Cisco executive heads back to high school

Principal for a Day program focuses on public-private partnerships

Going back to school has given Cisco's Barry Burke a renewed confidence in the leaders of tomorrow.

"As I walked through the halls of George Harvey Collegiate Institute, I quickly realized how vital it is that the private sector continue to support the needs of such bright and talented young people as they move into their careers," says Burke, Cisco Systems Canada's Region Manager, Ontario Public Sector. "By starting off their studies on the right foot, students will graduate with the skills necessary to succeed in a changing world."

Burke recently reigned as 'Principal for a Day' at the school, which is part of the Toronto Districts School Board. His involvement was part of an annual program run by The Learning Partnership (www.tlp.on.ca), a not-for-profit, volunteer-driven, professionally-staffed organization dedicated to developing constructive alliances among education, business and the community.

One day each year, senior community or business leaders, heads of city agencies, directors of not-for-profit groups, and leaders in municipal and provincial governments are invited to shadow a school principal for the day. In turn, each participating principal visits the business leader's workplace to observe the way the business and community organizations work to meet their goals and challenges.

The Principal for a Day program promotes links between schools and the community and encourages the sharing of ideas on leadership and management techniques. The long-term goal is to create opportunities for building strong relationships and partnerships in the publicly-funded education system.

Cisco has developed a successful relationship with the education system through the Cisco Networking Academy, a four-semester co-operative program teaching high school students how to design, build, and maintain networks capable of supporting today's national and global organizations. Students learn the information needed to prepare them for the world of networking, positioning them for immediate openings in a talent-hungry job market or for engineering- and science-focused college studies. George Harvey Collegiate launched the Networking Academy Program in 1998 and is the Regional Academy for the Toronto District School Board. The program has attracted so much attention that a second Cisco lab was built earlier this year to accommodate student demand.

For Cisco and private industry, the Cisco Networking Academy is a meaningful step toward developing desperately-needed technology skills in the next generation of workers. For schools, the Networking Academy program represents vital technology support and resources to supplement limited funds. For students, it is highly relevant preparation for the increasingly technology-dependent economy into which they will emerge.

"Business-education partnerships are the stepping stone to building a strong, technology-literate workforce," says Burke. "By eagerly pursuing such relationships, George Harvey Collegiate is playing an active role in both the educational and social development of our future leaders."

For Burke, going back to high school was an enlightening experience. With principal Libert Castillo as his mentor, Burke's day began with an orientation meeting and tour of the school with student leaders.

Following the tour, Burke and Castillo participated in a strategic planning meeting with the school's administration team. Since the Ontario government reduced funding for adult education programs several years ago and George Harvey Collegiate faced an uncertain future, the school has been actively pursuing ways to change its approach from purely traditional business/technical focus, to a high-tech focus. Burke was able to add a marketing dynamic to the meeting by encouraging the team to analyze the competition and develop key survival strategies.

"As educators, we are often so focused on our mandate and don't often get the opportunity to experience issues through corporate eyes," says Castillo. "Barry brought a fresh perspective to the table. Throughout the day, he was able to offer valuable advice and insight."

Burke's afternoon involved resolving student/teacher issues, troubleshooting and conducting routine school business. He visited the Cisco Networking Academy labs, acted as hall monitor and even supervised a gym class. He also spent time speaking with students about their future goals.

Burke likens the job of a school principal to that of a chief executive officer: "The pressure on Libert Castillo as principal is astonishing. The school is like his company. He is responsible for every facet - from the students, the parents and the community interface to the facilities, the security and the activities. But the most important thing I saw Libert do that day was providing leadership - being visible and setting an example for people on how to conduct themselves. The spectrum of things that he has to deal with on any given day is a revelation to me. It takes an amazing person to do what he does."

Castillo hopes to visit Cisco Systems Canada in the near future as part of the 'Principal for a Day' program's reciprocal visit component, enabling him to observe the way business and community organizations work to meet their goals and challenges. "It's always reassuring to know that we are not the only ones going through massive change," says Castillo. "By creating partnerships with leaders such as Cisco Systems, educators are able to continue to focus on what we do best: creating a safe, supportive and enhanced learning environment for our students."

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