Select Health executives participate in Principal for a Day program

Three executives at Select Health of South Carolina were selected to participate in the Principal for a Day program presented by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce Wednesday, March 2. Select Health offers First Choice, the oldest and largest Medicaid health plan in South Carolina, as well as First Choice VIP Care Plus, a Healthy Connections Prime plan designed for South Carolinians on both Medicare and Healthy Connections Medicaid, and is part of the AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies.

Philip Fairchild, director of network operations at Select Health, shadowed Kevin Smith, principal at C.E. Williams Middle School for Creative and Scientific Arts in Charleston. Jay Powell, vice president and executive director of Medicare-Medicaid Plans shadowed Anna Dassing, principal at Moultrie Middle School in Mount Pleasant. Courtnay Thompson, director of plan operations at Select Health, shadowed Catherine Middleton, principal at Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary School in Charleston.

“I met Mr. Smith several times before visiting his school and appreciate his desire to bring quality education and a love of the arts and sciences to students of West Ashley,” said Fairchild. “It is also very special that Mr. Smith was a middle school student at this school.”

These executives volunteered their time to learn about the day-to-day operations of a school and offer business world perspectives to the challenges faced by principals. They appeared on their respective school’s morning news programs, toured classrooms, met with students and teachers throughout the day and attended meetings with their principals. In turn, these principals will visit the Select Health’s North Charleston headquarters during the summer to learn what it’s like to operate a Medicaid managed care organization.

“Principals are bombarded with questions and problems to solve from their staff at every turn, but they also get high-fives and positive updates from children and teachers alike,” said Powell. “Principal Dassing uses every tool imaginable to empower her staff and students every single day.”

As part of Select Health’s mission to help people get care, stay well and build healthy communities, the company nominates several members of its leadership team to participate in this annual program. Principal for a Day was created in part by Tricia Crimminger, director of communications at Select Health, when she was employed by the Charleston County School District.

“I was extremely impressed with the students’ creativity and artistic abilities, and I have a renewed appreciation for the teachers and administrators who are shaping our youth,” said Thompson. “There are so many amazing things happening at Ashley River, and I left inspired and invigorated to bring a new level of ingenuity to my team.”

(L-R) Courtnay Thompson, director of plan operations and administration at Select Health, and Catherine Middleton, principal at Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary School, spent time in the school’s rotunda appreciating student art.

(L-R) Kevin Smith, principal at C.E. Williams Middle School for Creative and Scientific Arts, and Philip Fairchild, director of provider network operations at Select Health display the school’s crest, which Smith designed.

(L-R) Jay Powell, vice president and executive director of Medicare-Medicaid Plans at Select Health, shadowed Anna Dassing, principal at Moultrie Middle School, where he led the Pledge of Allegiance at a school assembly.