Toyota Leader Steps Into the Classroom: Ana Meade Serves as “Principal for a Day” in West Dallas
When Ana Meade, Vice President of Sustainable Development at Toyota Motor North America (TMNA), arrived at Dr. Elba and Domingo Garcia West Dallas STEM School, she wasn’t there in her usual role. For this particular morning, Meade stepped into the shoes of Principal Venita Jones through the district’s “Principal for a Day” initiative—a joint program of the Dallas independent School District (Dallas ISD) and Dallas Regional Chamber that connects business leaders with schools to deepen understanding, strengthen community ties, and support student success.
For Toyota, the experience reflects more than a day of service. It’s part of a broader, long-standing commitment to sustainability—caring for people, communities, and the planet so that today’s students are equipped to become tomorrow’s innovators and change-makers.
As the model for the Toyota USA Foundation’s Driving Possibilities, the Dr. Elba and Domingo Garcia West Dallas STEM School was developed in partnership with the Simmons School of Education and Human Development at Southern Methodist University (SMU) specifically to bring a STEM curriculum to the school and help open pathways to the jobs of tomorrow.
Being a ‘principal for a day’ showed me firsthand how much heart our educators pour into creating a nurturing, innovative environment. It reinforced the importance of inviting industry into education – together we’re helping these young learners thrive and become the leaders of tomorrow.
Ana Meade, Vice President of Sustainable Development, TMNA, works with students at Dr. Elba and Domingo Garcia West Dallas STEM School on a design challenge, where they built imaginative vehicles out of everyday materials such as popsicle sticks, straws, and yarn.
Exploring Creativity and STEM Through Storytelling
One of the highlights of Meade’s visit—and a moment she reflected on with particular joy—was time spent in Ms. Lewis’ Pre-Kindergarten classroom. She read If I Built a Car, a whimsical story about a young boy who imagines transforming a simple family vehicle into the car of his dreams: complete with a swimming pool, snack bar, and more.
Inspired by the story, students launched into their own design challenge, building imaginative vehicles out of everyday materials such as popsicle sticks, straws, and yarn.
“Listening to them articulate their vision and translate that to creating special cars that reflect their boundless creativity and vivid imaginations was truly inspiring,” said Meade. “Their imaginations reminded me why investing in education—especially hands-on learning—is essential to building a more sustainable future.”
These early design and STEM moments embody Toyota’s belief in unlocking the potential of every learner. For Meade, whose role includes ensuring the company’s sustainability strategy supports long-term community wellbeing, seeing that spark in young students reinforced the value of programs that connect corporate leaders to classrooms.
A Shared Commitment to Students and Community
For Principal Jones, programs like “Principal for a Day” are critical to building the bridges that help schools thrive.
“Programs like Principal for a Day are important because they allow community and business leaders to experience firsthand the daily operations of a school,” Jones said. “These experiences help build meaningful networks and partnerships that support our vision and the success of our scholars.”
While hosting corporate leaders can vary from campus to campus, Jones said the day always unfolds with authenticity and purpose.
“Executives get real opportunities to connect with scholars, staff, parents, and our community—from arrival duty and classroom observations to STEM projects and even lunch duty,” she added. “They truly experience the heartbeat of our campus.”
From left to right: Principal Venita Jones, Dr. Elba and Domingo Garcia West Dallas STEM School; Ana Meade, Vice President of Sustainable Development, TMNA; and Drexell Owusu, Chief Learning Officer, Perot Museum of Nature and Science.
Sustainability in Action—Today and for the Future
Toyota’s partnership with West Dallas schools is grounded in the company’s view of sustainability as a long-term commitment to people, communities, and the planet. It’s about meeting today’s needs without limiting tomorrow’s possibilities.
By spending time with these students, Meade saw how the district is nurturing curiosity, resilience, and confidence—qualities essential for the next generation of leaders and problem-solvers.
“Every interaction reaffirmed the impact we can make when business and education come together,” said Destiny Whitaker, Senior Analyst, Sustainable Development, who serves as program lead for this engagement. “These experiences motivate us to continue investing in people and in communities so they can thrive for generations to come.”