Beard Elementary's principal walked to the assembly podium, facing the same hundreds of kids she had just monitored through lunch recess. She admitted beforehand she was nervous about giving a speech her first day on the job.
But Makena Ebster, 8, carried it off with aplomb, even when surprised by a visit from her "poppa," Ken Arnold, just before her speech.
"Miss Ebster's" first day as principal was also her last. Friday's title was a one-day honor granted to the top two fund-raisers from the school's jog-a-thon.
Second-grader Isabella Jordan will be Principal for a Day next week. The girls were part of a schoolwide effort that raised nearly $8,000 for Beard this fall.
Makena's speech was about another fund-raiser, this one a penny drive to support scholarships for Beard alumni. The school gave out two $800 scholarships last year, said Mark Wilson. It was his seat that Makena filled, legs dangling, on Friday.
The hardest part of the job, she declared as she watched the blacktop from her principal's chair, was "keeping an eye on all the kids." She would have liked to have given kids a break from schoolwork during her tenure, but that idea didn't go over so well with the grown-ups.
Wilson said she checked over papers that needed his signature and made classroom visits. "She tells me what to do and how to fix my spelling," he said, nodding seriously.
Perhaps it came naturally. Makena's grandfather was principal at Beard for 16 years. When he retired, 22 years ago, the Dr. Ken Arnold Scholarship was started in his name.
Makena's speech Friday was the kick-off for the scholarship penny drive. Arnold pitched in a check for "10,000 pennies" to get the drive started.
The three principals, one retired, one honorary and one just enjoying the day, posed for pictures before the assembly.
Arnold gave his granddaughter a hug. "She could run the show," he said with a chuckle.
Bee education reporter Nan Austin can be reached at naustin@modbee.com or (209) 578-2339.
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