Rowland Water District representatives join Principal for a Day program to see the work of local educators firsthand.
ROWLAND HEIGHTS, CA (October 19, 2026) Two Rowland Water District (RWD) staff members traded their usual focus on water service for a school day in the principal’s role at Telesis Academy of Science and Math. RWD’s Administrative Analyst Brittnie Gildea and Senior Water Efficiency Specialist Joel Douglass took part in Principal for a Day, a program that invites community leaders to step into the role of a school principal and see daily campus life firsthand.
Gildea and Douglass spent the day alongside Telesis Academy Principal Cristina Canales, connecting with scholars and seeing the work of teachers and staff across campus. Anees Sean Saifi of LA Pension Planners joined them as a fellow community partner. Telesis Academy of Science and Math is a public K-8 school located in West Covina within the Rowland Unified School District.
“For several years, I have had the privilege of participating in Principal for a Day, and each year reminds me just how much heart, dedication, and care the educators pour into their students,” said Gildea. “Seeing firsthand the many responsibilities a principal takes on each day, while still making every student feel supported, is amazing. Experiences like this remind me why our partnerships with local schools are so meaningful, and I look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship with all local schools and finding new ways to support students and staff.”
For Douglass, this year marked his first time taking part in the program.
“This was my first time participating in Principal for a Day, and seeing the care and dedication from the principal, teachers, and the cafeteria staff was inspiring. The students made the day even more memorable by welcoming us with a fun college chant,” said Douglass. “The passion they bring to their work each day was special to witness, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to experience it firsthand.”
“It was such a joy to welcome Brittnie and Joel from Rowland Water District to Telesis Academy for Principal for a Day!” said Canales. “From the enthusiastic college chants to the opportunity to interact with our visitors throughout the school day, our students felt important, valued, and genuinely cared for. What made this experience especially meaningful was the time Brittnie and Joel took to connect with our students, show interest in their learning, and recognize the incredible work happening in our classrooms.”
Rowland Water District’s partnerships with local schools reflect its purpose of Caring for Our Neighbors and Our Future. By taking part in programs such as Principal for a Day, the RWD invests in the community it serves today and the students who will lead it tomorrow.
