Franklin Covey Education has certified East Ridge Elementary as a Leader in Me Lighthouse School. The school is one of only five with this designation in the state, and there are only 300 in the world.
Schools across 50 countries have adopted the Leader in Me process that teaches children leadership principles through direct lessons that encourage students to think critically. Leader in Me helps students learn how to become self-reliant, take the initiative, plan by setting goals, and tracking progress. Students learn skills to help them do their homework, prioritize their time, manage their emotions, be considerate of others, express their viewpoint persuasively, resolve conflicts, find creative solutions, value differences and live a balanced life, said officials.
“We are honored to have been certified and named a Leader in Me Lighthouse School,” said Juan Moreno, principal of East Ridge Elementary. “Since starting our Leader in Me journey, we have seen a school-wide increase in positive climate and culture and large growth in our students taking ownership of their education. We also find that more students are practicing their soft skills, including making eye contact, shaking hands, using please, and thank you.”
The principal, administration, and staff engage in ongoing learning and develop as leaders while championing leadership for the children and the school. Schoolwide, classroom, family, and community leadership events celebrate leadership, build culture, and allow students to practice leadership skills. Families and the school partner together in learning about the 7 Habits and leadership principles of the Covey program through effective communication and mutual respect. The school community can see leadership in the physical environment, hear leadership through the common language of the 7 Habits, and feel leadership through a culture of caring, relationships, and affirmation. Teacher planning, reflection, trusting relationships, and student-led learning combine to create environments for highly engaged learning, said officials.
“Students are developing the ability to express their emotions appropriately while finding opportunities to resolve conflicts and understanding that disagreeing with each other isn’t a personal reflection of how others view or value them,” added Mr. Moreno. “As a Leader in Me school, we celebrate our uniqueness and diversity while providing a connection to build meaningful relationships with our students daily. As a school, we work toward the goal of providing kids with an education that empowers them to take ownership of their academic and emotional growth while creating opportunities to boost their self-confidence and find their voices to express their own stories.”
The Lighthouse Certification is a standard set by Franklin Covey Education that is attainable by every Leader in Me school. However, the designation is also a significant benchmark, signifying success in the development of the program in a school.
“We are thrilled to recognize East Ridge Elementary as a Leader in Me Lighthouse School,” said Sean Covey, president, Franklin Covey Education. “Schools that achieve this Lighthouse Certification are great examples of a strong leadership model. This school has experienced transformational results by implementing the principles and practices related to Leader in Me and, we are so pleased and honored to celebrate the success they are experiencing.”
East Ridge Elementary will maintain its Lighthouse Certification for the next two years. At the end of the two years, the school will be able to recertify and celebrate its growth and accomplishments since its original Lighthouse designation.
To learn more about the Leader in Me process, please visit http://www.theleaderinme.org/.