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Compared to a high school principal, UNCG Chancellor Linda Brady's job entails overseeing a much larger population of students and educators. But Brady recently discovered she has more in common with her peers in education than she realized.

"I was impressed with the shared values and challenges facing secondary education and facing universities," said Brady, who spent Wednesday shadowing Page High School principal Marilyn Foley as part of the Guilford Education Alliance's third annual Principal for a Day initiative.

"For example, the students have very different learning styles, and we're both trying to address that," Brady said. "We all need to be engaged in ensuring the schools are successful."

More than 50 corporate and community members participated in Principal for a Day, which gives participants a first-hand look at what Guilford County is doing to improve instruction and lets them experience what is demanded of principals. Participants spent the morning following principals through the normal routines of the day, such as bus duty and visiting classrooms.

"This is a way for us to bring people into schools who normally aren't there," said Margaret Arbuckle, executive director of the Guilford Education Alliance. "Everyone has an opinion about how we can improve our schools."

As Brady and Foley's morning progressed, they found more similarities, such as security issues and planning for budget cuts.

"It's amazing how common the problems and challenges are, such as how to build confidence, motivate, establish goals, build self-respect and create an understanding that you have to work to achieve goals," Brady said.

Brady said she also learned some things that she hopes will better help her serve UNCG students. At Page, she visited with four teachers who had recently graduated from the university and asked them how well they feel UNCG prepared them for teaching.

"They said they valued our practice of hands-on learning and bringing current teachers into the class, so I am going to look more at that area," she said.

Brady was also surprised by the diversity of students and programs. "Now that I have a better understanding of the diversity of programs offered, I am going to talk with our admissions staff to make sure we are more aware of differences," she said.

Participants convened at Grandover Resort for lunch and shared their experiences. Corporate sponsors were Stearns Financial Services Group, Brown Investment Properties and Piedmont Natural Gas.

This was Al Lineberry 's second year participating as a Principal for a Day. Lineberry, funeral director for Hanes-Lineberry Funeral Service, shadowed Gibsonville Elementary principal Cathy Batts.

"I was amazed," Lineberry said. "I don't think the general public understands what principals and teachers go through."

Former teacher Penni Foust , assistant vice president of ABGA sales for Lincoln Financial Group went to Irving Park Elementary.

"I taught for nine years, and this brought back to mind what teachers and staff deal with, such as language barriers and special needs," Foust said.

Nancy Radtke , an agent with Allen Tate Realtors, shadowed Shelley Nixon-Greene , principal of Penn-Griffin School for the Arts . "As a Realtor, when I talk about schools, I always encourage customers to make appointments with the principals in the neighborhoods," she said. "Now, I feel even stronger about that."

Melissa Nixon , principal of Irving Park Elementary, hopes the Principal for a Day participants share what they learned with colleagues. "Hopefully, it will help us get the word out about how much support we need," she said.

Arbuckle agreed.

"We hope they establish a relationship with that principal and the school system that continues," Arbuckle said. "These community leaders have the opportunity to become ambassadors for the schools in the larger community."

Contact Jennifer Atkins Brown at 574-5582 or jennifer.brown@news-record.com.