These days, it seems like there's a day or month dedicated to just about every cause. But in this case, National Principal Appreciation Month celebrates a group that doesn't often get recognition.
Two Jefferson City Public Schools principals differ in their administrative experience but have similar backgrounds, and they are both dedicated to their students.
Julie Martin has been the principal at East Elementary School for 13 years, making her the most seasoned of all the principals. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Milhollin is in her first full year at Belair Elementary School.
As it so happens, they both went through the local school system, and Milhollin even attended Belair for fifth grade.
"It's very surreal to walk in the gym and cafeteria or a classroom that I was in and think, 'I was their age when I was here,'" she said. "I remember being a fifth-grader and who my teacher was and the P.E. teacher. The playground has hardly changed at all. Even some of the parents, we were kids together here."
Martin said it was a weird feeling for her to be a fellow teacher among some of the teachers who had taught her. One of her favorite high school teachers was still teaching when she started, and it was nice to see her again as a colleague.
Martin taught at Thorpe Gordon Elementary School for 11 years and an elementary school in Vienna for five years. Working as an administrator was never her original plan, she said; it just sort of evolved that way. At one point, the principal position at Thorpe Gordon opened, and she was encouraged to apply. Although she didn't get the promotion, Martin said it got her on the path to obtain her specialists degree in administration.
"The good thing about being principal is you get to see the big picture," Martin said. "As a teacher, you get centered on the big picture of your classroom. You love knowing the 20 to 25 kids every year, and you always remember them. As principal, you get to see that times 20, and the big picture moving a whole bunch of people toward a goal."
Milhollin shared the same sentiment - she gets to see how a project affects the whole school. Plus, being principal gives her the opportunity to meet families and get to know parents in a different way.
Her favorite part is the kids, she said.
"Every day is different," she said. "You don't know what they'll say or do. Their smiles, their hugs; they're all so awesome to work with."
Martin's love for the students is also her favorite part.
"I love seeing them grow," she said. "As principal, you get to see them from kindergarten through fifth grade. You can say, 'I remember them in kindergarten, and they don't like anything like they do now in fifth grade.' You get to see them grow and get to know their families. I get to see them for six years, and that's the best part."
Being at East makes her smile every day, Martin said. She may get pulled in every direction, and there are many days she comes in with a set agenda and only gets to half of the projects. But thinking back on the day, there's always a reason to smile.
In her 13 years, Martin said she's learned to relate to all different types of people, and her people skills have grown over the years.
As a new principal, Milhollin said she didn't fully realize the many hats she'd wear as principal. She's rarely in her office. She likes to stop into classrooms, check on students and help the teachers. There are days she's mopping floors, helping in the lunchroom or doing recess duty.
"It's challenging how many people need you and all the ways you get pulled in one single day," she said. "It's so nice to be needed, and there are other days where I wish I wasn't."
But that hasn't diminished her passion.
"I love what I do," she said. "I love who I work with. And we have a great school, and I hope people agree."