‘Backbone’ Soldier is ‘principal for a day’
at Desertaire

Sgt. Alexander Burnett

11th ADA Bde. Public Affairs

It is just another typical school day as students shuffle through the elementary school doors. They settle into their respective classrooms, listen to their pledges and hear what will be on the lunch menu for that day. Then something unusual happens as the principal says over the intercom, “Students, we have a very special guest who will be our principal for today. Bring all your questions to him.”

Sgt. James O’Quin, an orderly room noncommissioned officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, was the “principal for a day” at Desertaire Elementary School, March 5.

O’Quin’s day began with an in-brief from Lisa Lopez, the school principal. He received instruction on his duties as the principal, an itinerary for the day and talking points should he have a chance to talk with students.

“It’s very exciting and I am happy to have this opportunity,” said O’Quin, who is also his battery’s Partners in Education representative. “It will be nice to see how a principal leads and mentors a school full of young minds.”

The first order of business was an admission review and dismissal meeting for a student. O’Quin reviewed the student in question, discussed the situation with the principal and certain staff members, and sat in on the meeting with the student’s parent.

O’Quin departed the meeting to spend some time with other students to address possible concerns and needs. 

First he met with the school’s sixth grade class to discuss the importance of discipline in everything they do, how to be successful and to take their upcoming Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills exam seriously. He also spoke to the fifth grade class about similar issues.

“Talking to those kids was like talking to my own,” said O’Quin. “I came from this area, I grew up here, I was one of these students once upon a time. I want them to know what will make them successful in their lives.”

Lopez brought O’Quin to a luncheon with all the principals in the Ysleta Independent School District to meet the district superintendent, receive recognition for being a PIE representative and being principal for a day, said Lopez.

“This is a great experience for our Partners in Education and it’s always good for them to get a feel for what we do on a daily basis,” said Lopez. “This job can be demanding and the situations we face are unexpected and it’s good to experience that first hand.”