Joliet community members serve as 'principals' for a day

JOLIET – Paris Wilhite once attended Edna Keith Elementary School as a fifth-grader and on Thursday she was its honorary principal.

Wilhite, CEO of Bounce Back Social Services, was one of 21 community leaders and members who came to each school within Joliet District 86 to serve as a principal for a day.

Other community members came from the City Council, the park district, local universities, businesses and nonprofit organizations.

For Wilhite, the day was a flashback to her time as a student. She managed to visit the classroom she once attended.

“Guess what?” Wilhite said to the students. “When I was in fifth grade, this very room was my fifth-grade classroom.”

Wilhite was given a tour of Keith by interim principal Casonya Henderson, who led her to the library to show her the cougar store – the school mascot is a cougar – where students can “purchase” items with cougar cash earned by making good choices.

Henderson said the students do very well and teachers "CHAMP out" expectations in the classroom and hallways, referring to the district's program to improve student behavior and set expectations.

“We just put a lot of fun things in place to get the students excited about their school day,” Henderson said.

Henderson pointed out Keith – like other District 86 schools – has a bully hotline. She said Keith is meant to be a safe haven for students.

“I always tell my students if they don’t feel safe here then I’m not doing my job,” she said.

Wilhite visited teacher Stephen Grant’s classroom, where she took questions from students about Bounce Back Social Services and how it helps veterans.

The nonprofit organization provides services such as homeless prevention, housing retention, life skills counseling, career development and more. Wilhite said her organization helps veterans with career education and helping them to make skills they obtained in the military applicable so they can attend college or vocational programs.

“Maybe they did electrical work in the military. Maybe they fixed airplanes. What we do is we help them to convert those skills and use them now in society,” she said.

Wilhite said Keith staff and teachers seem really involved and upbeat in the school. She said when she came to the school Thursday morning, the students were coming up to Henderson and giving her hugs.

“That says a lot about the principal if the students feel he or she is approachable,” she said.