MacArthur senior becomes 'Principal for a day'

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Parsons Elementary School alumnus and MacArthur senior Nolan Evans returned to the grade school to become 'Principal for a day.'

"I love interacting with the kids and just seeing them grow over time," Evans said.

Evans went around to different classrooms throughout the day helping students with classwork, reading, and spoke about the importance of voting.

"We all go through the same things," Evans said. "I was once [a student here]. I was in your position at the same time. Even though things have changed a little bit, you still go through the same struggles."

Evans has become a regular at Parsons, coming back to the school almost every week for a year.

"There are great things that they can do and to see someone who looks like them, comes from the same neighborhoods as them, excelling and achieving," Holly Kitson, Parsons Elementary School Principal, said. "Our students need role models that are from the same neighborhoods they are from."

Principal Kitson joked that she wanted to pawn off some of her disciplinary work throughout the day, saying, "He was going to handle all behavior referrals today, but — knock on wood — we haven't had too many, so he's been in the clear."

In the clear because, as Evans says, the teachers at the school care for their students.

"The teachers in this building are very patient, they really do care," Evans said. "They don't teach for the fame and money."