Principal of flight

To help support Chicago schools, Condit teaches seventh-grade science class

BY JUNU KIM

The principal of the George Armstrong School of International Studies in Chicago took a question from seventh-grade student Gina Cruz. "Can you help me make my paper airplane fly better?" she asked. A warm smile broke over the principal's face, and he gladly obliged.

Oct. 24 was no ordinary day at Armstrong School, a Chicago Public School. The students in teacher Michelle Shneider's seventh-grade science class made and flew paper airplanes. And the class was taught by the school's principal for the day: Phil Condit, Boeing chairman and CEO, who participated in the Chicago Public Schools' Principal For a Day program.

Condit's parcipitation in this Chicago Public Schools endeavor exemplifies how Boeing supports community and educational activities through investments and involvement. Education is the largest commitment area for Boeing in the community and among its employees, and Boeing has a longstanding commitment to public education, especially K-12 initiatives.

The Principal For a Day program, initiated by the Chicago Public Schools in 1998, has helped the city's business and civic leaders expand their understanding of the accomplishments and challenges of the students, teachers and principals of the Chicago Public Schools. As part of their duties of the day, participants in the program, which has grown from 677 principals in 1998 to about 1,300 in October 2002, teach a class. Condit discussed the four principles of flight and used paper and balsa wood airplanes to help illustrate these concepts.

To further demonstrate Boeing's commitment to education, Condit later that day announced three contributions worth more than $1 million to Chicago-based education partnerships.

"Boeing has been at the forefront of the movement to raise academic standards so that all students, not just the brightest and most advantaged, reach higher levels of performance," said Condit at a press conference announcing the contributions.

The three education investments announced in Chicago—to New Leaders for New Schools, the Academy for Urban School Leadership, and the Young Women's Leadership Charter School of Chicago—will support highly focused efforts toward systemic change in principal development, teacher development and parent involvement.

In fact, as part of Boeing's involvement in the New Leaders for New Schools program, which is designed to better prepare future principals, 10 top-level Boeing executives will serve as personal mentors. Condit will serve as a mentor to Daniel Kramer, assistant principal of Armstrong School.

In addition, Boeing will continue its multi-year investments in After School Matters and The Chicago Public Education Fund announced earlier this year.

"These investments all represent strategic and collaborative partnerships," said Toni Bailey, vice president of community and education relations. "Our philosophy toward citizenship involves more than financial support; it focuses on programs directed to systemic change in education."

Not only does Boeing invest in the education initiatives among its communities, but it also helps its employees further their educations. Last year, through the company's Lifelong Learning Program, more than 30,000 employees took college courses at company expense; employees also receive Boeing stock when they complete a degree.

junu.kim@boeing.com