High school principals Peter Cahall of Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C., and Walter Jackson of Alief Taylor High School in Houston, take NPR inside a day in the life of their job. They talk about the challenges of wearing many hats to provide visionary and practical leadership for their school. 

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                                                                                   Woodrow Wilson High School


Good Morning Wilson Students and Parents. This is Principal Cahall calling to welcome you back to the 2009-2010 school year. We are excited and look forward to having our students return to school today. We have been planning and preparing for the year and have high expectations for what the year will bring to our school community.

We are strongly encouraging students to arrive early today. School begins at 8:45 sharp. Students will report to their homerooms. The homeroom list will be posted in the hallways where students enter. Updated schedules will be distributed in homeroom. It is extremely important that students attend and are on time as we will be conducting an extensive orientation program.

We have made many upgrades to the supports and services that we will provide our parents and students. I would ask for patience as we work through schedule change issues and other logistics that will need to be resolved in the first few days.

I know that this year will get at the core of our students potential so that they can realize all of the possibilities that an education will afford them. So sharpen those pencils, set the alarm clock, pack the lunch box, and lay out your clothes.we will kick off the 2009-2010 school year today. I look forward to serving every student and parent this year.Have a great day and we will see you soon.