Active until Sunday, August 9. For public safety, certain trails are restricted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Partner with a Principal
In the fall of 2026, business and community leaders will head back to school to participate in the annual Partner with a Principal to work alongside public charter and private school principals for a day. After experiencing the role of a school principal, they discuss ways to form lasting partnerships that enhance education quality, workplace readiness, and leadership development programs.
Important Dates for the 2026 Partner with a Principal Program
Insight Exchange: Business and community leaders gain firsthand experience but working alongside of school principals. This exchange of perspective helps them understand the challenges and opportunities in education.
Collaboration: The program encourages collaboration between schools and businesses by fostering partnerships, they can jointly address education needs and enhance programs.
Quality Improvement: Principals and executives discuss ways to improve education quality, workplace readiness, and leadership development. Their insights lead to positive change in schools.
Community Engagement: Engaging community leaders in schools strengthens ties between education institutions and community leaders, organizations and businesses creating a more supportive environment for students.
Applications Open: August 1 to August 28
2026 School Visit: September 14 to Ocotober 23
- During this period, participants engage with school principals.
Culmination Luncheon: Date to be determined, held at Grand Canyon University
- The program concludes with a luncheon celebrating the partnerships formed and the positive impacts made throughout the program.
2025 Partner Highlight
Partnership Spotlights
2024: Partnership Spotlight: STIIX
2023: Partnership Spotlight: Partner with a Principal Program on Valley of the Sun United Way
At GCU we are always looking at ways to provide outreach to our community, so we jumped right on board when we heard about the 'Partner with a Principal'
In 2024, 65 partnerships were developed and as a part of this program, staff from Grand Canyon University (GCU) partnered with school administration at Bernard Black Entrepreneur Academy and Tomahawk Elementary School, “At GCU we are always looking at ways to provide outreach to our community, so we jumped right on board when we heard about the 'Partner with a Principal' program," Dr. Carol Lippert, asst. vice president at GCU said. “It was a way for us to get individuals from GCU who maybe aren't as familiar with how K-12 schools work and operate on a regular basis, and to also explore ways for us to partner with those schools into the future."
Laveen School District also partnered with the Chasse Building Team and Vulcan Materials Company. Dr. Jeff Sprout, superintendent of Laveen District says, “The keyword in our relationship with Vulcan and Chasse is “evolving." The greatest aspect of these relationships is they evolve with the needs of the district, but also throughout that relationship, we hear about their needs as well and so that helps us to equip our students to be their future workforce."