Actress Jane Kaczmarek Embraces Latest Role As 'Principal For A Day' At Pasadena School

PASADENA (CBSLA.com) — It's a new school year - and a new way of learning - for kindergartners at Field Elementary in Pasadena.

Araceli may only be 5, but she is doing something most adults don't. While she is still learning English, she is also learning a second language: Mandarin.

It's all part of an immersion program in the Pasadena schools, one highlighted Friday as these students experienced something else new - a new principal, at least for one day.

Actress Jane Kaczmarek spent the day at Field Elementary seeing how things work as part of the district's "Principal For A Day" program.

"After yelling at all those naughty children on 'Malcolm In The Middle' for all those years, I have to say I'm happy to be with all these well-behaved children," said Kaczmarek.

The Pasadena school district hopes the program encourages not only parents but everyone in the community to get involved in education.

Ana Maria Apodaca, the real principal at Field Elementary, said it's great way to attract new faces to the school district.

"It brings people into public school who may not ever come," she said.

And since this school is dual language, Araceli taught her new principal something in Mandarin too - a good lesson that spells success in any language.