Roxbury — Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea J. Cabral set aside her badge Tuesday, November 1, and instead assumed the role of “Principal for a Day” at the Henry L. Higginson Elementary School in Roxbury. Though it was the first time Sheriff Cabral has participated in the Boston Public Schools Principal for a Day Program, the Higginson School has invited local officials and community members to the school in the past. The purpose is to give the Principals for a Day a hands-on perspective of the challenges faced by schools and educators and to help them understand how a school operates.

“I really enjoyed being ‘Principal for a Day,’” said Sheriff Cabral. “Higginson Elementary is a wonderful school and [Principal] Joy Oliver is a terrific educator. She provides great leadership to a group of dedicated teachers, paraprofessionals and staff who have created an excellent learning environment for all the students.”

Sheriff Cabral arrived at Higginson Elementary before the start of the school day to meet with Principal Oliver, whom the Sheriff would be shadowing, take a brief tour of the school, and speak with teachers as they prepared for the day’s lessons. Principal Oliver and “Principal” Cabral then headed out doors to meet students as they got off their school busses.

“Principal” Cabral’s duties started off by leading the 162-student school in the Pledge of Allegiance. She then sat in on Mrs. Daley’s fifth grade class as they gave presentations on “What I Want to Be When I Grow Up.” “Principal” Cabral also read Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? to a class of kindergarteners and participated in a computer class led by Kathie Trainer.

“She was great, and the kids couldn’t wait to show her what they’d done on the computers,” said Trainer of Sheriff Cabral. “They’re young but they knew who she was, and I think it was important for them to see an intelligent woman like Sheriff Cabral in a high ranking position. It had a big impact.”

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