Third Time’s the Charm: Dogwood Student Returns as Superintendent for the Day

For the third year in a row, Dogwood Elementary third grader Allie claimed this prize at Dolphin Fest: Superintendent for the Day.

The annual PTO fundraiser auction item has become serious business for Allie and her family, and this year, she decided to bring along her friend Cece for the adventure.

Their day kicked off bright and early at the HNN studio at Houston High School, where the duo helped film Superintendent Jason Manuel’s final weekly video message of the school year. The pair worked cameras, explored the studio setup, and got a behind-the-scenes look at how district video productions come together.

Next stop: the Mechatronics Lab with the City of Germantown’s New Teacher of the Year, Steve Summy.

Inside the lab, Allie and Cece toured the workspace, visited with students during third period, and helped test a hydraulic arm project before taking their learning outdoors. On the football field, the students launched a football nearly 40 yards using a pneumatic launcher, putting physics and engineering concepts into action in a very memorable way.

The day continued with a tour of Houston High’s growing campus improvements, where the girls learned more about the timeline for the school’s future track and field upgrades planned for 2027.

Then came one of the day’s biggest highlights: spending time with the Houston High School Softball Team.

Allie and Cece joined players on the field for batting practice, pitching drills, and even a full softball game before sitting down to enjoy lunch with the team.

Before wrapping up the day, the pair made one final stop at the up-and-coming Stang Studios print shop, Houston High’s newest student-driven venture. There, they designed special keepsake posters and “Future Mustang” items to remember their day.

From cameras and engineering to softball and design, the experience gave the students a behind-the-scenes look at the many opportunities waiting for them in GMSD.

And based on Allie’s track record at Dolphin Fest, there’s a pretty good chance she’ll be back in the superintendent’s chair again someday.