Community Connections: Principal for a Day continues

Community connections continued during our Principal for a Day program as Clark County Attorney William Elkins and Magistrate Daniel Konstantopoulos visited our schools.

At our Area Tech Center, Elkins welcomed the chance to get a close-up look at the high-quality career and technical education opportunities available to local students.

ATC Principal Dr. Jessica McCullough, Mr. Elkins, Drake Warner, Allen Doan, and welding instructor James Willoughby.

“I treasure the opportunity to see what the 2025 graduates look like, and to see what's being offered to them in terms of preparing them to enter our local workforce or any workforce so they can provide for themselves and their families,” Elkins said. “Having been a former vocational education student myself, I know how those experiences helped me mature and gave me skills that have stayed with me throughout my life.”

Elkins even traded his suit and tie for safety gear as he welded alongside students, bringing back memories of his own time as a vocational education student who went on to work as a welder before becoming an attorney.

 “It has been a while since I welded,” he said. “But with the high-quality equipment, instruction, and materials the students have here, I was set up to do well. It’s impressive to see the opportunities they have in this program.”

Elkins expressed appreciation for Mr. Howard and the staff for providing such an engaging and meaningful experience, noting that programs like these showcase the strength and value of vocational education in preparing students for their futures.

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Strode Station Elementary got a special treat this Halloween when Magistrate Konstantopoulos stepped into the role of Principal for a Day.

Magistrate Konstantopoulos donned a Halloween costume of his own while serving as Principal for a Day at Strode Station. Here he poses with students in Ms. Thomas's class.

The visit gave Konstantopoulos a firsthand look at what it takes to run a busy school — and a chance to experience the energy of Halloween from a school’s perspective.

“It's important for us as public officials to see the day-to-day activities going on in the school and to see what principals and teachers face,” he said. “Once you spend the full day with them and see what things pop up during the day and all the questions they get asked and the different scenarios that go on, you really get a full perspective of what they deal with on a daily basis.”

Getting to experience the school on Halloween was an extra special treat, Konstantopoulos said.

“When I do this again,” he said, “I will try to choose Halloween because it's been a blast. I loved seeing how the staff and students celebrated together. It’s been a lot of fun seeing all the teachers and students dressed up and how they interact with each other.”

Although his role as a magistrate doesn’t directly involve schools, Konstantopoulos said the experience reinforced how community partnerships connect to education.

“The Fiscal Court doesn’t deal directly with the school system but it's all about building relationships,” he said. “The county’s programs, funding, and infrastructure all play a role in supporting schools, students, and the broader community.”

Konstantopoulos praised CCPS for welcoming public officials into the schools and giving them a firsthand look at the meaningful work happening each day.

Mr. Elkins traded his sport coat for safety gear, taking him back to his days as a welder for Link Belt.

Mr. Konstantopoulos boards the bus with students at Strode.

Mr. Elkins looks on as welding student Gunner Brock works in his bay.

Mr. Konstantopoulos said Halloween will always be the day he chooses to serve as Principal for a Day after the fun he had. Here he poses with Principal Anitria Coston and Assistant Principal Jordan Fulks.