr. M!”
One student took in Winter with his buttoned-down shirt and whispered to his teacher, “Is Mr. L retiring?”
During lunch Winter got to eat a specially ordered chicken burger, fries and ice cream from a fast food restaurant. If Winter was eating like the principal normally does, it would have been a sandwich scarfed during a spare moment.
Winter helped the kitchen workers wipe down tables in the cafeteria and picked up stray trash outside. He walked the playground, making sure all the slides and monkey bars were safe.
In short, the day was packed with all the mundane moments and small joys of taking care of a school with 560 children.
Winter, however, was spared the more unpleasant tasks of a principal: a child injured on the playground, a difficult conversation with upset parents, an unruly student.
“They don’t quite understand the nature of the job, how little power the principal actually has,” Lenseigne said.
After all, he can’t shorten the school year or order a fancy new playground.
The principal can support teachers so they can do their jobs well. He can help his students make better choices, keep them moving down the right path.
Winter said he enjoyed his experience, but he’s got another career in mind.
“A Marine,” Winter said. “I do want to serve my country.”
After thinking about it a moment, Winter also said being a principal might not be so bad either.
Then Principal Lenseigne offered a suggestion: “I think you could do both.”
Debra Smith: 425-339-3197; dsmith@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
