Even as principal of the M. Hall Stanton Elementary School in North Philadelphia, Sheila Sydnor still finds time to shepherd sleepy students into the building in the morning and make lunchroom patrols.
And come this fall, she'll have the chance to do it in a new venue -- the University-assisted Pre K-8 public school at 42nd and Spruce streets.
"I'm excited about it because I think it will be good for the school, community, Penn and staff," Sydnor said.
A committee of community representatives, Penn officials, and school district administrators chose Sydnor from a pool of 60 national candidates.
The selection was made on the basis of Sydnor's leadership abilities and her experience in creating an environment conducive to learning and high student achievement.
"I think that having done a national search, you've really found a prize," said Jerry Jordan, vice president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. "She'll just be really dynamic for the parents, kids and staff."
With a resume that boasts 25 years in education -- including the last nine as Stanton's principal -- Sydnor has become renowned for her collaborative style of leadership.
"It's worked well in the past because the staff... takes ownership in all the decisions that are being made," Sydnor said.
At Stanton, Sydnor put her leadership skills to use by building bridges between the school and community. She also arranged for her students to report the weather for a local television station and led the creation of a world map that faculty and students designed and painted on the school's playground.
But she calls her proudest accomplishment her efforts to incorporate technology into the curriculum of a school located in one of the city's poorest neighborhoods.
As the school year at Stanton winds down, Sydnor's attention is now focused on finding teachers for her new school, which is under construction and will not be complete until the summer of 2002.
Next fall, the Penn-assisted school -- which will eventually house 700 students -- will have a partial opening for kindergarten and first grade. Classes will be held at the former Philadelphia Divinity School, which will eventually become part of the new school complex.
Penn will share control with the school district over the school's "governance and operation" as part of its attempts to revitalize the neighborhood surrounding campus. Penn is leasing the land for a token fee, and is providing an operating subsidy of $1,000 per student to keep class sizes small.
"This historic partnership merits a principal with excellent instructional leadership skills," Susan Fuhrman, dean of the Graduate School of Education, said in a statement.
Sydnor is working closely with the GSE in selecting a staff and developing the curriculum. The new school will also be a source of "professional development," training both GSE students and teachers from throughout Philadelphia.
And despite a widespread teacher shortage, the positions at the new school have not gone unnoticed.
"The opportunity to be associated with the Penn-assisted school has proved to be very appealing to a great number of teachers," said Nancy Streim, GSE associate dean for graduate and professional education.
By accepting the post at the Penn-assisted school, Sydnor is also returning to her West Philadelphia roots.
"As a product of the West Philadelphia schools, and having begun my teaching career in this community, it is particularly gratifying to be returning home," Sydnor said in a statement.
But as for the faculty and staff left behind at Stanton, Jordan predicts some misty eyes.
"I know already that the teachers... are going to be very sad to lose her," he said.
