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All Building Together

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By MICHELE SAGER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 18, 2007

Updated: 08/16/2007 05:11 pm

NORTH TAMPA - It was just last month that Principal Cheryl Dafeldecker learned she would be leading the new MOSI Partnership Elementary. From that moment, she hit the ground running, spending the past month getting the space inside the Museum of Science & Industry ready for the 300 attending students. Dafeldecker was principal at Cannella Elementary in Tampa the past three years. Before that, she led Robles Elementary.

What are you looking forward to most about this school year?

I can't wait to meet the children and families. We're in this together; we're building this together.

What is your favorite part of the principal job?

Making a difference in a child's life and letting the parents know why we're here.

What is your least favorite part of the job?

I don't enjoy the paperwork side of it. The business side of the job is very time-consuming. You're responsible for the entire school budget down to the amount of toilet paper.

What was your first day like when you started your career?

I was right out of college, working at Ruskin Elementary. I was paired with an experienced teacher, and it was phenomenal. I was mentored on everything from preplanning to teaching methods. I was also given the leeway to think outside the box. It set the pace for me, and I have tried to set that same pace for my teachers.

What is the biggest change in education since you started?

The pressure of accountability. I believe in accountability, but there is so much emphasis on it. I was at Robles when it was an F school, and it was all over the newspaper. It's hard to take, but it just makes you fight harder and work harder.

Have you read the seventh book in the Harry Potter series?

No. My 13-year-old son has read it twice already. I'm in love with the characters, but I haven't read it yet. Luckily, he hasn't told me the ending.

Reporter Michele Sager can be reached at (813) 865-4843 or msager@tampatrib.com.

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